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What do you use GPS for in your photograhy?
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Nov 21, 2018 08:11:48   #
Bison Bud
 
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on newer camera bodies and while I can see that tagging a photo with GPS coordinates might be a good novelty/fun feature, I fail to see a really good use for it and maybe you can show me the light. Anyway, with all the bells and whistles now offered on new cameras, I'd probably not use GPS and therefore probably would not want to pay for it on a new camera body. Again, maybe I'm missing something here and I would like to know how the GPS feature is useful to others on this forum. Good luck and good shooting to all!

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Nov 21, 2018 08:14:25   #
markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ
 
I don't use it at all, but I suspect many do.
Mark

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Nov 21, 2018 08:18:39   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Getting to and from the location. (Garmin DriveAssist 50)

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Nov 21, 2018 08:18:54   #
mborn Loc: Massachusetts
 
I use Geotracker on my Android phone then send the track to my computer and using the Map module in LR to import the track and tag the images

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Nov 21, 2018 08:19:03   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
In the past, I used the GPS capabilities of my camera equipment to locate certain features, water valves and water meters, when mapping GIS features for a city water department with whom I had a contract to map water features.

It was also incredibly helpful for photographs I had intended on posting to panoramio so they could be pushed to google earth. On occasion, I use it to scout areas that I want to photograph and remember exactly where I want to set up a camera for a photograph. For all of these I've used either a Garmin handheld or Nikon GPS1 unit.
--Bob
Bison Bud wrote:
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on newer camera bodies and while I can see that tagging a photo with GPS coordinates might be a good novelty/fun feature, I fail to see a really good use for it and maybe you can show me the light. Anyway, with all the bells and whistles now offered on new cameras, I'd probably not use GPS and therefore probably would not want to pay for it on a new camera body. Again, maybe I'm missing something here and I would like to know how the GPS feature is useful to others on this forum. Good luck and good shooting to all!
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on ... (show quote)

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Nov 21, 2018 08:19:34   #
Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.
 
Bison Bud wrote:
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on newer camera bodies and while I can see that tagging a photo with GPS coordinates might be a good novelty/fun feature, I fail to see a really good use for it and maybe you can show me the light. Anyway, with all the bells and whistles now offered on new cameras, I'd probably not use GPS and therefore probably would not want to pay for it on a new camera body. Again, maybe I'm missing something here and I would like to know how the GPS feature is useful to others on this forum. Good luck and good shooting to all!
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on ... (show quote)


I have loads of "old" photos, taken on holidays, family visits that included "outings", etc.
For many of them, I have absolutely no idea where or (sometimes) even when, they were taken.
My camera does not have a GPS feature, but a few years ago I "invested" about $40 in a hiking-gps.
Before going somewhere, I make sure the clock time on camera and gps are synchronised.
When home again it is very easy to add the gps coordinates to the photo tags.
With the coordinates I can always check Google Earth to find where that photo was taken!
The hiking gps is very light in weight and just hangs on a cord around my neck. One button push is enough to record a way-point and the time it was recorded.

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Nov 21, 2018 08:24:21   #
suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ
 
If you were scouting out locations to return to, you could take a test shot and tag it.

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Nov 21, 2018 08:39:28   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
I use the GPS in my cell phone to take a shot (tag) of the current shooting location so I can ID the image locations from my camera. Many places I go look so similar.

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Nov 21, 2018 08:50:50   #
Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.
 
Bison Bud wrote:
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on newer camera bodies and while I can see that tagging a photo with GPS coordinates might be a good novelty/fun feature, I fail to see a really good use for it and maybe you can show me the light. Anyway, with all the bells and whistles now offered on new cameras, I'd probably not use GPS and therefore probably would not want to pay for it on a new camera body. Again, maybe I'm missing something here and I would like to know how the GPS feature is useful to others on this forum. Good luck and good shooting to all!
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on ... (show quote)


I have bought a couple of GPS units that attach to the camera and imbed longitude, latitude and altitude in the EXIF data.
It seemed like a good idea at the time, but like you said, the novelty wore off. The units are a battery drain and if you turn them off to save battery, it takes a while for them to re-sync with the satellites. I carry a notebook with me to make notes on what I photograph and if for some reason I need long, lat and alt information I can get it from my iPhone and add it to my notes.

