jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

This was a tough one. I wanted to get GPS coordinates into my Exif data. Rather than spend close to $200 for hardware or software, I wanted to find a program that would let me enter the GPS data after I captured it on another device - cell phone, GPS, etc. Easier said than done. Programs I found were either too expensive - $50 to $100 - or not what I wanted. I received lots of suggestions - close, but no cigar. People kept telling me I could drag a photo onto a map - but first I had to know where the photo was taken.

Then someone on the photo.net/nikon forum recommended two apps: GPS4cam and Geotag Photo (Lite and Pro). They range from free to $4.00 They both do basically the same thing. You activate the app, and your cell phone records coordinates every 30 seconds, or whatever interval you select. While the app is running, you take photos here and there. I bought both of them. Free is cheaper (obviously), but free apps use lots more battery power by running ads. I got that from BBC News.

When you get home, you upload the images to your computer and load the GPS data file onto your computer. With GPS4cam, you take a photo (with your camera) of the barcode that appears on your phone.

After the app does its thing, each photo has GPS coordinates in the Exif data. Using Lightroom 4, you can see where the photos were taken and even see the route you followed. I think Google Maps will show locations, too.

Of course, each coordinate will not line up exactly with each photo, but it still lets you know if you took a photo in one town or another. Actually, you can get the exact coordinates if you tell the app, either by shaking the phone or pressing a button, to record the coordinates there and then.

The apps are available for both Apple and Android devices. I just started using Geotag yesterday, so I have more learning to do.

senad55verizon.net Loc: Milford, NJ

A really neat use of geotagging is the ability to pop up your photographs, often in thumbnail form, in the midst of particular mapping apps that support this feature. If that's what you need, geotagging is great.

Otherwise, I found geotagging to be a pain in the posterior. Some cameras support connecting a GPS, which takes out a lot of the fuss but may be costly.

Mostly I concluded that a handheld GPS, a notebook and a pencil is about as inexpensive, flexible and efficient a system as you can get. If your camera can record commentary, just read in the coordinates and other information after each shot.

Would love to hear of your experience with it, and application of it.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

I'm happy with my Amod AGL3080 GPS Data Logger (http://www.amazon.com/AGL3080-Logger-Windows-Software-included/dp/B000WO6HJW).
Before I start taking pictures, I turn it on and put it in my pocket. This GPS receiver writes a log of my GPS position into a file every few seconds. When I get home, I plug the Amod into my Mac's USB port. The computer sees the Amod as a USB flash drive. I import my photos & GPS file(s) into Photo Mechanic. Then use Photo Mechanic's "Import GPS Coordinates" tool to tag every photo with a latitude & longitude. (Sorry, no altitude.) I try to take at least one photo in a known location. This helps me sync photos & GPS position in case my camera's clock is wrong. Once you sync one photo & GPS position, Photo Mechanic will assign a position to the rest of the photos in a few seconds. You can view and adjust, if needed, on a Google map in a Photo Mechanic window.
There is a learning curve it using the Amod and GPS tagging with Photo Mechanic. After some practice, I've found it to be a quick & flexible way to GPS tag my photos.

rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA

Geotagging also has a personal security issue.
Many individuals gain access to unintended locations using geo coordinates, such as where you live, have been, schools etc.
If you don't want the general public to know where your pictures were taken the GPS function must be turned off, including cell phones.
...just a reminder.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, I've heard that. I'm amazed at what some people post on their sites - baby pics, their house, their possessions. "Here we are, and here's what we have available. By the way, we'll be on vacation for two weeks."

senad55verizon.net Loc: Milford, NJ

Not familiar with Photomechanic. Can it not use a normal track file that can come out of most handheld GPS units?

Geotagging ordinarily requires prior time coordination between GPS and camera. After loading the track file and the pix into a geotagging app, locations are assigned to the pix based on time stamps. What does the AMOD data logger do that a track file does not?

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

[quote=senad55verizon.net]

I'm just an "appliance" operator. For me, the geotagging just works. The Photo Mechanic on-line help & forums may answer your Photo Mechanic questions. Try: http://www.camerabits.com/site/PMHelp/Help_Mac/pages/GPS.html
It says Photo Mechanic can "import GPS logs in GPX and NMEA formats."

While it's best to accurately set your camera clock before you take pictures, it is not necessary. (I often forget to change time zones in my camera.) Photo Mechanic let's you offset the time. Usually, I let Photo Mechanic automatically do this. However, I can do it manually by adjusting the time offset by days, hours, minutes & seconds. That's why I like to take at least one picture where I know the position. That lets me easily calculate the time offset. I use Amod's lowest sampling rate, which is every 10 seconds. Photo Mechanic will interpolate times. For me, that's more accuracy than I need.

The Amod is pretty basic. It has two buttons, a few cryptic lights and no screen. Don't loose the instructions. However, once configured, I only have to turn it on and off. It runs a long time on a couple of AA batteries, so it doesn't suck juice from my camera or cell phone. Dumping data is easy, since the Amod looks like a 122MB MS-DOS (FAT 32) flash drive to my Mac.
GPS logs are very compact. About 1300 positions consume about 94KB of memory.

A few sample lines from my Amod are:
$GPRMC,184500.000,A,3827.8595,N,12241.1773,W,0.35,209.06,020911,,,A*7D
$GPRMC,184510.000,A,3827.8578,N,12241.1787,W,0.33,207.38,020911,,,A*71
$GPRMC,184520.000,A,3827.8562,N,12241.1800,W,0.31,208.34,020911,,,A*78

To decode, try http://aprs.gids.nl/nmea/
Look for $GPRMC. It says:

Recommended minimum specific GPS/Transit data

eg1. $GPRMC,081836,A,3751.65,S,14507.36,E,000.0,360.0,130998,011.3,E*62
eg2. $GPRMC,225446,A,4916.45,N,12311.12,W,000.5,054.7,191194,020.3,E*68

Decoded, it says:

225446 Time of fix 22:54:46 UTC
A Navigation receiver warning A = OK, V = warning
4916.45,N Latitude 49 deg. 16.45 min North
12311.12,W Longitude 123 deg. 11.12 min West
000.5 Speed over ground, Knots
054.7 Course Made Good, True
191194 Date of fix 19 November 1994
020.3,E Magnetic variation 20.3 deg East
*68 mandatory checksum

For the vast majority of my pics, I don't geotag. I'm not "pushing" Photo Mechanic or Amod. It's just what I use. I'm sure there are other, and probably better, ways to geotag. Different strokes....

senad55verizon.net Loc: Milford, NJ

[quote=peterg]

Thanks, that's really helpful, and i can see why it's useful.

The GPS antenna in the AMOD is a simple built-in patch. I'm amazed that it can read satellite signals while you carry it in your pocket.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

I usually hang it from a belt loop, so it's outside and doesn't get lost. Also, it's easy to check the flashing light to ensure it's recording positions.