D3 and D300 GPS Testing Report

[c_jit]

This is a D3 and D300 GPS test report using a Garmin eTrex H (High Sensitivity)

The eTrex H is using MTK chip set which reported to be more than Sirf III chip set.

Nik Thailand offer both D3 and D300 for testing.
However, due to D3 still have prototype firmware, they have asked to not publishing the D3 image.
Thus I will report using a D300.
BTW. both D3 and D300 GPS Menu and Command interface are identical.

GPS commands in D3 and D300 are locate in the camera's Set Up Menu



In the GPS menu, there are 2 sub menu

1. "Auto meter off" which enable the camera to go into sleep mode while connecting to a GPSr and wake up automatically and remain connect to GPSr to save camera battery.
or you can select to have the camera to remains on all the time while connecting to a GPSr.

2. "Position" which the camera will take the GPS live feed and display the position in real time in the LCD (you do not have to take a photo).

[c_jit]

In the "Position" page, Details displayed are
1. Latititude in HH MM.MMM
2. Longtitude in HH MM.MMM
3. Altitude (calculated)
4. Heading (If your GPSr has an electronic compass, the camera will record the GPSr compass heading too)
5. UTC (Universal Time Coordinate) or Greenich mean time (Bangkok is + 7)



The GPS tagged image taken inside Nik Thailand office with the EXIF all intact.



The image above when opened in NikonView 6.2.7 will display the recorded GPS position.
The program (NV 6.2.7) display the recorded position only to a second degree.
But in actual D300 image EXIF the GPS position is recordedto a third decimal place.
The D200 image EXIF the GPS position is recorded only to a second decimal place.

This indicated that the D300 is approximately reporting 10 times more GPS position info. than a D200.
(D300 within 1.85 metres compare to 18.52 metres of D200)

PS. The position accuracy is depending on the GPSr as well.


..

[c_jit]

The Garmin eTrex H ($85 USD) performs very well indoor.

Both D3 and D300 performs flawlessly with the Garmin eTrex H.
For GPS interface with both the D3 and D300.
I did not use Nikon MC-35 but using a third party ($45 USD).



I should get a production D3 early next month and will be able to tell more if any.

Cheers,

[xtemujin]

c_jit,

Thanks for the heads up about the GPS setup with the D300.

What about using the Dawntech di-GPS ? Does it also display

1. Latititude in HH MM.MMM
2. Longtitude in HH MM.MMM

Wow, that's good news that the D300 will also embed the heading direction from the GPSr elctronic compass.

[c_jit]

Originally Posted by xtemujin c_jit, Thanks for the heads up about the GPS setup with the D300. What about using the Dawntech di-GPS ? Does it also display 1. Latititude in HH MM.MMM 2. Longtitude in HH MM.MMM

I do not have the Di-GPS but I can report that it works with two other units I have ie. Garmin 76CX and GlobalSat BR-355 and reported Lat/Long in HH MM.MMM same.
I think it is the D3, D300 camera firmware more than anything else.

Cheers,

[tankahn]

Originally Posted by c_jit I did not use Nikon MC-35 but using a third party ($45 USD).

Which 3rd party did you get?

[c_jit]

Originally Posted by tankahn Which 3rd party did you get?

http://pc-mobile.net/nikongps.htm

This is my set up with D200, D300, D2X and a D3 (prototype).


Cheers,

[tankahn]

Originally Posted by c_jit http://pc-mobile.net/nikongps.htm This is my set up with D200, D300, D2X and a D3 (prototype). Cheers,

Many thanks. I just made a cable order for my Garmin GPSMap76CSx.

[smalltake]

Originally Posted by c_jit http://pc-mobile.net/nikongps.htm This is my set up with D200, D300, D2X and a D3 (prototype). Cheers,

Bro, your setup looks simple. Is this all you need to get teh GPS data on your photos? Looks compact and non-intrusive. How much you pay for it bro? Where to get? Appreciate your advice..............

