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GPS on Z8

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gwalschl said:
I too have had nothing but problems over the years with Snapbridge on my Android phone. I finally gave up on it altogether and starting using my Garmin separately and downloading the GPX files and synchronizing trackpoints with photo timestamps using ExifTool. That works really well, but it's a PITA as well.
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That's what I did to geotag my pix when I was using the D300, a Garmin GPS and GPicSync software to add the location information info to the photos. But once I've gotten the D7500 and now the Z8, using Snapbridge is much better. Perhaps give Snapbridge another try. I also use an Android phone.

Here's an example from 2011:

 
HI,

I have used add-on GPS units for many years. I have a GP-1, but last year I purchased a newer unit which draws less current and the Z8's battery, can use up a lot of current and this one saves a bit. It works fine, It will not work with D3 or older model D camera connector is different.

In Canada:




db1d09e2fe5f46039668ee3f10b067b0.jpg
 
areallygrumpyoldsod said:
AksCT said:
Can Snapbridge in real-time incorporate location in Z8? In other words, if Snapbridge is running on smart phone, with its GPS active, can Snapbridge add GPS location data into EXIF images as captured by Z8 (thus images stored in Z8 memory card has gps location)?
Click to expand...
Yes it works well.

BUT -- it appears to need cell phone coverage -- which I did not understand. UNLESS ones phone does not use GPS but rather it pulls location data from cell towers. Hence one reason why I "found" my Nikon GP-1A GPS receivers and have tested them on my pair of Z8. BUT -- I test folk try Snapbridge with CELL coverage turned off. I will. It is better for me not to have wires and objects attached to my cameras - these tend to get damaged in my use.
Click to expand...
It depends. Snapbridge uses the Phones location services. So if the phone is set to NOT use GPS, but rather Cell Tower or WiFi location inference, then that is what you'll get. The latest version of SnapBridge also allow you to set sensitivity level (low/Medium/High).

I have zero issue with connecting, as long as I start SnapBride on my phone, it connect to my camera. I also sync 2MP photos to my phone, works well.
 
Doug Stead said:
HI,

I have used add-on GPS units for many years. I have a GP-1, but last year I purchased a newer unit which draws less current and the Z8's battery, can use up a lot of current and this one saves a bit. It works fine, It will not work with D3 or older model D camera connector is different.

In Canada:

https://www.amazon.ca/Micnova-GPS-N...mzn1.fos.b06bdbbe-20fd-4ebc-88cf-fa04f1ca0da8

db1d09e2fe5f46039668ee3f10b067b0.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing this. Lack of built-jn GPS is keeping me on the sideline regarding buying Z8. For me, getting Z8 means switching a new set of Z lenses, which I don't mind. The bulky add-on and cable would not work for me.
 
Just tried the Micnova GPS on my Z8 and it doesn't' work. It does work on my D500 and my D850. Not sure why it's not working but the GPS does not power on.
 
Thank you for this post. Coming from Pentax, I REALLY miss the integrated GPS. I am old and often forget the many places I've photographed, and now I have a Z8 and Zf, neither of which has GPS. I hate the hassle of Snapbridge and other software based solutions. I will definitely look into the unit you mention.
 
I was just on the Solmeta website and they don't list the Z8 as a supported camera. Have you actually sued this device on a Z8?
 
snapbridge doesnt work reliable for me, and its a bummer.

I ofc knew the Z8 had no GPS when i bought it, but it is annoying, and its one of the things that just makes you think "why can a €25 phone from aliexpress have gps, when nikons €4500 camera cant?". I understand that apple has made dongles all the rage again, but PLEASE, the things you cheap out on reflects on you.

Have they lost sales? no. Did they gain loyalty at very low cost? you be the judge.
 
Will Wagner said:
I was just on the Solmeta website and they don't list the Z8 as a supported camera. Have you actually sued this device on a Z8?
Click to expand...
It works on my Z8.
 
redeeman said:
snapbridge doesnt work reliable for me, and its a bummer.

I ofc knew the Z8 had no GPS when i bought it, but it is annoying, and its one of the things that just makes you think "why can a €25 phone from aliexpress have gps, when nikons €4500 camera cant?". I understand that apple has made dongles all the rage again, but PLEASE, the things you cheap out on reflects on you.

Have they lost sales? no. Did they gain loyalty at very low cost? you be the judge.
Click to expand...
There is no technology restriction preventing inclusion of gps in Z8. The added cost would be negligible for a camera in this price range.

My guess is that gps was excluded to maintain some feature separation between Z8 and Z9.

Lack of built-in gps is one of my major reasons that I decided not to get Z8
 
AksCT said:
redeeman said:
snapbridge doesnt work reliable for me, and its a bummer.

I ofc knew the Z8 had no GPS when i bought it, but it is annoying, and its one of the things that just makes you think "why can a €25 phone from aliexpress have gps, when nikons €4500 camera cant?". I understand that apple has made dongles all the rage again, but PLEASE, the things you cheap out on reflects on you.

Have they lost sales? no. Did they gain loyalty at very low cost? you be the judge.
Click to expand...
There is no technology restriction preventing inclusion of gps in Z8. The added cost would be negligible for a camera in this price range.

My guess is that gps was excluded to maintain some feature separation between Z8 and Z9.

Lack of built-in gps is one of my major reasons that I decided not to get Z8
Click to expand...
Agreed, I also really would like it, but I chose the Z8 over Z9 mostly because of size difference, and of course I wasnt sad about the cheaper price aswell. And fair enough, some product differentiation is okay, it just seems like a weird choice to me, especially when their app is quite unreliable(I would say horribly broken, but it seems it works for some, so lets say... horribly buggy).

