Review: Dawn Technology Di-Eco Pro-F GPS

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
My hobbies are travel and photography. As such, I’m a huge advocate of GPS encoding images. I’ve been using a GPS with my D300 since 2008. The first device I used was the Columbia nGPS (see below). This was a hard wired product similar to the Nikon GP-1. It was one of the first available GP-1 clones and less than half the price. It worked well but the 10-pin remote terminal cable was awkward when storing or removing the camera from a bag.
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Searching for a solution that would resolve the cable nuisance, I moved to the Aokatec AK-4NII Bluetooth Adapter paired with a Holux M-1000C Bluetooth GPS Data Logger. This is an easy to use solution and always reliable. The only nagging drawbacks to this solution are having another device to charge (which can be difficult while traveling) and ensuring the camera and GPS are always close enough to remain paired. The positives are that since the GPS stays on even while the camera is off, satellite acquisition is pretty immediate and the AK-4NII does not interfere with bag usage.

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I had no intention of replacing my Bluetooth solution until I became aware of the Dawn Technology Di-Eco Pro-F. It seemingly addresses all the potential nuisances: no cable, no extra device to charge, doesn’t interfere with bag usage. Big pluses are that the Di-Eco Pro-F is weathered sealed, has a pass through for a 10-pin remote shutter release and uses less power than the Nikon GP-1. I placed an order on the vendors website and received it very quickly from Hong Kong.

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In practice, I’ve found the Di-Eco Pro-F to be a phenomenal solution. It works exactly as designed and as I hoped. It is a little taller on the D300 than the AK-4NII. Because of that it slightly blocks the flash compensation button on a D300. There is a slight lag while a satellite is acquired but I realize that I was spoiled by the Bluetooth solution and the GPS being always on.

I highly recommend the Di-Eco Pro-F. It works on the Nikon D4, D3, D3S, D3X, D700, D800, D800E, D300, D300S, D2XS, D2X, D2HS, D200 & Fujifilm S5 Pro. Moose Peterson also thinks highly of the Di-Eco Pro-F.

Dawn Technology also produces a “consumer” model (Di-Eco Pro-S) that supports the Nikon D600, D7000, D7100, D5000, D5100, D5200 D3100, D3200 and Coolpix P7700. Terry White has posted a positive review of the Di-Eco Pro-S.

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jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
Thanks for posting this Eduard! Did you buy it direct from their site? I can't seem to find it anywhere.
 

Anth33

New member
Hi!
Has anyone else had extensive experience testing the Di-Eco Pro-F GPS?
I'm thinking of buying it. It looks like the ideal solution for a Nikon D800 by avoiding bulky units and cables.

Thanks in advance!
 

canux

New member
Hi!
Has anyone else had extensive experience testing the Di-Eco Pro-F GPS?
I'm thinking of buying it. It looks like the ideal solution for a Nikon D800 by avoiding bulky units and cables.

Thanks in advance!

I got the Eco-Pro-F-M last week. The difference with the 'M' model is that it keeps track of where it was used last so most of the time getting a location is quicker (it knows what satellites to look for first).

I practice this just means that it has a lock within a couple of seconds when I am outside, and maybe 5-10 seconds when I am indoors. So far I love it and it just lives on my D800e now.

I ordered it directly from the manufacturer in HK, and I had no trouble at all getting it.
 
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