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Camera GPS for recording photo locations?

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Avi33

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Has anyone here used one of those small GPS devices for recording the coordinates of where your photos were taken? Does it work well?

Thanks,
Avi
 
I've been doing this for the past couple of years.

Initially I used the Delorme BlueLogger, but recently switched to the QStarz BT-Q1000 Platinum. It can be programmed to record GPS points at whatever interval you want. I later download the data into my Computer, and use a program called RoboGeo to geocode the images, put the GPS data into EXIF headers, and create Google Earth files.

My most recent trip to Costa Rica has links to 3 Google Earth KMZ files which show the results of this process (see the last paragraph):

http://www.dlcphoto.com/CR6-Birds1/CR6-Birds1.htm

I also use the Bluetooth capability of this GPS receiver with TomTom Navigator on my Palm TX, and it functions as a full GPS guidance system when driving, hiking, etc.

Hope this helps.

--
Don Cohen
http://www.dlcphoto.com
Ultimate Costa Rica Photo Safari, May 30 - June 9, 2008
http://www.dlcphoto.com/CRPS1207/PhotoSafari5General.htm
Brazil's Pantanal Photo Expedition, Nov. 1-10, 2008
http://www.ietravel.com/itindisplay.asp?itinid=1067&ieid=628774
 
I also use RoboGeo but use a Garmin Etrex Vista HCx and has worked well for me. The added advantage of the the Garmin is that you can customize how your unit records data logging. Also, you can load the maps of the area that you are going to which is very useful. You'll regret getting a data logger only as that is all that it will do. A mapping display unit has many more advantages.

Another thing to consider is how long are you going to be away from a power source. The TomTom / Nuvi automobile units or anything that has a built-in rechargeable battery have an 8hr battery life at best. The handheld units like the Etrex have a battery life of up to 24 hrs, at that point you simply replace the AA batteries.

One thing to remember on saving track logs within the unit itself is that you will loose the time stamp and no longer be able to sync with the camera. Always save your track log to your computer, this will retain the time stamp with the track log.
--
http://pbase.com/TBIEHN
....I'm going there...because I've never been there!......
 
tbiehn said:
You'll
regret getting a data logger only as that is all that it will do. A
mapping display unit has many more advantages.
Click to expand...
Not to be argumentative here, but each approach has its own advantages/disadvantages. When I'm out shooting, the QStarz unit, being extremely small and light, is either in my pocket or clipped to my belt, and I don't even think about it until the end of the day. Used this way, there is no need for a display or maps, and the weight/size is minimized.
tbiehn said:
Another thing to consider is how long are you going to be away from a
power source.
Click to expand...
This is an important point. The Delorme unit I previously had was good for perhaps 8 to 9 hours, which really wasn't quite enough. The QStarz unit is good for up to 32 hours.
tbiehn said:
One thing to remember on saving track logs within the unit itself is
that you will loose the time stamp and no longer be able to sync with
the camera. Always save your track log to your computer, this will
retain the time stamp with the track log.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure exactly what you're saying here, but certainly the data needs to be downloaded to one's computer, in order to geocode your images, using RoboGeo or similar program. The data and time stamps are not lost on the device.

Again, I'm not trying to be argumentative, but there are several ways to accomplish this, each with their own advantages/disadvantages. No one way is best for each person. The size/weight/convenience of the QStarz logger is ideal for my purposes, and when needed, I can couple it with my similarly small and lightweight Palm TX, for times when I need/want mapping, display, etc.

--
Don Cohen
http://www.dlcphoto.com
Ultimate Costa Rica Photo Safari, May 30 - June 9, 2008
http://www.dlcphoto.com/CRPS1207/PhotoSafari5General.htm
Brazil's Pantanal Photo Expedition, Nov. 1-10, 2008
http://www.ietravel.com/itindisplay.asp?itinid=1067&ieid=628774
 
Will either of these devices with the recommended software work with embedding coordinates in RAW files, or only JPEGs?
 
I have successfully used a Gisteq Phototrackr unit (CD-110BT about $90) and recently used it on a long trip across the USA over 4 weeks, working with a Canon 5d, Olympus E410 and Ricoh GR2.

You sync your camera time to GPS time (easy instructions on how to do this) and every 5 secs it records a track (or other, it is user defined). It also records the altitude which is useful.

The unit is about 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches by .75 inch and fits easily into the pocket. I charged it about every 3 days just to make sure but it never seemed to run out of juice. It has a motion sensor which will make it switch into standby mode when inactive thus conserving battery power. It comes with mains and car charger plus the units photo application. After 4 weeks of at least 18 hours of recording the unit's storage was only two-thirds full.

