Survey: Nikon geotaggers

Recent Nikon DSLRs has built-in support for automatically attaching positioning metadata to an image if fitted with on-camera GPS receiver. This survey discusses the dedicated GPS receivers from Nikon and from third party sources.

When connected to a Nikon camera that supports GPS, a compatible GPS receiver will automatically record location metadata with the images. This means that the traditional way of geotagging photos, which involves using a separate GPS device to record way-points that is merged into an image file by software, is no longer necessary.

Currently, there are two alternatives to capture GPS data directly in a Nikon camera. The first is to connect a generic GPS device via the Nikon MC-35 GPS Adapter Cord to the 10-pin socket on the camera. Nikon certifies portable devices from Garmin and Magellan to be used with the MC-35. The second is to use the Nikon GP-1 and compatible dedicated GPS receiver connected directly to the camera.

If you already own a compatible Garmin or Magellan device, you may want to consider the first alternative. But these devices are expensive when purchased brand new along with the MC-35, and the serial interface is rather bulky. In this survey, we shall look at the Nikon GP-1 and some alternative units that can work as dedicated Nikon geotaggers.

Nikon GP-1 and compatible units

As noted, Nikon's on-camera GPS unit is called “Nikon GP-1”. This handy units fits in the camera's accessory show or can be attached to camera strap with adapter GP1-CL1.

Phottix GP-1 on top of a Nikon D700.

Nikon GP-1 uses the GP-CA10 cable to transmit the data to Nikon D200, D300, D300s, D700, D2-series and D3-series bodies through the 10-pin connector; and the GP1-CA90 cable to transmit the data to the Nikon D3100, D5000, D5100, D90, D7000. It can also be connected to a PC with an USB cable. Since the units occupies the 10-pin port, the Nikon remote shutter release MC-DC2 (for the D90) can be plugged into a second port on the GP-1 if you need to use a wired remote release at the same time.

Three manufacturers, Columbus, Promote and YongNuo makes units that have very similar specifications to the Nikon GP-1. The build quality and quality control of the cheapest of these third party units may not be as good as the Nikon unit (so you risk having to return a dud to have it replaced under warranty), but otherwise, these third products sit in the camera's accessory shoe and work just like the Nikon GP-1.

Search for Nikon GP-1 and similar products for sale at known outlets (the price indicated is typical, prices tend to vary over time):

• Nikon GP-1 (USD 200): Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, B&H, eBay.
• Columbus nGPS (USD 108): eBay.
• Macsense Geomet'r (USD 127): Adorama, Amazon USA, B&H, eBay.
• Opteka GPN-1 (USB 50): Amazon USA, Amazon UK, eBay.
• Phottix GP-1 (USB 169): eBay.
• Promote N-1 (USD 149): Adorama, Amazon USA, B&H, eBay.
• YongNuo N-918 (USD 79): eBay.
• Search for any GPS: Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, B&H, eBay.

All the units listed above are bare-bones GPS devices. You can see the real-time GPS data by looking at the camera LCD rear screen, and they record latitude, longitude, altitude and time information and automatically embeds this in the EXIF metadata of pictures taken with a compatible Nikon camera.

None of these devices come with a battery. Power is supplied from the camera body as long as the camera is turned on. If you keep the camera turned on all day to keep the GPS unit locked on satelites, you may run out of power. The Nikon D3, D700, D300, D90 and D7000 let you set GPS → Auto meter off. This reduces the drain on the battery but may prevent GPS data from being recorded if you forget to allow time (about 45 seconds after half-press) for the receiver to again aquire data from enough satelites.

Dawn di-GPS receivers

The di-GPS brand receivers are manufactured and sold by Dawn Technology Ltd. in Hong Kong. Three different models are currently available.

Dawn di-GPS Pro L on top of a Nikon D700.

• di-GPS M3-MKT (USD 120).
• di-GPS M3L (USD 155).
• di-GPS Pro L (USD 260).

The basic model, di-GPS M3-MKT, has a feature set similar to the Nikon GP-1. The di-GPS M3L also has a data-logger. The di-GPS Pro L is protected against dust and moisture, and features a Nikon 10-pin plug on top for attaching a remote release. It also has a data-logger.

The built quality of the di-GPS models are excellent. And while most models that attach to the Nikon 10-plug with a cable uses a plug that sticks out like a sore thumb, Dawn di-GPS Pro L has a design where the plug is angled inwards, towards the body. This is a very nice detail.

