I'd like suggestions from experienced users on GPS data loggers for
photography.

Oddly my Sony a900 does not come with a GPS data input to tag images
with position and time. I would have though Sony would have added this
as a natural with their own GPS logger. (Sort of proves the ex-Minolta
guys are keeping their distance from the gadget boys at Sony).

IAC, I would like a logger that:

-has a programmable interval, or a push-button "log this pos/time".
-logs position, altitude, time (UTC) and optionally
-speed, track-made-good
-12 or more channels
-24 hour or better battery life - and/or - rechargeable (car or wall
charger)

-light enough to wear under a hat - though will probably be clipped to
the backpack.

-software (Mac preferred) that will automatically EXIF tag DNG files
directly (I convert from .arw (Sony raw) to DNG when I upload to the
computer. [I set the camera time in UTC to eliminate timezone/DST
issues]. (I don't mind using 3rd party s/w, esp. if it's free!)

Options:

-heading recording (from a magnetic heading sensor, or integrated).
Note HEADING is the orientation, not the GPS derived track-made-good.

-baro alt.

-external antenna (passive or active).

-may use same sensor for cycling, hiking, etc.

-may use same sensor for vehicle position logging.

-annotation capability

Alan Browne wrote:

I'd like suggestions from experienced users on GPS data loggers for
photography.

Oddly my Sony a900 does not come with a GPS data input to tag images
with position and time. I would have though Sony would have added this
as a natural with their own GPS logger. (Sort of proves the ex-Minolta
guys are keeping their distance from the gadget boys at Sony).

IAC, I would like a logger that:

-has a programmable interval, or a push-button "log this pos/time".
-logs position, altitude, time (UTC) and optionally
-speed, track-made-good
-12 or more channels
-24 hour or better battery life - and/or - rechargeable (car or wall
charger)

-light enough to wear under a hat - though will probably be clipped to
the backpack.

-software (Mac preferred) that will automatically EXIF tag DNG files
directly (I convert from .arw (Sony raw) to DNG when I upload to the
computer. [I set the camera time in UTC to eliminate timezone/DST
issues]. (I don't mind using 3rd party s/w, esp. if it's free!)

Options:

-heading recording (from a magnetic heading sensor, or integrated). Note
HEADING is the orientation, not the GPS derived track-made-good.

-baro alt.

-external antenna (passive or active).

-may use same sensor for cycling, hiking, etc.

-may use same sensor for vehicle position logging.

-annotation capability
I use both a Garmin 76CS and a AMOD AGS3080 with my cameras. I have a
number of different software packages, a couple of which work very well.
http://www.semsons.com/datalogger.html has a number of small data
loggers that are reasonable priced.

For software, I like http://code.google.com/p/gpicsync/ . There are
others, but for my use this works best. YMMV.

If you had a Nikon, there is a $150 unit that directly connects.

Clair

On 17-06-09 18:39, Clair Johnston wrote:
Alan Browne wrote:

I'd like suggestions from experienced users on GPS data loggers for
photography.

Oddly my Sony a900 does not come with a GPS data input to tag images
with position and time. I would have though Sony would have added this
as a natural with their own GPS logger. (Sort of proves the ex-Minolta
guys are keeping their distance from the gadget boys at Sony).

IAC, I would like a logger that:

-has a programmable interval, or a push-button "log this pos/time".
-logs position, altitude, time (UTC) and optionally
-speed, track-made-good
-12 or more channels
-24 hour or better battery life - and/or - rechargeable (car or wall
charger)

-light enough to wear under a hat - though will probably be clipped to
the backpack.

-software (Mac preferred) that will automatically EXIF tag DNG files
directly (I convert from .arw (Sony raw) to DNG when I upload to the
computer. [I set the camera time in UTC to eliminate timezone/DST
issues]. (I don't mind using 3rd party s/w, esp. if it's free!)

Options:

-heading recording (from a magnetic heading sensor, or integrated).
Note HEADING is the orientation, not the GPS derived track-made-good.

-baro alt.

-external antenna (passive or active).

-may use same sensor for cycling, hiking, etc.

-may use same sensor for vehicle position logging.

-annotation capability
I use both a Garmin 76CS and a AMOD AGS3080 with my cameras. I have a
number of different software packages, a couple of which work very well.
http://www.semsons.com/datalogger.html has a number of small data
loggers that are reasonable priced.

Thanks. I have seen similar sites, thing is winnowing out the good from
the bad.


For software, I like http://code.google.com/p/gpicsync/ . There are
others, but for my use this works best. YMMV.

The website and screenshot looks cool... as does OS X / Linux
compatibility and the price. I looked at the source code and it
includes DNG in the file search list, so that's good too.


