Pairing Nikon with GPS

[austastar]

Hi,
I know Nikon make a plug-in GPS module for geo-referencing images, but does anyone know if it is possible to link any of the Nikon cameras to either
1. Bluetooth enabled GPS
2. Android tablet's GPS.

I'm usually running a bluetooth enabled data logger, which would be very convenient if I could link a camera to it.

Cheers

[werdan]

Instead of trying to geotag your pics on the fly, you can do them in post.
Years ago, I used to do this with tracks captured from oziexplorer during 4WD trips. These days, smart phones and available software make it much simpler.

Here's an example of how to do it.

Easily geotag your DSLR photos using a phone - The Geeky Gecko (http://www.diogonunes.com/blog/geotag-your-photos-using-a-phone/)

[austastar]

Hi,
Thanks for posting. Yep, I'm aware of the post trip processing. I used to sync my camera clock to the gps and could geotag a folder of photos at a time. But, the location of that gps is usually in the vehicle, so photos on a short walk are always tagged as being where the car was parked.

My point and shoot digital camera has a gps built in, however it needs some time to locate satellites after power on. Presumably the Nikon will be similar times, and it is some $300 I would rather not spend.

As I have a small gps with bluetooth, which can run Ozi on a laptop and store its own log I would be interested if any Nikon cameras can pair with it.

Cheers

Sent from my GT-N5110 using AULRO mobile app

[Bytemrk]

I'm not sure you will find any that will pair with what you are suggesting, however, there may be other options depending on your budget and what sort of Nikon's you would consider.

There is at least one Nikon DSLR with Built in GPS - D5300. There may be others but I'm not sure.

There are also some that use the new SnapBridge app - which allows you to sync GPS data from your phone directly into Exif.

http://www.nikon.com.au/en_AU/product/snapbridge/snapbridge

D3400 , D5600 or D500

From my experience (with a D500) - Snapbridge is still pretty new and frankly pretty clunky. ( I've only used the IOS version though rather than Android)

Personally I see Nikon as making excellent Digital Bodies and Lenses ... and pretty crap apps.

There may be a third party app that can take advantage of the Bluetooth options on the 3 Snapbridge cameras... but I'm unaware of one.

Which Nikon are you currently shooting with?.... I have seen the GPS modules go cheapish on eBay on occassions ( nd I suspect barely used.)... you just need to be patient.

Make sure if you find something you share it :D

[AK83]

Hi austastar,
You didn't say which Nikon camera.

I have a D300 and D800, so 10pin plug port.
I use a device from a company called AOKA(Chinese I think).
Great little bt adapter that receives GPS data from a Bt GPS logger.
My GPS logger is a Holux, and have no problem.
AOKA do make some other adpater types for D7K's and so forth, as they all have different connection types.

Google AOKA and it should take you to their page.
I got mine for about $35 wayyy back, but have no idea on how much they go for now on ebay.

One important note too.
Nikon GPS data requires a specific NMEA protocol. Can't remember which one exactly, but we tried to trace a problem a while back for another guy who used a more modern Bt GPS that was supposed to work with Apple devices(eg. iPhone). We worked out that his Bt GPS didn't work with the Nikon simply due to the NMEA protocol being set up for the iPhone.
It outputtd either a more modern protocol, or not respecting the current standard or something like that. (sorry for the vague info, it was a few years back now).
But, if your Bt GPS works with Ozi, then almost certainly it works fine on a Nikon camera.

ps. the Nikon GPS is junk!
Any GPS either remote via wire ro even onboard will kill the camera battery in approx 1/4 of the time compared to no GPS.
With a Bt GPS, the battery is in the GPS, so you don't get the same rate of drain.
I've shot all day with both the D800 and D300 with GPS connected and had no problems.
(and the cables just make for too much clutter)
The AOKA also has a 3.5mm remote port too, so if you use a wired/wireless remote and want to use both at the same time, you may just to account for this too.

[austastar]

Hi,
I'm finding out all sorts of interesting things.

Googling AOKA led me to their website and it looks like I can get things to work like I want it to.

