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Sony A9 - A7 MK3 - GPS apps reliability

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ilarioangonese

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Hi to all

I'd like to ask if your camera <-> phone connection work properly.

In my case no, if I reboot the phone and start the camera it work as aspect. but after few minute / hours no. I turn on the camera, and the connection to phone doesn,t work.

Really it's strange I check all my android phone setup such battery restrictions, and I've lock the sony app allow all permission.

The unique mode to wake app the connection is opening the apps in the gps connection tab, switch off the connection then switch on. and it works for few minutes than return to sleep again.

I've also uninstall the app a couple of time. but nothing change.

My phone is a xiaomi Mi5,

did someone find this problem and solve it?

I need this function.

thanks

Ilario
 
Paul Barnard said:
AndrewPD said:
Steve W said:
AndrewPD said:
Paul Barnard said:
Steve W wrote:
.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I'm a fan of GeoTag Photos as well. I run it on my iPhoneX and tag at 2 minute intervals which is more than enough for an old slow landscape guy. I see no noticable battery impact overall on the iPhoneX. I use Houdah Geo for the tagging rather than Lightroom as it gives a bit more flexibility and you can drag the locations around.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion - I'll give Houdah a try.
 
AndrewPD said:
Steve W said:
AndrewPD said:
Steve W said:
Let's face it Sony really doesn't care. Their solution is half baked and unreliable.

I've owned two generations of Canon solution. First the 5D Mark III with the external GP-E2 receiver and now the 5D Mark IV with the integrated and both just work. Even my wife's 5 year old Panasonic Lumix has an integrated receiver that really works and I think I paid $250 for that point and shoot.

If Sony isn't going to integrate a receiver and do it right and at this point for most of us with Mark III and A9 cameras we would not want to have to buy a new body then come out with a reliable external module with new firmware for the bodies that can access the GDS radio.

My recommendation to those that really want or need reliable GPS go with Canon, or some other brand that offers something that works. Or buy a reliable tracker and learn to do the sync up in Lightroom or in Photo Mechanics.

Steve W
Click to expand...
No need for a tracker. Simply use a GPS tracker app on your phone. Eg Geotag Photos Pro and sync in Lightroom. Until they fix Play Memories Mobile
Click to expand...
Problem is phone GPS are much more hungry for power than some of the stand alone trackers in my experience. Stand alone trackers can run for days while when GPS is active on the phone the lifetime of the tracker AND the phone is much less for large smart phones like an IPhone.

Steve
Click to expand...
I agree that it is a compromise but who (in truth) doesn’t already charge their phone every night. I have been running Geotag Photos Pro all day every day for the last two weeks and it has taken up no more than 10% of my battery (P20 Pro) after a full day, compared with not running it at all. I have set it to take a position every 15 seconds, which is enough for my needs. Given that Sony’s software is cr*p at the moment it’s the only practical, cheap and easy solution for the time being in my opinion.
Click to expand...
I've downloaded Geotag Photos Pro 2 which the developers now have but I thought it would only be $7.99 but I guess the price has risen to $11+. Will still try it out. If it works it will be worth it.

Steve W
 
Ok I will try and pay for a third part app instead of sony bad work...

This can be a good point for class action to sony.

Does geotag photo pro 2 work also with capture one?
 
Steve W said:
AndrewPD said:
Steve W said:
AndrewPD said:
Steve W said:
Let's face it Sony really doesn't care. Their solution is half baked and unreliable.

I've owned two generations of Canon solution. First the 5D Mark III with the external GP-E2 receiver and now the 5D Mark IV with the integrated and both just work. Even my wife's 5 year old Panasonic Lumix has an integrated receiver that really works and I think I paid $250 for that point and shoot.

If Sony isn't going to integrate a receiver and do it right and at this point for most of us with Mark III and A9 cameras we would not want to have to buy a new body then come out with a reliable external module with new firmware for the bodies that can access the GDS radio.

My recommendation to those that really want or need reliable GPS go with Canon, or some other brand that offers something that works. Or buy a reliable tracker and learn to do the sync up in Lightroom or in Photo Mechanics.

