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mdegrood · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 445 Location: Arizona

In reading about the Nikon D2X (I'm dreaming of upgrading from my D70), I became curious about the GPS support. I googled this
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/prophoto/gps.mspx
So I now I understand what it really does but I'm still pondering if it really has that much importance or if it's just a lot of trouble for something that only has a limited use. Sure I can see the historical value but I really don't think I need the data to help me find my way back to a shooting location. Maybe I'm missing something so I'm open to being educated.
I have a bad habit of wanting gadgets because they are so cool ...... but then this gadget is free with the purchase of a Nikon D2X and a compatable GPS unit.
I actually keep a Garmin GPS unit in my camera bag because I have a bad habit of wandering off and struggling to find my way back to the car, all I have to do is remember to input the coordinates before I walk away from the car;)

Marlene

sammyc · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:35 am

I think it's a great idea to have GPS data in the EXIF. Not for finding your way back etc, but for - as you say the historical importance. Maybe another person would like to go and find that location, or indeed check its authenticity :o)

LuvThatVert:) · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:12 am

Free! ... but...

I say get it if you are going to have and will maintain paying the subscription fee to the separate GPS unit regardless of the camera, otherwise you are creating an added expense there, so free may not allways mean w/o added expenses.

Check out this link to this very old site [2002] that once was very popular and in the news, it make extensive use of GPS & photography.

California Coastal Records Project
http://www.californiacoastline.org/

The photographer got sued for $50 million by Barbra Streisan for invasion of privacy by including her blufftop Malibu estate [photog won].

He photographed the entire California coastline with a GPS camera mounted on a helicopter.

GPS & photography will be more popular with sites like google and other map making places. Features like photographs of entire streets, house by house might be done by people like you hired by this companies.

If it does not bring in extra money the luxury is worth it.

mdegrood · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 445 Location: Arizona

imacon · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 126

You can sync _any_ digital camera with _any_ GPS unit. No need for $150 camera-to-GPS cable.

It's already synchronized, assuming the clock in your camera is set correctly.

You can extract track data from GPS and update your JPG images using (free) software like this one: http://www.stuffware.co.uk/articles/00000001.html

There are other ways to do it, google to the rescue :)

LuvThatVert:) · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 1:01 pm

yingyang0 · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 302