Camera: I'm looking at possibly the D750



My GPS:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/11/214.jpg
Qstars BT-Q1000XT from clueysolutions (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/281935337188?lpid=107&chn=ps)

and to pair them via bluetooth I can use..

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/11/215.jpg

There is a youtube clip of it working here (https://youtu.be/SPOxd0gNVSM)

And the devices will pair with a lot of bluetooth gps units.
8<---------------------------
AK- 4NII, AK- 4NIII, AK- N90 & AK- N7000 compatible with most Bluetooth GPS Receivers which have following 3 features:
(1) Compatible with Bluetooth Serial Port Profile(SPP)
(2) Support NMEA0183 data protocol
(3) PIN/Passkey: 0000

Tested compatible GPS receivers:

Holux M-241
Holux M-1000
Holux M-1000B
Holux M-1000C
Holux M-1200
Holux GPSlim240
Holux GPSlim236
Holux GPSlim236B

Qstarz BT-Q1000X
Qstarz BT-Q818X
Qstarz BT-Q816X
Royaltek MBT-1100
Royaltek RBT2200
Royaltek RBT2300
GlobalSat BT 328
GlobalSat BT 368
DAGAMA SG-26

i-Blue MobileMate 886
i-Blue 737A
i-Blue 747A
Palm GPS receiver
NCSNavi R120
Qstarz BT-Q1000XT
NOKIA LD-3W
GARMIN-GPS10X
8<------------------------------------------------

So a thank you to all who responded to my query and got me pointed in the right direction.


Cheers

[Bytemrk]

Awesome,

Looks very interesting - please drop us an update on how it's going assuming you go down this path.


I'd got a D750 and D500 and might possibly be interested in trying something similar.

Cheers,

[AK83]

Awesome,

Looks very interesting - please drop us an update on how it's going assuming you go down this path.


I'd got a D750 and D500 and might possibly be interested in trying something similar.

Cheers,

I'd say, don't hesitate! If you want GPS data in your raw files all the time, you'll like such a setup.
You shouldn't have any issues with that kind'a setup. I can't guarantee that, but its what I've been running for about 7 years now.

I'm also thinking of getting a new GPS logger, battery in my (now old) Holux M-1200E isn't holding on for the 20 or so hours it used and finding a battery may not be easy for it.
With my older(original) wired setup all those dangling wires made for the possibility of an accidental tip over a higher probability(add in the wireless remote too) and like I said, the damned GPS takes power from the camera, so it drains it in no time.
eg. normally on the D300 I'd get 1000 images without problem.
With the wired GPS I was lucky to get 200, and I once had one day out where I ran out of juice at 188 images! .. with the most insane timing possible, right tat sunset on a perfect evening for it.

Bt GPS uses it's own battery so no power issues.
Never had a problem connecting GPS and camera.
With the AOKA attached and camera on, as soon as the GPS acquires a signal, GPS data is enabled.

I think GPSes that output directional data may(not 100% sure!!) cause NMEA issues(as per above with Apple compatible GPS data).

Probably the handiest thing about this setup is the inconspicuous nature of the hookup(at least for any camera with the 10 pin port).
The AOKA dongle is attached to the front of the camera and can basically stay there as it's out of the way.
The GPS is attached to a small keychain type carabina and gets hooked up to (eg.) a belt loop, or pocket, or bag strap. Can be anywhere within about 3-5m of the camera .. so it's wayy out of the way.
The wired setup had dangling bits all over the place. Very annoying

On the D750 type camera tho, the AOKA connected to the body isn't as unobtrusive as it's connected to the side of the camera .. thus affecting handholding. That's about the only downside(which is minimal).

For GPS logger, I'm thinking (for myself) I want a Qstarz BT-Q1000XT, and mainly for the added ability of it's software.
Another alternative GPS logger I've been eyeing off for a while now is a Columbus V900. Has a slot for a micro SD card which could be handy as well.
(so I'm undecided as to what to replace my Holux with).

if you're considering any GPS system for your Nikon, I'd recommend not to hesitate with a setup such as those above, and if you're already using a wired setup, you'd love the untethered flexibility.