Steve W
Click to expand...
No need for a tracker. Simply use a GPS tracker app on your phone. Eg Geotag Photos Pro and sync in Lightroom. Until they fix Play Memories Mobile
Click to expand...
Problem is phone GPS are much more hungry for power than some of the stand alone trackers in my experience. Stand alone trackers can run for days while when GPS is active on the phone the lifetime of the tracker AND the phone is much less for large smart phones like an IPhone.

Steve
Click to expand...
I agree that it is a compromise but who (in truth) doesn’t already charge their phone every night. I have been running Geotag Photos Pro all day every day for the last two weeks and it has taken up no more than 10% of my battery (P20 Pro) after a full day, compared with not running it at all. I have set it to take a position every 15 seconds, which is enough for my needs. Given that Sony’s software is cr*p at the moment it’s the only practical, cheap and easy solution for the time being in my opinion.
Click to expand...
I've downloaded Geotag Photos Pro 2 which the developers now have but I thought it would only be $7.99 but I guess the price has risen to $11+. Will still try it out. If it works it will be worth it.

Steve W
Click to expand...
That sounds about right. I paid £8.99 for it. You can do some test tracks without paying for it (too late now?)

Someone on the forum suggested Houdah Geo rather than Lightroom for assigning the locations - I'm going to try that when I get back from my current trip.
 
Steve W said:
I've downloaded Geotag Photos Pro 2 which the developers now have but I thought it would only be $7.99 but I guess the price has risen to $11+.
Click to expand...
On Android I had a good experience with the free GPSLogger. It is very configurable and it even automatically uploads the resulting .GPX file to Google Drive. It's very convenient, no fiddling with cables, I just take the file on the computer and feed it to Lightroom.
 
Urfin said:
Steve W said:
I've downloaded Geotag Photos Pro 2 which the developers now have but I thought it would only be $7.99 but I guess the price has risen to $11+.
Click to expand...
On Android I had a good experience with the free GPSLogger. It is very configurable and it even automatically uploads the resulting .GPX file to Google Drive. It's very convenient, no fiddling with cables, I just take the file on the computer and feed it to Lightroom.
Click to expand...
Which one, please - there are a few by that name. Would like to try it for comparison .
 
ilarioangonese said:
Ok I will try and pay for a third part app instead of sony bad work...

This can be a good point for class action to sony.

Does geotag photo pro 2 work also with capture one?
Click to expand...
I will test this week but if its a standard gpx file I would think so.

Steve
 
AndrewPD said:
Steve W said:
AndrewPD said:
Steve W said:
AndrewPD said:
Steve W said:
Let's face it Sony really doesn't care. Their solution is half baked and unreliable.

I've owned two generations of Canon solution. First the 5D Mark III with the external GP-E2 receiver and now the 5D Mark IV with the integrated and both just work. Even my wife's 5 year old Panasonic Lumix has an integrated receiver that really works and I think I paid $250 for that point and shoot.

If Sony isn't going to integrate a receiver and do it right and at this point for most of us with Mark III and A9 cameras we would not want to have to buy a new body then come out with a reliable external module with new firmware for the bodies that can access the GDS radio.

My recommendation to those that really want or need reliable GPS go with Canon, or some other brand that offers something that works. Or buy a reliable tracker and learn to do the sync up in Lightroom or in Photo Mechanics.

Steve W
Click to expand...
No need for a tracker. Simply use a GPS tracker app on your phone. Eg Geotag Photos Pro and sync in Lightroom. Until they fix Play Memories Mobile
Click to expand...
Problem is phone GPS are much more hungry for power than some of the stand alone trackers in my experience. Stand alone trackers can run for days while when GPS is active on the phone the lifetime of the tracker AND the phone is much less for large smart phones like an IPhone.

Steve
Click to expand...
I agree that it is a compromise but who (in truth) doesn’t already charge their phone every night. I have been running Geotag Photos Pro all day every day for the last two weeks and it has taken up no more than 10% of my battery (P20 Pro) after a full day, compared with not running it at all. I have set it to take a position every 15 seconds, which is enough for my needs. Given that Sony’s software is cr*p at the moment it’s the only practical, cheap and easy solution for the time being in my opinion.
Click to expand...
I've downloaded Geotag Photos Pro 2 which the developers now have but I thought it would only be $7.99 but I guess the price has risen to $11+. Will still try it out. If it works it will be worth it.