If you had a Nikon, there is a $150 unit that directly connects.

No, but again this would have been a natural for Sony to do ... alas...
also good to have the camera time updated by the GPS. No ambiguity and
a small error.

Thanks.

Alan Browne wrote:
On 17-06-09 18:39, Clair Johnston wrote:
Alan Browne wrote:

I'd like suggestions from experienced users on GPS data loggers for
photography.

Oddly my Sony a900 does not come with a GPS data input to tag images
with position and time. I would have though Sony would have added this
as a natural with their own GPS logger. (Sort of proves the ex-Minolta
guys are keeping their distance from the gadget boys at Sony).

IAC, I would like a logger that:

-has a programmable interval, or a push-button "log this pos/time".
-logs position, altitude, time (UTC) and optionally
-speed, track-made-good
-12 or more channels
-24 hour or better battery life - and/or - rechargeable (car or wall
charger)

-light enough to wear under a hat - though will probably be clipped to
the backpack.

-software (Mac preferred) that will automatically EXIF tag DNG files
directly (I convert from .arw (Sony raw) to DNG when I upload to the
computer. [I set the camera time in UTC to eliminate timezone/DST
issues]. (I don't mind using 3rd party s/w, esp. if it's free!)

Options:

-heading recording (from a magnetic heading sensor, or integrated).
Note HEADING is the orientation, not the GPS derived track-made-good.

-baro alt.

-external antenna (passive or active).

-may use same sensor for cycling, hiking, etc.

-may use same sensor for vehicle position logging.

-annotation capability
I use both a Garmin 76CS and a AMOD AGS3080 with my cameras. I have a
number of different software packages, a couple of which work very well.
http://www.semsons.com/datalogger.html has a number of small data
loggers that are reasonable priced.

Thanks. I have seen similar sites, thing is winnowing out the good from
the bad.
Yep, I struggled making my selection of the AMOD. The decider for me
was the AAA batteries and USB connection. Others may prefer lithium
battery and Bluetooth. Your environment and preferences should control
the decision. There are newer available, so my decision may be
different today.



For software, I like http://code.google.com/p/gpicsync/ . There are
others, but for my use this works best. YMMV.

The website and screenshot looks cool... as does OS X / Linux
compatibility and the price. I looked at the source code and it
includes DNG in the file search list, so that's good too.


If you had a Nikon, there is a $150 unit that directly connects.

No, but again this would have been a natural for Sony to do ... alas...
also good to have the camera time updated by the GPS. No ambiguity and
a small error.

Thanks.

On 17-06-09 20:17, Clair Johnston wrote:
Alan Browne wrote:
On 17-06-09 18:39, Clair Johnston wrote:
Alan Browne wrote:

I'd like suggestions from experienced users on GPS data loggers for
photography.

Oddly my Sony a900 does not come with a GPS data input to tag images
with position and time. I would have though Sony would have added this
as a natural with their own GPS logger. (Sort of proves the ex-Minolta
guys are keeping their distance from the gadget boys at Sony).

IAC, I would like a logger that:

-has a programmable interval, or a push-button "log this pos/time".
-logs position, altitude, time (UTC) and optionally
-speed, track-made-good
-12 or more channels
-24 hour or better battery life - and/or - rechargeable (car or wall
charger)

-light enough to wear under a hat - though will probably be clipped to
the backpack.

-software (Mac preferred) that will automatically EXIF tag DNG files
directly (I convert from .arw (Sony raw) to DNG when I upload to the
computer. [I set the camera time in UTC to eliminate timezone/DST
issues]. (I don't mind using 3rd party s/w, esp. if it's free!)

Options:

-heading recording (from a magnetic heading sensor, or integrated).
Note HEADING is the orientation, not the GPS derived track-made-good.

-baro alt.

-external antenna (passive or active).

-may use same sensor for cycling, hiking, etc.

-may use same sensor for vehicle position logging.

-annotation capability
I use both a Garmin 76CS and a AMOD AGS3080 with my cameras. I have a
number of different software packages, a couple of which work very well.
http://www.semsons.com/datalogger.html has a number of small data
loggers that are reasonable priced.

Thanks. I have seen similar sites, thing is winnowing out the good
from the bad.
Yep, I struggled making my selection of the AMOD. The decider for me was
the AAA batteries and USB connection. Others may prefer lithium battery
and Bluetooth. Your environment and preferences should control the
decision. There are newer available, so my decision may be different today.

The AMOD has been high on my list and is CAD$99 here. Just ordered.

I hope it will have reasonable endurance on re-chargeable batts.

Thx!


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