It does not record well in cities (i.e. any environment with buildings over 3 storeys) this is because it cannot maintain a GPS fix easily - the more sky the better the signal. From research this appears to be a common trait.

The basic software is simple to use, but has too much useless stuff bundle with it none of which is actually useful. The pro-version (+$25) allows you to sync RAW files (writing to the XMP). The Phototrackr software works well on a PC and they have just introduced a Beta Mac version, which I have not managed to make work, it also does not sync with RAW files yet (though I will probably use PhotoLinker in the end).

I did a lot of research on the web as I wanted to use with a Mac and there are hardly any that work well, if at all - I ended up installing Windows XP on a partition on my Mac Book and working with that. Once I had written to the XMP data I reloaded the metadata in Lightroom and everything worked.

I had wanted a small and simple portable unit that would merely record the L&L of a specific location. Since my return it's been fun clicking on the metadata tag link in Lightroom and zooming into an aerial of the location in Google maps. The Gisteq worked for me just as I hoped it would.
 
Hello,

I also have the Gisteq Phototrackr Lite.

Main advantages
-Takes Rechargeable AA-Battery (you can replace the battery any time)
-Motion sensor (it doesn't record when your not in motion saving memory+battery)
-Huge memory for recording 250 000 points (29 Days with 1 point every 10s)
-Complete software package
-Mac compatibility

Main Disadvantages

-No USB-Stick like behaviour (like many other devices)(to download logs you need to install the gisteq software)
-Display (with time, coordinates ) would be nice
-Poor design of the battery door

I personally dont like the Gisteq software. The most complete package for

Geotagging is GEOSETTER. It's free and better then ROBOGEO. Geosetter also tags Canon raw-files.

Usefull links:
http://scilib.typepad.com/techreviews/2007/12/gisteq-dpl700-p.html
http://gpspassion.com/forumsen/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=128
http://www.geosetter.de/en/
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~rakerman/geocode-photos.html
http://code.google.com/p/gpicsync/
http://www.robogeo.com/home/
http://www.gisteq.com/

Example of automatically geotagged trip:
http://wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=115328
(unfortunately slow + script errors)
http://picasaweb.google.com/gerard.wennig/IndiaSouth/photo#map

Regards,
Gerard
 
tbiehn said:
I also use RoboGeo but use a Garmin Etrex Vista HCx and has worked
well for me. The added advantage of the the Garmin is that you can
customize how your unit records data logging.
Click to expand...
Can you tell me what you do to customize the logging? I got a Vista HCx a few months ago and haven't tried geo-tagging my photos yet but would like too.
tbiehn said:
One thing to remember on saving track logs within the unit itself is
that you will loose the time stamp and no longer be able to sync with
the camera. Always save your track log to your computer, this will
retain the time stamp with the track log.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by this? Do you have the GPS connected to the laptop while logging or can you just import the tracklog into Garmin MapSource?
tbiehn said:
http://pbase.com/TBIEHN
....I'm going there...because I've never been there!......
Click to expand...
--
Greg
http://www.pictureroanoke.com

The hardest thing a person has to do is live by their own words. - Me 2006
 
Avi33 said:
Will either of these devices with the recommended software work with
embedding coordinates in RAW files, or only JPEGs?
Click to expand...
RoboGeo will write GPS coordinates to the EXIF data of both Raw and Jpeg files.

At this point, I only do this with the Jpegs, as I'm reluctant to do anything to change the original Raw files, out of concern for creating compatibility problems for conversion down the road. This fear is likely unjustified, but given my overall workflow, having the GPS data and coordinates available in the Jpeg files is all I really need anyway. I also save the original GPX files for each trip, which contains all the data which can be used at any time in the future.

Here's an example of a Google Earth file, with image thumbnails, from my last trip to Costa Rica:

http://www.dlcphoto.com/CR6-Birds1/CR6-Birds1.kmz

Hope this helps!

--
Don Cohen
http://www.dlcphoto.com
Ultimate Costa Rica Photo Safari, May 30 - June 9, 2008
http://www.dlcphoto.com/CRPS1207/PhotoSafari5General.htm
Brazil's Pantanal Photo Expedition, Nov. 1-10, 2008
http://www.ietravel.com/itindisplay.asp?itinid=1067&ieid=628774
 
i HAVE THE GiSTEQ™ PhotoTrackr CD111.
http://www.gisteq.com/PhotoTrackrProducts.php

It works fine. The included software only works with jpegs but you can upgrade to the 'pro" version for $30.00 and it works with RAW files. Worth the upgrade if you shoot RAW.