I have snapbridge set to not be in lowpowermode, and accuracy to high, and yet it still randomly decides to go 10-15 minutes between updates, and sometimes it updates nicely.

I know its not the gps on my phone, as the gps tracking apps will work perfectly fine, and can give me a nice timestamped log, so I can have semiautomatic geotagging, just not straight sending the coordinates into the camera, but an extra process on my computer. Not the end of the world, but sad
 
I count myself among those who would have preferred built-in GPS on my Z8.

This thread reminds me that I have a Solmeta GMAX unit (with both adapter cables, iirc) buried in my gear drawer, so I plan to give that a try.

I’ve been using SnapBridge primarily because it’s convenient and works decently for geotagging; and, it grabs 8MP previews to my iPhone from my Z8 in the field.

Two downsides to the app, however, as others have noted:
  • the battery draw, and
  • using it when shooting with multiple bodies
The latter hasn’t been much of an issue for me simply because I’ve never been able to reliably pair my D850 with SnapBridge. 🤬

I plan to check out the GP-1A, also.

--
Moretti
"Things are more like they are now than they've ever been before."
 
Last edited:
AksCT said:
There is no technology restriction preventing inclusion of gps in Z8. The added cost would be negligible for a camera in this price range.

My guess is that gps was excluded to maintain some feature separation between Z8 and Z9.

Lack of built-in gps is one of my major reasons that I decided not to get Z8
Click to expand...
Another issue is that the GPS tends to draw a lot of battery power. I never feel that issue on the Z9, but with a much smaller battery, a built-in GPS on the Z8 can worsen the battery consumption issue.

There is the Dawn Tech, di-GPS solution for Nikon. I have purchased a few of their GPS units for the Nikon 10-pin connector, with mixed success. I had that unit on my D5 and D850, which have no build-in GPS. But I simply hate screwing anything onto that 10-pin connection, on any Nikon body. The Z8 and Z9 are a bit better since they face outward at an angle for slightly easier access.

Dawn Tech used to be in Hong Kong but has relocated to the UK in the last few years.
 
shuncheung said:
AksCT said:
There is no technology restriction preventing inclusion of gps in Z8. The added cost would be negligible for a camera in this price range.

My guess is that gps was excluded to maintain some feature separation between Z8 and Z9.

Lack of built-in gps is one of my major reasons that I decided not to get Z8
Click to expand...
Another issue is that the GPS tends to draw a lot of battery power. I never feel that issue on the Z9, but with a much smaller battery, a built-in GPS on the Z8 can worsen the battery consumption issue.

There is the Dawn Tech, di-GPS solution for Nikon. I have purchased a few of their GPS units for the Nikon 10-pin connector, with mixed success. I had that unit on my D5 and D850, which have no build-in GPS. But I simply hate screwing anything onto that 10-pin connection, on any Nikon body. The Z8 and Z9 are a bit better since they face outward at an angle for slightly easier access.

Dawn Tech used to be in Hong Kong but has relocated to the UK in the last few years.
Click to expand...
I don't know about battery consumpsion of GPS for Z9. I have a 10-year old P&S camera with built-in GPS. It acquires geolocation very rapidly, with minimal impact on the battery.
 
AksCT said:
shuncheung said:
AksCT said:
There is no technology restriction preventing inclusion of gps in Z8. The added cost would be negligible for a camera in this price range.

My guess is that gps was excluded to maintain some feature separation between Z8 and Z9.

Lack of built-in gps is one of my major reasons that I decided not to get Z8
Click to expand...
Another issue is that the GPS tends to draw a lot of battery power. I never feel that issue on the Z9, but with a much smaller battery, a built-in GPS on the Z8 can worsen the battery consumption issue.

There is the Dawn Tech, di-GPS solution for Nikon. I have purchased a few of their GPS units for the Nikon 10-pin connector, with mixed success. I had that unit on my D5 and D850, which have no build-in GPS. But I simply hate screwing anything onto that 10-pin connection, on any Nikon body. The Z8 and Z9 are a bit better since they face outward at an angle for slightly easier access.

Dawn Tech used to be in Hong Kong but has relocated to the UK in the last few years.
Click to expand...
I don't know about battery consumpsion of GPS for Z9. I have a 10-year old P&S camera with built-in GPS. It acquires geolocation very rapidly, with minimal impact on the battery.
Click to expand...
I have used various Dawn Tech GPS as well as Nikon's GP-1 and GP-1A. On the D800, the additional battery drain with the GPS is quite obvious.
 
Will Wagner said:
The Micnova doesn't say it works on the Z8. What am I missing?
Click to expand...
It looks like they have not updated their list of camaras since the D800 was introduced. In my experience, anything that works with the D600 or D800 will work with a Z-mount camera so long as you have the proper cable.
 
After trying Snapbridge with my Z7II and not liking what I perceived to be the extra battery consumption (phone and camera), I splurged for a Foolography N2 unit from B&H. It depends on having Foolography's app running on my phone (iPhone Xr) and a tiny---much smaller than Dawntech unit---unit plugged into the 10-pin on the Z7II. Power consumption *seems* less than using Snapbridge but I haven't A/B tested it. The downside is that the rubber port cover has to remain open with the Foolography N2 unit installed. The good side is that the N2 unit is so small, it doesn't interfere with the L-bracket. The Foolography interface on the phone is less stupid than Snapbridge.
 
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