Dawn also supplies a software utility (di-GPS-2map) to work with the data-logger files extracted via an USB-port to visualize GPS data.

Solmeta GPS receivers

However, powering the GPS receiver by the camera's battery may put quite a strain on your camera’s battery life. Also if the receiver is powered down completely to save power, it will require about 45 seconds or more to get GPS data from a satelite.

Solmeta makes three different GPS receivers that are compatible with the Nikon GP-1, but improves on the design of GP-1 by having their own built in internal rechargeable battery, lasting up to 10 hours. They will only switch over to Nikon camera for power source when the internal battery is drained.

Search for Solmeta GPS receivers (the price indicated is typical, prices tend to vary over time):

• Solmeta N1 (USD 126): eBay.
• Solmeta N2 (USD 172): eBay.
• Solmeta Pro (USD 296): eBay.

The most advanced unit from Solmeta, the Solmeta Geotagger Pro have an LCD display to show data, it records data to a logfile stored in its 8 Mbyte internal memory, and in addition to latitude, longitude, altitude and UTC time, is also records heading, speed, roll, and tilt (using a 3-axis compass) as well as temperature.

Note that information such as speed, roll and tilt and temperature do not end up in the EXIF because there are no EXIF fields defined to hold this information. They are displayed on the unit's LCD display, and are also stored in the Geotagger Pro log textfile.

In addition to letting you record GPS data directly to the camera's EXIF, the Solmeta Geotagger Pro also save a log of position data logger data to a text file, it can be used with any brand camera by using external software to bind its way-point data to picture files. To convert the Solmeta Geotagger Pro data to the standard format, use the free program GPSbabel and select «NMEA 0183 sentences» as input and «GPX XML» format as output.

Since the device occupies the 10-pin port, the N1 and N2 receivers comes with a wired remote shutter release included. The Pro receiver does not, but you can purchase an optical 10-pin Y-splitter if you need to use the receiver and a remote shutter release at the same time.

MetaGPS GPS receivers

MetaGPS also offers a choice of GPS receivers.

Search for MetaGPS receivers (the price indicated is typical, prices tend to vary over time):

• MetaGPS M0 (USD 118): Amazon USA, eBay.
• MetaGPS M1 (USD 128): Amazon USA, eBay.
• MetaGPS M2 (USD 168): Amazon USA, eBay.

The MetaGPS M0 model have similar specifications to the Nikon GP-1, the M1 model featu­res and internal battery, and the M2 model features and internal battery and a compass that provides heading data. However, the manual does not explain how to calibrate the compass and according to several user reports, the compass does not work reliably.

In use

GPS icon as it appears on the Nikon D90 top LCD.

When you connect a Nikon GP-1 or compatible GPS receiver to the camera with the appropriate cord, and turn the camera on, the GPS icon (shown right) will be displayed on the camera's LCD display, provided the GPS receiver is able to get position data from three or more satelites. If no signal is received from the unit more than two seconds, the GPS icon will no longer be displayed in the control panel and no GPS data will be recorded.

When the GPS receiver is active, taking a photo will automatically record the GPS data as part of the photo's EXIF metadata.

Use GPS → Position to view GPS data.

To view the recorded GPS data, select GPS → Position in the camera's setup menu on a compatible Nikon DSLR. The current latitude, longitude, altitude, and universal time (UTC) will be displayed on the camera's LCD. Note that the (UTC) received from the GPS satellite is recorded separately from the timestamp provided by the camera clock. (This menu option is not available with D2X, D2XS, D2HS, and D200 cameras.)

Most of the units come with a USB socket and software that allow you to connect the unit to a laptop or tablet instead of a camera. You can use this as an alternative means for recording GPS data.

Overview

The table below gives an overview of all the GPS receivers discussed in this survey. The data (except price) has been compiled from the manufacturer's data sheets.

Price is based on best price (including shipping) listed on eBay or manufacturer's home page in June 2011. Note that prices vary over time, and the prices listed are just an indicator of what you should expect to pay for an item.

Chip indicates what GPS chip the receiver uses. Most of devices use the SiRF Star III chip. However, the Columbus nGPS and di-GPS M3-MKT uses the MTK chip. Both chips have good reputations, and there is no consensus about one being superior.

The “Indoors” column indicates what data the unit supply when it is indoors or otherwise out of reach from GPS satelites. Last indicates that it then supply the last position available (typically just outside the building).