There are a few other brands of Bt GPS dongles for the Nikon system, and the most famous brand is the 'legendary' Foolography.
But wayy too expensive for my taste!
if you do product photography, the added ability to add barcode data into the image files at the time of shooting can be a handy bonus.
I'd only ever get such a device if someone ever paid me to do a product shoot that required barcode data!.
ps. I'm not a pro, so such irrelevance is not a concern to me.
AOKA is as good, for 1/5th the price.

With the AOKA's 3.5mm remote port, you can also use any switch system as a remote, if you're handy with a soldering iron and can read wiring instructions. Just any open/close contact system is all that's needed.
Or just buy a cheapie Canon type remote too.
Plug and unplug much easier and securely than Nikon's remote connectors.

I have a wireless/wired remote that operates as either.
When I can be bothered, I connect the wireless receiver and shoot untethered remote.
The remote's transmitter also has a separate port for a wire if needed, and I sometimes just use that too.
The remotes I have are the Phottix Plato and Cleon(very oldies again now got years back), but any remote with the ability to be connected via 3.5mm port can be used.

One last note:
AOKA also have a GPS device that can be connected up too.
It's nothign like the Nikon's (massive and humoungous GPS).
It's basically a slighly larger little device than the AN- bluetooth devices, but are actual GPS devices too.
They use 1/10th the power of the Nikon GPS tho, so battery power(on the camera) may be less of an issue.
They are larger than the Bt devices so seamless integration with the camera may also come into play.
Those thigns are called something like the AK-G series.
Search Aokatech AK-G .. something is sure to come up.
I'd advise against that kind of setup only due to the integration with the camera. The Bt GPS in the pocket system works so well.

Finally:
Another way you could add GPS/geopositional data into Nikon RAW files is to use their old software called ViewNX2 which will only work on (now) older cameras tho. I don't use ViewNX-i to advise on this software.
You can easily point to a google map in this software and add geo data into their older camera raw files.
ViewNX2 doesn't work with any of their newer cameras tho.
And of course you need to know where the image was taken to do this, so doesn't work all the time.
I did once try to use Exiftool to add GPS data into my old D70s images, and luckily they were test images, as exiftool corrupted those images.
So I'm reluctant to use thirdparty programs to add GPS data into raw files now(unless it's only for testing purposes).

Hope that helps.

[werdan]

Hey since we are talking about GPS units and cameras..

For people with a SONY camera with a built-in GPS unit, there's a way of minimising the GPS fix acquisition time. Sony provides a file for download from their Japanese site, that basically contains the GPS almanac for the next 30 days. You store it on the memory card and it saves the GPS unit having to spend 2-20mins downloading it from the sat data (depending on how long you've had the camera off and how far you've moved while it's off).

To use:

Download this file. http://control.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/GPS/assistme.dat

Open the memory card on your PC.

Browse to PRIVATE/SONY and create a sub-directory called GPS

Copy the assistme.dat file into PRIVATE/SONY/GPS

Put the card back in the camera and turn it on.

Checking the GPS assist status..
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/11/184.jpg

You should see the dates that the file is valid for.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/11/185.jpg


Does anyone know if Canon or Nikon offer the same sort of thing? A lot of my photos don't have geotagging because I never gave the GPS time to get a fix.

Now they don't have it because PS strips it off during export. :)

[austastar]

Hi,
Thanks for that info, could be very handy.
Cheers

Sent from my GT-N5110 using AULRO mobile app

[AK83]

Hey since we are talking about GPS units and cameras..

For people with a SONY camera with a built-in GPS unit, there's a way of minimising the GPS fix acquisition time. Sony provides a file for download from their Japanese site, that basically contains the GPS almanac for the next 30 days .....

It's called an aGPS file.
(as already said a GPS almanac)

Nikon have a similar file for their GPS and their cameras with GPS(which I think is only the D5300 and maybe the D5500).