Steve W
Click to expand...
That sounds about right. I paid £8.99 for it. You can do some test tracks without paying for it (too late now?)

Someone on the forum suggested Houdah Geo rather than Lightroom for assigning the locations - I'm going to try that when I get back from my current trip.
Click to expand...
I plan to use Photo Mechanic for the location assignment.
 
Steve W said:
ilarioangonese said:
Ok I will try and pay for a third part app instead of sony bad work...

This can be a good point for class action to sony.

Does geotag photo pro 2 work also with capture one?
Click to expand...
I will test this week but if its a standard gpx file I would think so.

Steve
Click to expand...
Thamks Steve.

Please leave a feedback!
 
AndrewPD said:
Urfin said:
On Android I had a good experience with the free GPSLogger. It is very configurable and it even automatically uploads the resulting .GPX file to Google Drive. It's very convenient, no fiddling with cables, I just take the file on the computer and feed it to Lightroom.
Click to expand...
Which one, please - there are a few by that name. Would like to try it for comparison .
Click to expand...
This one:

Loading…

play.google.com

I've set the logging interval to 120 seconds because I don't need higher precision when I'm walking.

Also when you enable Google drive upload I think that by default it uploads the data in a ZIP file, so I've disabled compression in the options and it uploads a plain .gpx file.

The only problem is to remember to start it when going out of the door.
 
Urfin said:
AndrewPD said:
Urfin said:
On Android I had a good experience with the free GPSLogger. It is very configurable and it even automatically uploads the resulting .GPX file to Google Drive. It's very convenient, no fiddling with cables, I just take the file on the computer and feed it to Lightroom.
Click to expand...
Which one, please - there are a few by that name. Would like to try it for comparison .
Click to expand...
This one:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mendhak.gpslogger

I've set the logging interval to 120 seconds because I don't need higher precision when I'm walking.

Also when you enable Google drive upload I think that by default it uploads the data in a ZIP file, so I've disabled compression in the options and it uploads a plain .gpx file.

The only problem is to remember to start it when going out of the door.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I’ll give it a test to see if it offers advantages over my current solution
 
few week ago sony has release a new version of playmemories mobile, but they haven't fix the gps issues.

This is a nightmare!

PLS. can you confirm that the problem is not solved?
 
Since Ver 3.0 update it seems starting work!

can anyone test and confirm?

Is the nightmare finished?
 
Mine is not fixed by version 3 firmware. Camera and phone connected with BT. When the phone goes to sleep, all is well as long as I leave the camera on....when I turn the camera off and then back on again the gps stays disconnected. I have downloaded two Apps. Insomnia and screen dimmer. Before I go for my morning walk I turn the phone on and the camera on...BT and GPS connects. I then turn Insomnia on for 30 mins and screen dimmer down so I cannot see the screen text. I put my phone in my jacket pocket and forget about it. I can turn my camera on and off as many times as I like and GPS connects within 4-5 secs. when I turn the camera back on. Works for me.....

(Pixel 2 android, Sony A7 lll).
 
Alexander Meredith said:
Mine is not fixed by version 3 firmware. Camera and phone connected with BT. When the phone goes to sleep, all is well as long as I leave the camera on....when I turn the camera off and then back on again the gps stays disconnected. I have downloaded two Apps. Insomnia and screen dimmer. Before I go for my morning walk I turn the phone on and the camera on...BT and GPS connects. I then turn Insomnia on for 30 mins and screen dimmer down so I cannot see the screen text. I put my phone in my jacket pocket and forget about it. I can turn my camera on and off as many times as I like and GPS connects within 4-5 secs. when I turn the camera back on. Works for me.....

(Pixel 2 android, Sony A7 lll).
Click to expand...
It does seem to be much better on iPhone now, not perfect, but stays connected through a days shooting including powering the camera on and off.

From the various comments about the forum it looks like Android still has a few problems.
 
I confirm, in this 2 last days, only one time it fault.

for me is far better.

a7iii + xiaomi MI5
 
If anything FW3 has made things worse for me. After the new app I could establish a connection between phone and camera (after both have been off for sometime) using the Location Information Linkage” button. Now I have had to revert to turning the phone Bluetooth off and on again.
 
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