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Nov 21, 2018 08:56:05   #
cameraf4 Loc: Delaware
 
Just got back from a cruise down the Danube. Didn't take my Nikon GP-1 and still can't figure out SnapBridge. There are a number of images I made while cruising that I would like to know where on the river they were so I wish I had the GPS info handy. Also, I like suntouched idea and Longshadow has a good point, too.

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Nov 21, 2018 09:44:54   #
bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA
 
Bison Bud wrote:
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on newer camera bodies and while I can see that tagging a photo with GPS coordinates might be a good novelty/fun feature, I fail to see a really good use for it and maybe you can show me the light. Anyway, with all the bells and whistles now offered on new cameras, I'd probably not use GPS and therefore probably would not want to pay for it on a new camera body. Again, maybe I'm missing something here and I would like to know how the GPS feature is useful to others on this forum. Good luck and good shooting to all!
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on ... (show quote)


I have both geotrackers (GPS) for my Nikons and a handheld Garmin eTrex 30 with topo maps installed for off road and remote work. I use both all the time. When scouting locations and being able to find my way back to a choice spot when the light is right, I take a location photo. When I edit my pictures, I note the coordinates when I am editing. On the day of the shoot, I plug the coordinates into the eTrex and use that to find my way back to the same spot.

I also use the camera as an emergency backup to the eTrex. Since the screen on the eTrex is almost invisible in bright sunlight, I can use the LCD on a camera to fix my position in an emergency by simply clicking the shutter and either use my cellphone or ham radio to call for help.

A GPS is also helpful for adding a map to a photobook. I don't know if Photos still has this feature, but iPhoto use to allow you to generate a map that could be inserted as a page in a photo book. It had a function that allowed you to overlay a map on a page in your photobook showing your travels and where the pictures were taken.

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Nov 22, 2018 06:00:56   #
travisdeland Loc: deland, FL
 
I use the GPS feature in my Canon cameras to enable me to produce a .kml file that I can email friends. This file loads into Google Earth and displays thumbnails of the pictures at the locations they were shot. This helps many to understand the "big picture" of where you've been and what you might have had to do(hiking, driving) to get to where the picture was taken.

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Nov 22, 2018 06:01:40   #
anotherview Loc: California
 
Beware the fine print here. Google may collect your photographs for its purposes with no compensation to the photographer for this use.
Bison Bud wrote:
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on newer camera bodies and while I can see that tagging a photo with GPS coordinates might be a good novelty/fun feature, I fail to see a really good use for it and maybe you can show me the light. Anyway, with all the bells and whistles now offered on new cameras, I'd probably not use GPS and therefore probably would not want to pay for it on a new camera body. Again, maybe I'm missing something here and I would like to know how the GPS feature is useful to others on this forum. Good luck and good shooting to all!
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on ... (show quote)

Reply
Nov 22, 2018 06:28:28   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
Bison Bud wrote:
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on newer camera bodies and while I can see that tagging a photo with GPS coordinates might be a good novelty/fun feature, I fail to see a really good use for it and maybe you can show me the light. Anyway, with all the bells and whistles now offered on new cameras, I'd probably not use GPS and therefore probably would not want to pay for it on a new camera body. Again, maybe I'm missing something here and I would like to know how the GPS feature is useful to others on this forum. Good luck and good shooting to all!
It seems that GPS has become a popular feature on ... (show quote)


Don't have GPS but it seems like a good thing to identify a location if you are wandering around taking photos and not remembering the exact location on the trail or roadside etc.

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Nov 22, 2018 06:44:38   #
johneccles Loc: Leyland UK
 
I geotag all my photographs and have done so for many years, it gives me satisfaction to see where exactly they were taken, and they can be opened up in most map applications.

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