Works fine too. My only issue is customer support from this company. I had a software issue and they were useless. Post on their forum and other users answer fairly quickly though.
--

'Women and cats will do as they please and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.' -- Robert A. Heinlein
 
Track logs on the Garmin units will loose the time stamp if you save the track log within the unit. You can save 30 or 40 tracklogs within your unit for later use, but these saved tracks loose the time stamp. You need to download the current track log to your computer to retain the time stamp. This isn't really a problem as you can record up to 10,000 pts before the current track log memory is full. This can be a couple of weeks of track logging depending on use.

If all you are interested in is geo tagging your images, a simple data logger is fine but if your interested in knowing where you are, where you've been and where you are going, a mapping grade unit has MANY more advantages. I am a little anal in that regard as I have traveled to many parts of the world (as my web page shows) and my GPS always gets my butt back to camp, my hotel and home. A simple data logger is wothless in that regard. I never leave home without it!!!!
--
http://pbase.com/TBIEHN
....I'm going there...because I've never been there!......
 
tbiehn said:
Track logs on the Garmin units will loose the time stamp if you save
the track log within the unit. You can save 30 or 40 tracklogs within
your unit for later use, but these saved tracks loose the time stamp.
Click to expand...
So if I download a track that was saved within the handheld unit, it loses time stamps. If I download the active track within the unit, it will have the timestamps? Wow, that sounds like a real design flaw. I sometimes save multiple tracks in one day.
tbiehn said:
You need to download the current track log to your computer to retain
the time stamp. This isn't really a problem as you can record up to
10,000 pts before the current track log memory is full. This can be a
couple of weeks of track logging depending on use.
Click to expand...
tbiehn said:
If all you are interested in is geo tagging your images, a simple
data logger is fine but if your interested in knowing where you are,
where you've been and where you are going, a mapping grade unit has
MANY more advantages. I am a little anal in that regard as I have
traveled to many parts of the world (as my web page shows) and my GPS
always gets my butt back to camp, my hotel and home. A simple data
logger is wothless in that regard. I never leave home without it!!!!
Click to expand...
I bought it to use hiking, fishing, mountain biking and motorcycle riding. The geotagging came as an after thought. I guess I better try it before I head to Arizona in September so I can get it figured out.

Thanks for the help.

--
Greg
http://www.pictureroanoke.com

The hardest thing a person has to do is live by their own words. - Me 2006
 
If you mean take a photo with the iPhone 3G and have it geocoded in-device, yes, the iPhone can already do that (but it and its ecosystem are not great about preserving the EXIF-GPS).

http://scilib.typepad.com/techreviews/2008/07/iphone-ecosyste.html

If you mean, can the iPhone 3G record a GPS tracklog in GPX or NMEA and then export it for post-synchronisation, to my surprise I can't find an app that does this (I'd be happy if someone can point me to one).

-- Richard Akerman
Jo' Chambers said:
Thanks for that link. Any idea if this will work with the new iphone
3G, as that has GPS in it.

--
For those inclined, I can be found here:
http://www.pbase.com/jchambers
Click to expand...
 
gmacklem said:
Greg Wrote: "So if I download a track that was saved within the handheld unit, > it loses time stamps. If I download the active track within the unit, it will have > the timestamps? Wow, that sounds like a real design flaw. I sometimes save > multiple tracks in one day."
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree, it is a flaw and I have complained to Garmin about this. If you understand the limitations in that regard, you can work around it. From Garmin's stand point, this saves space in the saved track log file and the only time/date feature tied to the track log is the creation date. For all but those that who wish to Geotag there photos, this is all that is needed. It is only us photographers that really need a time stamp.

On a recent 4 week trip to Africa, I just made a point of saving the track log to my laptop when it reached 95%. This required only 3 downloads for the entire trip and covered more than 2500 miles. I usually leave the logging feature set to "Auto", and the number of points set to the maximum of 10,000, seems to be the most efficient for my needs. Sometimes this might create a long leg in the track log between points but RoboGeo recognizes this and will pro-rate the location.

The one nice thing about this is that it does give you control. A simple data logger
gives you very little, if any.
Hope that helps. I'm still learning also.
--
http://pbase.com/TBIEHN
....I'm going there...because I've never been there!......
 
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