RobertAltman Loc: Minneapolis

Suggestions for adding GPS to your images?

I've briefly looked at camera GPS add-ons, but they are pricey and seemed bulky (or easily damaged).

I've been playing with GPS4CAM smart phone app to add GPS to images after they are loaded on the PC. It's a bit of a kludge because you have to remember to start the app and take a QRCode image after shooting (to time sync camera and phone). The biggest problem for me was that adding the timestamp to the images when uploading changes the timestamp of the files (which messes up my image organization system).

Anyway, has anyone else come up with a solution that works well?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I'm posting mostly to see what choices there are.

It isn't a DSLR, but in the M4/3 world, Panasonic has a free phone app that communicates with their cameras. It includes GPS data along with a remote screen, focus controls and shutter release.

One possibility is to remember to simply shoot a phone picture in the middle of your DSLR shooting. It should record enough GPS data that you can put it in the DSLR files later.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I just ordered a AK-G7: Aokatec GPS from eBay for my Nikon d7200. They have other models for other cameras but they are only $50.00. I'll let you know how it works when I get it and try it out.

Frank W Loc: Adirondacks in NY

Did I hear you mention you wanted a new camera anyways ??? :-) Nikon D 5300 has built in GPS, and not that expensive.

RobertAltman Loc: Minneapolis

Yes, please! I'm also shooting with a D7200, so that would be fantastic.

thott Loc: GERMANY, Hessen

I also ordered previously a AK-G750 for my D750 from HK. Tools about 2 weeks until I received it
I guess it is similar with the one for the D7200.

I posted a short term experience here in the forum:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-418651-1.html

It looks now protected with the L-plate for the D750 as shown in the attachment.

I am until now quite satisfied with the Aokatec GPS receiver. It does well it's job.

I am interesting what will be your experience.

Greetings
Thomas

Attached file:
(Download)

RobertAltman Loc: Minneapolis

Not me :)

I just traded in my Nikon F3 and bought a D7200 last month. First DSLR and my ONLY complaint is the lack of GPS.

I'm still recovering from the shock of being able to dynamically select my ISO!!!!

blackest Loc: Ireland

There is a round about way of doing it you can get something like a garmin etrex or maybe a smart phone app that creates a track ideally you want the clock on the camera set accurately. But it can be adjusted there is an add on for lightroom which will align your picture data with your gps data.

At least thats the theory, alternatively you could shoot a cell phone picture each time you move to a new location and that will give you gps and time. Sometimes the rather overpriced dedicated gps option could be easier :)

RobertAltman Loc: Minneapolis

I have a GPS App for iPhone that does the job quite competently: GPS4CAM. What I have found is that this kind of solution is much more of a hassle than I expected it to be. First, you have to remember to start the app; second, you have to take the synchronization photo at the end of the "session"; third, you have to use their app to add the GPS data to your photos; and lastly, the time/date of the images are updated to when the GPS data was added, not when the photo was taken. Because of how I organize things, this was actually a show-stopper. All told, it may be cheap, but its not manageable.

I'm definitely planning on getting the AK-G7 after hearing what other people have said.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

I carry an i-GotU GPS Logger device with me when I'm photographing on a tour. It's about half the size of an art-gum eraser and can be set to record where it is periodically (I typically have it set to do it every 15 seconds). It records Zulu (GMT) time, latitude, longitude, and altitude as waypoints and can store 60,000 of them before it needs to be emptied; it charges up via a USB connection and will run about 15-20 hours on a charge. It comes with software that will correlate the time data in your photo EXIF with that in the GPS waypoints and by interpolation will determine where each photo was taken, and there are settings for what Time Zone your camera time uses. (For accurate work, though, the camera time must be set to within a second or two of correct time--I usually set it to Internet time each morning and it doesn't drift enough during the day to make much difference.) I have decided over the years that it is easiest to just leave the camera clock always set to the same Time Zone, no matter where I am with it--that way I don't have problems if some of my photos for a day were in a different Time Zone. For my convenience, I just leave the camera in USA Central Time with DST enabled, and tell the i-GotU software about that setting. Of course, when just using the camera as a clock, I have to make mental adjustments, but I can live with that.

The i-GotU device costs about $100 and I think it's money well spent. It is also capable of being used as a GPS receiver when connected to a device that needs one (my laptop has tracking map software and I do sometimes use it for that purpose.) However, it is not capable of being used as a Logger when it is in use as a receiver. (So I have 2 of them.)

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

I have used the Promote GPS on my Nikon D300. Worked well and accuracy was about 6 feet.
Geotags photos on the fly with Long, Lat and altitude. No computer required. Was the best choice I found after a lot of research and was not disappointed.
Easy to use, durable and $99.99 will not break the bank. Got mine from B&H Photo.

http://www.promotesystems.com/products/Promote-GPS.html

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There was a recent post from a member explaining how he uses how Aokatec GPS. Google Aokatec, and you'll find something.

Here's what Amazon has -

https://www.amazon.com/AK-G1S-Aokatec-Geotagging-receiver-Fujifilm/dp/B009MB2YOI

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

They are less expensive on eBay Jerry.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

I have a hiking GPS, hangs like a necklace around my neck, or I can keep it in a pocket.
Before I set out, I make sure the clock time on GPS and camera are synchronised.
Just as I'm ready to take a photo (or a series of photos) I set a way-point on the GPS.
Once home again, it is easy to compare the times and find out what way-point belongs with what photos and to include it in the exif data for that photo.

As an aside, I use the coordinates to find the location back on a map or on Google Earth, but only put the name of the area, town, street, etc. in the exif data.

RonBoyd

I am just starting to research this issue (as a result of this thread) and right off the bat I stumble upon this tutorial on how to use Lightroom and any GPS App to put that data into the metadata:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSnQTfElCEI

I haven't done anything beyond watching the video. I also am disappointed in the date/time change with GPS4CAM.