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What Good Is A GPS Digital Camera?
Should You Consider a GPS Digital Camera
Have you considered a GPS digital camera? Maybe you should.
Perhaps you travel a bit and love taking photos, but later you have trouble remembering just where you encountered that glorious two tiered waterfall. Wouldn't it be great if you could record location information on those photos to jog your memory?
Wouldn't it also be handy too to be able to find your photos based on where they were taken rather than searching through hundreds or thousands of photos? For anyone who really takes a lot of pictures with a digital camera this could significantly cut down on search time.
Well, there are ways to do this, and we will talk briefly about them but GPS digital cameras are available; those which have built-in GPS to do the trick by themselves. Learn all about the options here.
The Advantages and Disadvantages
The primary advantages of a GPS digital camera are obvious. Using GPS technology, a photographer can have fairly specific location data recorded along with their images. Just as date stamps helped in jogging the memory for years so can location information. It can be useful for both professionals and average consumers/casual users as well.
In addition, for those who take a large volume of pictures these geotagging cameras could really make finding photos easier. Searching by location can narrow down the number of images you have to sort through to find the one you're looking for.
There are, at least currently, some drawbacks to a GPS digital camera however. Clearly, operating the GPS feature consumes battery power, so battery life is negatively influenced.
In addition, a camera with true built-in GPS will be just a bit bulkier and heavier. Then of course, the cost of these cameras is also higher than for a similar model without GPS. The other primary problem at this time is simply the limited availability of built-in GPS. Right now, the number of cameras offering true built-in GPS is somewhat limited. However, there are both DSLRs and point and shoot cameras with this feature. Some of the best point and shoots with GPS are also rugged in other ways making them perfect for travelers.
What Are the Current Options for Digital Camera GPS?
Here are some of the current ways of using GPS information to tag your photos.
- Use a separate portable gps device to record location information while photographing. Then using special software, transfer that information to geocode your photos on your computer after the fact. It's a bit cumbersome and more complex if you aren't as comfortable with the technology. (There is a video tutorial on this below)
- Use an add-on device, such as the one shown above to get the GPS function. These are designed to work with a wide range of cameras.
- Buy a GPS digital camera. Use free downloadable programs such as GPicSync by Google to geocode your pictures after the fact.
- For casual users; use a camera phone with built-in GPS to take your photos. Clearly, this option reduces the number of photographic features you have to choose from as camera phones still don't offer many of the features found on stand alone digital cameras.
- Use the Eye-Fi Explore memory cards. Are they more expensive than other memory cards? Absolutely. But they allow geotagging and wireless transfer.
Things to Think About
Before you buy a digital camera which the salesman indicates has GPS, be sure you understand what you are getting.
Is the GPS built-in? Does the camera just offer a port to attach GPS? Do you have to buy the GPS as an optional feature?Learn More about Add On Devices for GPS Capabilities
A Tutorial on Geotagging Your Pictures with a Portable GPS Unit
Related
GPS Digital Camera: Let us know you stopped by!
GPS Digital Camera is great one, great technology, great review, I like the lens.
@anonymous: My dream is to have a camera including gps and a compas.. then for each photo I could later on be able to know where exactly the photo was taken and in which direction :)
Waiting for the Samsung WB850F to come out.
Anybody aware when that will happen?
I didn't know GPS cameras existed, I know many cameras record the settings that are used when uploading a picture.
Really useful as GPS cameras are worth the investment as the electronic design gone into them is amazing.
We are planning a trip to Europe this summer. My current camera is three years old and does not have GPS. A long telephoto lens and GPS will help take lots of photos and note their location. I am hoping the new Nikon P510 will fill the bill. However, Image quality is first priority.
Hey I think this is an awesome concept. I know that for hunters especially who are into taking pictures as they are on their journeys (and anyone expoloring vast areas for that matter) need GPS. I find many of my friends who use the Nikon D3100 (read my review site here - http://d3100bestdeal.com/) comment on their excitement about GPS capabilities in the future.
Thanks for the lens - I wasn't aware of the WiFi memory cards - awesome tool!
Never heard of a camera like this, but am always interested in the latest innovations in digital photography. It certainly would be a convenience, but I wouldn't like the added weight or the drain on my camera batteries.
Awesome gadget,awesome lens! Blessed by a Squidoo Angel-Have a great day!
GPS built into a digital camera, I guess dreams do come true!
Awesome Lens - Thanks for sharing
I love the idea of combining a gps system with a digital camera. Great lens!
Dude, I didn't even know they made these! I always wondered what would happen if they combined a GPS and a Digital Camera! I guess I'm kind of behind on Digital Camera Technology! Time to read up on more great posts, such as this one! Thanks!
nice lens
mulberry, i'm now a huge fan! great info once again
Great camera resource lens.
great resource - well done
my two favorite gadgets combined! cheers
Great Informative lens. Very Specific in its objective
I use Nikon P100 30X ultrazoom, as I photograph Butterflys. GPS function on my Nikon or Canon Ultrazoom would make life easier to recall the butterfly site per species of butterflys. Great functionality...
GPS looks quite useful while traveling and great to know that it comes with digital camera also.
@rebeccahiatt: Elixim H20G is a cool camera! The geotagging feature is very useful for tourist camera enthusiasts! GPS system in a point and shoot camera is way advanced! Plus you can get this camera with a cool cash back deal online!
Great lens - very informative, have definitely been enlightened.
Fantastic information, you have educated me on these and sold me!
Great idea for a camera, especially when you are into photography and getting lets say a little more mature. I know I am always forgetting where I take my photographs as I wander around in the South of France.
Mulberry, another lens packed with more than useful information. Thanks.
Nicely done; blessed by an Angel.
Very informative, as was the YouTube video. Thanks!
Haven't seen information this specific, elsewhere!. Thanks!
Great lens. GPS on a camera is a really useful feature.
Great job, Mulberry! You have some of the best shopping lenses on Squidoo. Well done!
that would be awesome to take on hikes etc.
thanks for taking the time to put this together.
very informative.
if you get the time, check out mine:
Camera Digital Lenses
This sounds like great new technology, but I bet it is expensive.
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