GPS integrated cameras
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: n/a
GPS integrated cameras
Anyone know of any digital cameras on the market now with GPS built in? I've seen the new Ricoh 500se link which looks basically like the sort of thing I want, anyone got any other ideas, or indeed any comments on the Ricoh. Basically I need to be able to accurately position photographs that I take at work and in any weather conditions...
Hippopotomonstrosesquipidelian title
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: is everything
Several of the Nikon DSLRs understand NMEA, so can be connected to a GPS. D1H, D1X, D200 and presumably most of the others. Red Hen Systems does an adapter so a Garmin unit can be mounted on top of the camera. Nikon offers the MC-35 NMEA to USB adapter cable, whatever that might be. My guess is a simple serial to miniUSB adapter. The GPS info goes into the EXIF info.
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: BRISTOL!
Sony now sell a GPS addon that can be used with there dSLRs and other new and high spec Cameras in there range. The GPS is £99, and can be used on a fair few other makers cameras, as said, some Nikon dSLRs.
Its called the GPS-CS1, pretty nice looking, can be used with there Cameras and Camcorders that support GPS.
I am pretty sure the Sony GPS thing can be used with any Camera more or less, you'll have to check it out though
Ricoh Cameras are pretty good, that Camera is a tad on the steep side for what it is though, but on the other hand, its rugadised (if thats a word) and weather sealed so i guess its a nice bit of kit...
Its called the GPS-CS1, pretty nice looking, can be used with there Cameras and Camcorders that support GPS.
I am pretty sure the Sony GPS thing can be used with any Camera more or less, you'll have to check it out though
Ricoh Cameras are pretty good, that Camera is a tad on the steep side for what it is though, but on the other hand, its rugadised (if thats a word) and weather sealed so i guess its a nice bit of kit...
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 348
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From: Canada
The Sony GPS gizmo records its position against a time base, I'm not sure the exact rate of recording but it is very frequent. In your computer the supplied software then looks at the time your camera says it took the image, (from EXIF info) and corelates the position of that time with the appropriate image. I think it will work with other than Sony cameras.
Edit:
Found the link:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...ductSKU=GPSCS1
PS. Hope I am not violating forum rules with the link.
Edit:
Found the link:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...ductSKU=GPSCS1
PS. Hope I am not violating forum rules with the link.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,425
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From: n/a
I'd seen the Sony thing might be the best bet. I'm struggling to find a Ricoh supplier in the UK who has a GPS enabled 500 for me to have a look at. I particularly like the "rugged" look of the Ricoh. I never know where I'm going to have to take pictures and while a nice Canon G7 linked with an external GPS would be perfect for image quality I'm not so sure it would survive the top of a scottish mountain in a blizzard...or being dropped in the mud flats around the coast 
The solution of course is don't drop the camera but hey I know my limits 
The solution of course is don't drop the camera but hey I know my limits
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Uk
Alternative solution!
Assuming that your digital camera records time to the nearest second and that you have access to a handheld gps with track logging, do the following:
1) Turn gps on and get good fix.
2) Whilst ensuring a good gps fix, wander around and take photos
3) The important bit - take photo of gps display showing time
4) From last photo work out difference between gps time and camera time
5) Go back over photos to see when taken, allow for difference in time and then extract location from gps track log for the appropriate hour.
Bit long winded, but saves buying a fancy SLR!
1) Turn gps on and get good fix.
2) Whilst ensuring a good gps fix, wander around and take photos
3) The important bit - take photo of gps display showing time
4) From last photo work out difference between gps time and camera time
5) Go back over photos to see when taken, allow for difference in time and then extract location from gps track log for the appropriate hour.
Bit long winded, but saves buying a fancy SLR!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
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From: BRISTOL!
You could try using the following URL to find the resellers:
http://www.ricoh.co.uk/locator/locator.cfm
Bet you have already done that though hey...
Depends where in the country you are but Bristol Cameras have em
http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk
http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/page454.htm
Have purchased there before, and have never had any issues.
Quick look on Google shows plenty of UK urls selling the item, i think it would be well worth a look, Ricoh cameras are pretty good, if the item is going to be out and about it harsher environments its perfect, gps is built in and its got a 2 year warranty.
Yet again, the Sony thing can be used with any Camera and its pretty small and the battery last half a day or so...
http://www.ricoh.co.uk/locator/locator.cfm
Bet you have already done that though hey...
Depends where in the country you are but Bristol Cameras have em
http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk
http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/page454.htm
Have purchased there before, and have never had any issues.
Quick look on Google shows plenty of UK urls selling the item, i think it would be well worth a look, Ricoh cameras are pretty good, if the item is going to be out and about it harsher environments its perfect, gps is built in and its got a 2 year warranty.
Yet again, the Sony thing can be used with any Camera and its pretty small and the battery last half a day or so...
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 741
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From: UK
..... If you don't need really high resolution pictures, and "snap shots" will suffice, then you could look at some of the HP Ipaq PDA's ....
For example the hw6915 model ( Cost me £285 - 6 months ago ) in addition to being a Windows Mobile PDA, Mobile Phone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc etc, has built in GPS and a 1.3 megapixel camera.
When taking a picture, the GPS location will be saved with the picture ( Assuming of course that you are somewhere within range of a GPS signal ).
For example the hw6915 model ( Cost me £285 - 6 months ago ) in addition to being a Windows Mobile PDA, Mobile Phone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc etc, has built in GPS and a 1.3 megapixel camera.
When taking a picture, the GPS location will be saved with the picture ( Assuming of course that you are somewhere within range of a GPS signal ).
