David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

I use one of these http://www.i-gotu.com/. It is a separate item that you carry in your shirt pocket and it records where you are at regular intervals (I set it for 15 seconds). It will record up to 60,000 waypoints before it needs to be emptied and will run for 15-20 hours on a charge. It charges through the USB connection to your computer. I actually have 2 of them so I always have one charged (it takes several hours to charge up).

I make sure that my camera clock is accurate to within a second of UT-2 time (I set it to Internet time) to minimize errors in location. Each night after a day touring I download all my digital pictures and the GPS data to my computer and run the synchronization program (which adds the location to the photo's EXIF information); I leave it plugged in overnight, which charges the unit.

Shirt pocket carry works well, but when I'm driving I put it on the dash and on a train or bus I try to set it by the window. (Don't forget to retrieve it!). I like it because it's small and it doesn't run down the battery of the camera. (An on-camera unit has to be running all the time to avoid the many seconds startup delay each time it's turned on. The I-gotU unit has its own battery and doesn't run down the camera.)

The unit can also be used as a GPS receiver when attached to a computer or other device doing route plotting. And the waypoints recorded when used independently can also be downloaded and used to generate a route path. (The same unit cannot be used simultaneously as both a GPS-logger and as a GPS receiver for another device.)

Unlike a dedicated camera-mounted GPS device that gets a direct reading of the coordinates when the photo is made (an admitted advantage), the ability of the separate GPS logger to accurately identify where the photo was made (by interpolation) is highly dependent on having the camera clock set accurately. At 60mph (typical bus speed), an error of 1 second is 88 feet off the correct spot; however, when walking around a town (say 3mph or less) the error induced is maybe 4 feet for 1 second error--much more tolerable.

The I-gotU unit comes with the synchronization program on a small CD. I think it only works with Windows, though. The data can be downloaded as a .gpx file, though, and there are probably MAC programs that can work with those. Although I have never had to use the feature, the synchronization software also is able to input .gpx files created by other devices.

DISCLAIMER: I have no financial connections to the makers of I-gotU; I just like the way they work.

Papa j Loc: Cary NC

I use my cell phone and then sync my 750 photo with the cell phone gps coordinates

Joe

tscali

Papa J: I have a cell phone (iPhone 6+); but do not know how to sync the cell phone with my D750. How does the cell phone coordinates get into the EXIF metadata for each picture? Is there another app that I would need? I certainly would appreciate any additional information that you could provide. Since I will be out of country and probably without WiFi, will there be additional roaming charges to get the coordinates?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Here's an all-in-one unit. I once used a two part combo, with a tracker that detected the location and a receiver on the camera.
https://smile.amazon.com/Columbus-Geotagging-Connect-Fujifilm-Digital/dp/B01CM1OVKO/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1486556078&sr=8-10&keywords=camera+gps+nikon

Linckinn Loc: Okatie, SC and Edgartown, MA

There are iPhone apps that will create GPX files. I use one called GPX Master. The files sync with your computer over Dropbox, and then can be synced with your photos through Lightroom or other choices if standalone programs. I use one called Photolinker, and it is excellent.

I used to attach a unit to my camera, but found it cumbersome and gave up a few years ago.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There are lots of cell phone apps, but you have to do extra work to match them with your pictures. I gave up on them.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geotagmypic-your-free-tool/id596009879?mt=8

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

When I was in Slovenia recently, I always took a photo with my iPhone at our shooting locations. The iPhone photo upon review displayed the name of the location, gps coordinates and showed the photo and location on a map.

cthahn

I thought Nikon sold GPS units.

Kobuk Loc: Roseville, CA

I have the Nikon GPS and would love to use it more but I guide trips off the grid and it just drains the camera batteries to much so I find myself not being able to use it when off the grid.

banjoboy Loc: Austin, TX

Hmm, I haven't checked, but you might see if the mobile app for Nikon can be used to embed GPS info. The Olympus app can do that (uses phone GPS). I haven't tried it, but plan to on my next excursion.