[Randius]

I am interested in the setup as well. Looks simple and doesn't have cable mess.

[xtemujin]

I would suggest getting the Dawntech N2-Di GPS if you don't want a cable mess.

There's only one place to get the Dawntech N2-Di GPS which is Dawntech Hong Kong.

http://www.di-gps.com/di-GPS/purchase.htm

Bjørn Rørslett did a review of the Dawntech N2 Di-GPS

http://www.naturfotograf.com/GPS_review.html

Dawntech N2-Di GPS on my D200.





Some photos of the Dawntech di-GPS here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtemuji...7601590395648/

GPS geotag resources for Nikon camera with 10 pin connector.

Dawntech di-GPS
http://www.di-gps.com/di-GPS/index.htm

Red Hen Blueetooth
https://ecommerce.redhensystems.com/...-blue2can.aspx

Custom Idea
http://customidea.com/shop/product_i...roducts_id=126

Foolography.
http://www.foolography.com/home.php

Originally Posted by Randius I am interested in the setup as well. Looks simple and doesn't have cable mess.

[smalltake]

Thanks bro....... nicer setup!!! hahhaha....... how much you pay for it? Any shop in singapore selling it?

[AxeLa]

Where to buy ar??? nice!!

[Synergyworld]

Just wonder why you need to have GPS in the camera?

[postman]

Originally Posted by Synergyworld Just wonder why you need to have GPS in the camera?

It is for the photos. Useful for people who are travelling.
For example, you may want to know where you take a certain landscape photo but cant remember where it is.

Not so useful if you only take pictures in Singapore as most of the time you know where it is taken from.

[AxeLa]

Originally Posted by postman It is for the photos. Useful for people who are travelling. For example, you may want to know where you take a certain landscape photo but cant remember where it is. Not so useful if you only take pictures in Singapore as most of the time you know where it is taken from.

for fun also can mah...

[tankahn]

Originally Posted by Synergyworld Just wonder why you need to have GPS in the camera?

Without a GPS in the camera, the only way you can log in your travel is entering the landmark or waypoint in the GPS. Most GPS allows you to enter 6 to 8 characters, very laborious process as its akin to typing on SMS except even worse. Most time you only use autonumbering and after a while, you won't know which is which.

Now you have the coordinates inprinted in the exif file of the photos. There are photosharing sites that automatically show the location on googlemap where the photos is taken.

You can take photo of a dangerous pothole and ask LTA to fix it. But then civil servants can be quite clueless too.

For myself, I already have a GPS so it just getting a low cost cable solution.

In fact, all the above is redundant. Just like the link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocoded_photo

[xtemujin]

It'll show you the coordinates of where you've taken the photos, time and date in UTC. If the GPS has a compass like what c_jit has mentioned, you can also know which direction to look at of where the photo was taken.

Before using the Dawntech di-GPS, I was using the Sony GPS-CS1 to geotag my photos. However, the Sony GPS-CS1 is not good as it doesn't use a SiRFstar III chipset and it's useless in urban area.

Photo. You can right click and check the GPS EXIF if you've installed Opanda on your computer.



Example of EXIF GPS information of photo.



Map from Google Earth.



Satellite Map from Google Earth.



Map on Google Earth

[AxeLa]

Waa.....very good info.....

[tankahn]

With the valuable link bro c_jit provided, I ordered the cable connection to link my D300 with my Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx.

The product code I ordered was GRGND2. Payment was by paypal and the small package was sent via registered post.

Connecting it was straight forward and soon my images has the all important exif info. The atomic clock shows 9/1, 43/1, 21/1 or 9hh 43mm 21ss in GMT. Good for PI. Philanderers beware.

Went to the Zoo. The animals again were not co-operative as usual. Shot a pretty couple instead. Crop and load the picture into Flickr.
See exif details in flickr

Copy and paste special link info in flickr comments.

It now linked to GoogleMaps - see picture

Originally Posted by c_jit http://pc-mobile.net/nikongps.htm