Geo tagging, which hardware?

[Jandiep]

Hello all,

No quite sure if this is the right section of the forum for this question, but please redirect me if wrong.

For my next holiday travel, I would like to "Geo tagging" my photo's.
Anyone any experience which GPS devices like PhotoTrackr ,I Got U or Qstarz?
My special interest is the sensitivety of the device, does it receives its data when it's just attached to the camera bag or camera strap or does it need a clear view to the sky?

I found already 2 software programs to merge the images with the gps data, Microsoft Pro Photo tools2 and GeoSetter.

Thanks, Jan

[Steaphany]

I'm partial to and was planning on getting Jobo's PhotoGPS, here is the PhotoGPS on Jobo's web site.

All GPS receivers need a radio clear view of the sky. Since the PhotoGPS receiver mounts to the hot shoe, it's kept clear of potential obstructions, as long as you're not shooting under a metal roof.

Another positive of the PhotoGPS is that it's a package with both hardware and software, which means fewer, hopefully, problems syncing the GPS data with the photos.

[Daniel Salazar]

how ccompatible would you like to have it with your camera?, what OS do you have?

[Jandiep]

Hi Steaphany,
Indead the Jobo's PhotoGPS looks very nice!. The only thing is that it's twice the price as a PhotoTrackr! here in The Netherlands. And you cannont use the camara flash unit for what that's worth.

Regards,Jan

[Jandiep]

Hi Daniel,
I do not mind to do some pc processing to merge GPS data and images. I'm using a Canon 1000D and did not found GPS unit which directly interfaces with the camera as they are available for Nikon.
I'm using Xp home and Ubuntu 9

Thanks,
Jan

[Steaphany]

Jan,

I agree with you about the price being comparatively high.

I have read through the manual and the PhotoGPS has a button to manually trigger it to save a Hint. When needing to shoot indoors or using a flash, save a hint before and after. Later in processing, the hints allow you to tag the photos shot without the PhotoGPS.

[Daniel Salazar]

Hi Jan, why don't you try the Sony GPS-CS1KA, it's not expensive and its software works on a PC.

[rc53]

Hi Steaphany,
Indead the Jobo's PhotoGPS looks very nice!. The only thing is that it's twice the price as a PhotoTrackr! here in The Netherlands. And you cannont use the camara flash unit for what that's worth.

Regards,Jan

I found that the Jobo works well, even under trees, but it ain't so cheap. The software will automatically tag images with keywords, which in Lightroom don't have commas or > in them, so the whole set of 'street town country' becomes one new keyword -- it's a bit annoying, and you need to edit manually.

It can be indirectly used with a pop-up flash -- there's a button on the side which you can press if the gizmo isn't connected to the hot shoe -- take pic with flash, press the button, done.

[Jandiep]

Hi All,

I just received my igotU-120 GPS. The reason I bought this one ? I'm dutch so for sure it has to do with the price.
First try-outs revealed some issues, Like no ON-OFF possibility and no connection between the device and the PC. Reload of the SW, and a device reset did the trick.
Sensitivity under trees is't 100%, but enough samples do work with.

Regards,
Jan

[dendrophile]

Guys,

I am a bit cheap... so geotag my photos manually. I only bother to geotag the ones I put online, and, I don't geotag all that are online. This is what I do:

1. I use the power of my memory to recall where I took particular photos.
2. On my website I have a little page that basically is a google map of the world, but as you interact with the map it dumps out the coordinates of the centre of the map.
3. Once I have navigated to the right part of the world, which is not always quick, I copy the data from the label under the map.
4. In PS or Bridge I paste this info into the IPTC Location field.
5. In my gallery, if I find a photo has the Location field set, I set up a link to a google map centred on the location given.

Happy to share code or chat to anyone who wants to know more.

Enjoy,
Graham

[Colin Southern]

Guys,

I am a bit cheap... so geotag my photos manually.

Sounds like a good system Graham; I think I might struggle with step one though!

What were we talking about again?