Machinedoc Loc: Yorktown Heights, NY

I have used the GP-1 on my D90 and D7200 and wouldn't be without it...does it put an additional load on the battery, yes, but IMHO the utility of having the GPS data embedded with the photograph is more than worth it...I would rather "focus" on composition and exposure than take the time to make notes, or use a second device to record the location information. The new version Nikon sells is the GP-1a. Both units plug in to the shutter release port on the camera (not the USB port) and the GP-1 has a port on it so that you can plug in an external shutter release if needed.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

The Nikon GPS unit is very good. It can take a while to locate your spot when first turned off after a long trip (read airline flight), but then is pretty quick. I have tried others with less success.

Another very inexpensive alternative is to take an iPhone picture at each location, say of the camera LCD with a new folder for each spot showing on the LCD. The iPhones pictures are all geotagged. It will still be a manual process to move to the exif data of the images although not too hard in LR.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

You need to develop the habit of turning the camera off. Once I ingrained this habit, I have been able to go 4 or more days on one battery on my D-810 (no long time or night exposures).

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I got an Aokatec for my D4. Cost around $70, as I recall. I much prefer it to anything that would require me to take notes or try to sync my track with my camera photos during my workflow. It just does its thing without my attention being diverted.

It has an on-off switch. You turn it on without turning on the camera. Set it down in one spot outdoors for about 30 seconds while it acquires the satellites. After that, turn on the camera. It will send the location to the camera after a couple seconds. If you turn the camera off, then on again, it takes a couple seconds to be able to send the location. If you turn the GPS unit off, then on again, you will have to reacquire the satellite signals. If you go indoors it will lose the satellite signals but will give you the last known position so you might have to correct the location in the metadata. For most purposes that's overkill. Knowing approximately where the building is should be good enough for 99% of your geotagging unless you have special requirements.

One problem: the unit screws into the 10-pin connector on the camera (Nikon D800E, D4 or D5). It's hard to really get it tight, and I've had it come loose and pop off. It comes with a piece of string that you're supposed to use to tie it onto the camera strap connector so you don't lose it. I had to enlarge the hole in the corner of the unit to be able to get the string through so I could tie it on.

I don't find it draining the battery significantly. My shoots don't generally last more than 12 hours and I carry a spare battery. If you leave it on and don't use the camera for a week or two it will drain the battery somewhat, but from a full battery you'll still be able to use it for a short shoot. I only bought one of these, so when I use multiple camera bodies on a shoot I generally have it on the body that I use the most, and if the shoot is indoors I take a shot outside before I go in and after I come out at the end of the day.

I had a different model several years ago but it fit onto the hotshoe (but plugged into the 10-pin connector). I don't remember the manufacturer or model, but the cable from the unit to the hotshoe mounted GPS was always catching on things. Eventually the plastic flange that held it to the hotshoe broke and I got the Aokatec. The older model was supposed to have a compass included (that you had to calibrate when you turned it on by turning in circles). I never found it very accurate and it was too much trouble to calibrate for what you got out of it.

Hip Coyote

I use a Delorme InReach GPS unit for several reasons. The InReach is a GPS but also (via a subscription service of about $8 a month) which has the ability to text via satellite to people and has an SOS button on it that can summon help anywhere in the world. I have an evacuation insurance plan (about 300 per year) that is associated with the InReach so I hit the button and can get flown out to a quality hospital. I used the texting on a backpacking trip where we encountered a serious wildfire. I communicated with the wife and the Sheriff's Dept which allowed me to make some decisions to evacuate, where to go etc. I came across a church group and had up to date intel to advise them to evacuate as well. The InReach will log your trip and allow family and friends to monitor your progress on a map via the internet.

And...long way to answer yhour question...it also is a GPS logger that produces a file that Lightroom can use to geotag your pics. It is quite easy. I am headed to India in a week and will be using this. And I will also use the old fashioned note pad and simply write where I am, take a pic of it and it will be the first pic in the series. I change locations and take another photos of my notes!