I have a vague recollection that Pentax has a similar file too, but don't know about Canon.
I assume they do the aGPS file system is common

Most, if not all GPSes may have a similar system, whether its called an aGPS file assisted GPS or maybe a 'firmware update' or whatever.

While they are handy, they don't help with the biggest issue that GPSes have.
If you travel more than a few hundred klms with the GPS off, it has trouble acquiring it's first fix as it doesn't know where it is in relation to which satellites are in view.
ie. it needs to work out where it is, to know where it is!

an aGPS file really only helps if the GPS hasn't moved from where it was last switched on. ie. almanac helps here as the GPS assumes it's in the same spot so it (thinks it) knows what constellation of satellites should be in view.

austastar: if you do go down the Bt GPS route, you don't want to use Nikons aGPS files.
If you get the Qstarz Bt logger, then you'll want to look for the relevant aGPS file from their site.
I don't have a Qstarz, just my Holux at the moment, but my guess is that they'll have some software for PC that can be used.
the general path that these companies use is that they'll have one software with the pretty windows and flashy buttons where you can view the recorded GPS log and save it to xml, kml, or whatever file type and view it via some maps.
If you look in their download or support area, you may find an obscure software for configuring the GPS logger.
It'll almost certainly be that really basic software that will allow the updating of the almanac.

[austastar]

It's called an aGPS file.
(as already said a GPS almanac)

If you get the Qstarz Bt logger, then you'll want to look for the relevant aGPS file from their site.
......................
If you look in their download or support area, you may find an obscure software for configuring the GPS logger.
It'll almost certainly be that really basic software that will allow the updating of the almanac.

Hi,
it looks like the Qstarz is going to be easy to do, it seems to be built into the software that you use to set up the GPS.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/11/158.jpg

And with the other info re the Sony AGPS, I have found the menu item on the camera...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/11/159.jpg

and will have a play with it.

Cheers

[austastar]

Hi,
I'm still chasing this one, looks like the Nikon 7500 will do it from a tablet or a bluetooth GPS according to the downloaded manual.

Cheers
127107

[p38arover]

It's called an aGPS file.
(as already said a GPS almanac)

I have a vague recollection that Pentax has a similar file too,

Not that I know of but I will check as I have the Pentax GPS on my camera.

[AK83]

Not that I know of but I will check as I have the Pentax GPS on my camera.

You only really need an aGPS(alamanac file) if you're in a real hurry and can't wait up to an hour for a GPS fix to be made if the unit hasn't been turned on for a lengthy period .. or moved the GPS a considerable distance since last fix.

So if you haven't turned the GPS on for a while, or have moved (eg.) 1000klms since you last turned the GPS on, it has an almanac file in it's memory that sort'a tells it where it most likely is.
I think the specs were that this almanac is good for about 300 miles(500klms), but I've moved more than that and some of my GPSes I've had over the years only took about a min to reacquire their locations.

I've played around with these almanac files trying to confuse the GPSes to think that they were back a few years, and I recall one of them may have taken about 15mins sitting on a south only facing window sill to reacquire its position. It really only saw one or two satellites at any one time, then it would drop them quickly and get another .. finally it found two satellites at once and within 30sec it reacquired the almanac info it needed and posi found.

I remember a while back having strange thoughts of getting a Pentax K1 because it has on sensor image stabilisation. But not just for the sensor IS, more so because Pentax's GPS has a feature where it uses the image stabilisation in conjunction to allow up to two mins of star tracking, where it moves the sensor in relation to the Earth's rotation using the GPS info!
In camera star tracking! [thumbsupbig] If I had a Pentax, I'd have got their GPS the day it was announced as an accessory.
My biggest regret was getting a fixed GPS onto my Nikons. I reckon I'd have been close to suicidal had I got the 3x more expensive Nikon GPS .. total waste of money, crap implementation of a feature .. bluetooth GPS on a Nikon is much better.

[p38arover]

My Pentax Q, K-7, and K-5 all have in body sensor stabilisation but only the K-5 interfaces to the GPS for star tracking (AstroTracer).

The K-3 and K-1 also do it but the K-1 has in-built GPS.