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Opteka GPN-1 GPS/Geotagger

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kenmo

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I purchased this unit late autumn 2015 and have been using it on my Nikon D7100. Although it is a bit slow to get a signal when first switched on, I am very satisfied with the unit, especially considering it's price.

I've not tried the unit with my D3300.

Last week I purchased a D7000 body at BestBuy which was marked down to $299 for quick clearance. The D7000 works well. However it does have some issues with the Opteka GPS. When the GPS is switched on and trying to establish a signal, the menu will not display on the D7000. The same thing happens when the GPS establishes a signal. Also the shutter release button is super sensitive and often fires when trying to focus via the shutter release. I do not have these issues when the GPS is not turned on and mounted on the D7000.

These problems do not occur with the D7100.

Anyone else have this issue with the D7000 and this GPS?

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Ken
 
Anyone using this GPS with a D7000? Or any recommendations for a GPS/geotagger for a D7000?
 
Just ordered one for my D7000. Will try it out and let you know if I have the same results.

Alternatively, I've been using a GPS app on my phone that generates a Trackpoint file and then use the Lightroom Plugin "Jeffrey's GeoEncoder" to match the photo's time to the trackpoint location. That works very well when I remember to start the app prior to my shooting session. A third alternative is to use Google maps to get the Lat/Lon of the shoot location and encode all the pictures from the session with it.

Steve
 
I too use an iPhone alternative as it works with all my gear and it works very well for me. Geotag Photo's Pro. Best is the price for a few bucks you can tag all your photos in LR in a few clicks.

I'm very happy.

Mike
 
Good suggestion for those that have an iPhone or smartphone. I only have a cell phone that is not "smart". So using a phone is out for me. No need to upgrade my phone to play Pokemon or for geotagging.
 
kenmo said:
Good suggestion for those that have an iPhone or smartphone. I only have a cell phone that is not "smart". So using a phone is out for me. No need to upgrade my phone to play Pokemon or for geotagging.
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The SmartPhone tagging does require fore-thought and time sync to the camera as well. It works well but requires you to start logging, etc. But I like there is no clunky wires and connections and such. I sure wish ALL camera's in 2017 will have built in GPS, that is the best solution.

I get it. I resisted for a while too.

There are a "few" more things you can do with the smartphone though. LOL!

Mike
 
But it requires a Smart phone. Something I do not have NOR am I interested in purchasing.... :-)
 
kenmo said:
But it requires a Smart phone. Something I do not have NOR am I interested in purchasing.... :-)
Click to expand...
Yes I get it - thus my I resisted for a while comment. :)

Check...

Mike
 
Perhaps replacing the geotagger that attaches to a camera with an hand held one that does similar logging and geotagging as a Smart Phone would be an option....
 
Hi Ken,

Got my GPN-1 today and tried it on my D7000. Seems to work correctly and as expected. None of the symptoms you mention are present. My Menu is available whenever (before/during/after GPS Sat. Signal acquisition) and my shutter release seems to be exactly as before. I tried a couple of partial presses to see if I could and was able to hold the press for 2-5 seconds until I specifically let go or pressed to take the shot.

Sounds like yours (or your D7000) might have some kind of issue. Based on a very small sample size, of course. If you have access to another Nikon that takes the Opteka, maybe try it on a different body to see if it's the Opteka or your camera body.

Let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to check with mine...

Steve
 
I tried the Opteka GPN-1 on both my D7100 & my D3000. And it works flawlessly...

I've been using my D7000 alot as it is my most recent purchase and I've had no other issues with it, except the GPS issue. Best Buy had the D7000 body only on clearance for $299 (Canada) and the deal was just too good to pass by. I thought it would make an awesome backup to my D7100.

Perhaps it's a firmware issue? I'll check my version on the D7000. What is your version?

Thanks

Ken
 
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kenmo said:
I tried the Opteka GPN-1 on both my D7100 & my D3000. And it works flawlessly...

...

Perhaps it's a firmware issue? I'll check my version on the D7000. What is your version?

Thanks

Ken
Click to expand...
My versions are

A 1.04

B 1.05

L 2.005

A&B are the latest available (since 2014) on Nikonusa's web site and L shouldn't have any affect since it's the lens distortion data...

Steve
 
My are

A 1.04

B 1.05

L 2.09
 
Only other idea I have is to try and find a GP-1 to try and see if it might be the GPS connection circuitry in your D7000. If that is flakey, then you could send the D7000 to Nikon...I'm not sure they would do anything based on an Opteka GPS having a "problem".

Have you checked with Opteka to see if this might be a known issue (maybe certain range of serial # D7000)?

Just a couple of random thoughts at this point...

S
 
Picked up a 2nd D7000 body used and it is having the exact same issues as my other D7000 with this Opteka GPN-1 GPS unit. As stated before on the D7100 and D3300 it works flawlessly...

So must be something to do with my GPS unit...
 
Anyone using a GPS with thier D7000 other than the Opteka GPN-1?
 
kenmo said:
Anyone using a GPS with thier D7000 other than the Opteka GPN-1?
Click to expand...
I finally gave up on my Opteka and got a Solmeta Geotagger NC-3 (Nikon cord). It works much better...quicker to acquire the satellites, more reliable connection to them, much lower power consumption. Cons include more expensive, and (same as the Opteka) no really good mounting alternatives. The Solmeta does come with a neck-strap clip which can leave your hot-shoe available (as well as the built-in flash) but it is flimsy and sometimes falls off the neck-strap.

Summing it up, there is no better solution than built-in but since the D7XX series does not have built in GPS, the Solmeta is a pretty good alternative
 
Thanks kindly for your replies...
 
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