GPS/Geotagging

T

traceyjj

Senior Member
Looking for a little advice please.

I am looking for a way to be able to geotag my images as I take them.
What options are available for the D800.

I dont normally take my phone out and about when I go rambling, and when we go abroad, the internet is prohibitively expensive so using my phone is not really an option. What other methods do people here use to locate their photos as they take them?

Many thanks
T :)
 
S

SteveH

Senior Member
traceyjj said:
Looking for a little advice please.

I am looking for a way to be able to geotag my images as I take them.
What options are available for the D800.

I dont normally take my phone out and about when I go rambling, and when we go abroad, the internet is prohibitively expensive so using my phone is not really an option. What other methods do people here use to locate their photos as they take them?

Many thanks
T :)
Click to expand...

Hi Tracey,
I use my phone with a location tracking app... It records your GPS position in a file that you can then upload to Lightroom, but it doesn't have to use your mobile internet connection. It will load up the Google map layer if internet is on, but if you switch it off it will still track your position. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.maps.mytracks&hl=en_GB

Other than that, you are basically looking at a GPS for your camera... The thing that puts me off them is having the connection flap open all the time it is fitted.
 
T

traceyjj

Senior Member
Thanks for that information. I basically switch my phone off when I am overseas as I have been bitten and had to pay a huge bill for internet. I assumed that GPS would require me to be connected all the time... looks like I may have assumed wrongly :)

I'll look into this option (and any others that are suggested too)

Cheers
 
S

SteveH

Senior Member
traceyjj said:
Thanks for that information. I basically switch my phone off when I am overseas as I have been bitten and had to pay a huge bill for internet. I assumed that GPS would require me to be connected all the time... looks like I may have assumed wrongly :)

I'll look into this option (and any others that are suggested too)

Cheers
Click to expand...

If you switch off your mobile internet, then nothing will be downloaded like maps etc. The app will still track your position using the GPS (free). The downside to the app is that the phone and camera must have the same time (Within a minute should be fine) and that you have to remember to switch the app on at the start of your days trip - And also it can drain the battery.

The up-side is that the app I linked above is free - If you have an IPhone, just look for any app that records GPX files.

It is a more "Clunky" solution, works for occasional use.
 
S

SteveH

Senior Member
traceyjj said:
with something like that, do you get everything you need to geotag, or do you need to buy something else as well as the adaptor (sorry, very new with this sort of tech :( and am at *ork so I cant look at videos :(
Click to expand...

Nothing else is need with these Tracey, you may need to tick a box in your camera settings, but thats all... When the camera stores the EXIF data, the lat / long geotag info is embedded for you.... Much more slick than than my phone app!
 
T

traceyjj

Senior Member
SteveH said:
If you switch off your mobile internet, then nothing will be downloaded like maps etc. The app will still track your position using the GPS (free). The downside to the app is that the phone and camera must have the same time (Within a minute should be fine) and that you have to remember to switch the app on at the start of your days trip - And also it can drain the battery.

The up-side is that the app I linked above is free - If you have an IPhone, just look for any app that records GPX files.

It is a more "Clunky" solution, works for occasional use.
Click to expand...

No iPhone here... so that app should work on my Sony xperia yes?

I will give this solution a try, but I think when hubby and I go out on a long days walk, my battery will give out. We are talking about going to Cornwall for a walk along the coastline, so it would be a great way to test this method, thanks :)
 
Eduard

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
traceyjj said:
With something like that, do you get everything you need to geotag, or do you need to buy something else as well as the adaptor (sorry, very new with this sort of tech :( and am at work so I cant look at videos :(
Click to expand...

You will also need a GPS Receiver. I use one by Holux.
 
S

SteveH

Senior Member
traceyjj said:
No iPhone here... so that app should work on my Sony xperia yes?

I will give this solution a try, but I think when hubby and I go out on a long days walk, my battery will give out. We are talking about going to Cornwall for a walk along the coastline, so it would be a great way to test this method, thanks :)
Click to expand...

I believe the Xperia is Android so it should work fine... Just have a play with the app before your trip and double check your phone's manual to ensure mobile internet is off when you want it off.

Eduard said:
You will also need a GPS Receiver. I use one by Holux.
Click to expand...

I thought the Nikon GPS was an all-in-one solution, I didn't realise more bits were needed.
 
Bob Blaylock

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
traceyjj said:
Looking for a little advice please.

I am looking for a way to be able to geotag my images as I take them.
What options are available for the D800
Click to expand...
.

The easiest way is a GPS unit that connects to your camera. Nikon's GP-1a is ridiculously overpriced, at just the far side of $300, but will do exactly what you're asking for here. Fortunately, there are a number of third-party knockoffs, at much more reasonable prices. About a year ago, I bought this one for about $50, and I have not been dissatisfied with it. I doubt Nikon's unit works any better than this one does.

About the only thing I could wish for out of such a device, that this one doesn't have (and as far as I know, no comparable unit yet does) is support for GLONASS as well as GPS. GLONASS is Russia's alternate to GPS, and the only other fully-functional navigation system of this type. My cell phone (A Samsung Galaxy S3) support both. GLONASS might be a bit better, by itself, than GPS, but the two of them being used together, as my cell phone does, is much better than either of them individually. I'd love to have a GPS/GLONASS unit for my camera that works as well as my cell phone does; but for now, I think we're stuck with GPS only.


traceyjj said:
I dont [sic] normally take my phone out and about when I go rambling, and when we go abroad, the internet is prohibitively expensive so using my phone is not really an option.
Click to expand...

There are a number of methods that involve using your cell phone's GPS to record position information to be used to tag photographs. If your cell phone supports GLONASS as well, then it may be worth the considerable extra trouble to use this compared to an on-camera GPS. One thing you should know is that GPS and GLONASS support do not require internet or cell phone connections; so your issue with the cost of your internet access really isn't an issue here.
 
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