geo-tagging/ gps tagging images - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

03/10/2008 10:33:43 AM · #1

I know people have been doing this sort of thing for years but I recently worked out how to apply GPS tags to my photos. The several people I showed it to were really excited about it so I figured I'd share what I've found out so far.

How to add GPS locations to your photos

Moose408

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/10/2008 10:52:44 AM · #2

Thanks for that. I had been wondering how that was done and never thought about the fact that you could sync the GPS and camera based on time. What a simple and elegant solution.

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

03/10/2008 01:14:18 PM · #3

This is great, thanks.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

03/10/2008 01:18:41 PM · #4

Have to see if I can get my Garmin to play nice with my Mac.

03/10/2008 01:35:08 PM · #5

I know that the method Gordon described is a good, workable one (I haven't tried the software, but I may give it a whirl at some point!)... but I am considering getting the necessary stuff to hook my Garmin 60csx directly to the D300.

Can someone with a bigger brain than mine check to be sure that this is what I'd need?

Nikon MC-35 Adapter

Adapter to go from 60csx to MC-35

Message edited by author 2008-03-10 13:35:40.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

03/10/2008 01:50:57 PM · #6

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Have to see if I can get my Garmin to play nice with my Mac.

I'm told Imageingester pro for the mac is a good solution that does essentially the same thing as Downloader Pro on the PC. Not sure if it modifies the original RAW files or adds sidecar data though (which may, or may not be an issue for DPC)

As Alan mentioned, there are a few ways of doing this in camera - Nikon have methods were you can plug the GPS into the camera and Canon apparently have a few solutions using the wireless adaptor or a port on the wireless adaptor (I haven't really looked too far into it)

That potentially is a more accurate method, as you'll get GPS data exactly when you take the picture, rather than when the GPS device recorded a track point (which is typically either based on time or moved distance). Even without that though, it is already going to be accurate to about 5 meters at the worst and probably always more accurate than that, when combining data.

Downloader pro has the nice feature of showing realtime clocks that you can easily synchronise with both the camera and GPS time in the dialog box. I suspect most of the other solutions have equally easy methods to ensure or maintain synchronisation or enter the delta.

I quite like not having more crap than I already have attached to the camera. Just sticking the GPS in the top of the backpack works well and keeps it out of the way. With an L bracket, remote cable release and hotshoe bubble level along with a camera strap, I've already got things hanging all over the camera a cable and GPS seems like a bit more than I could face :)

Louis

Nikon D800

03/10/2008 01:51:24 PM · #7

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Can someone with a bigger brain than mine check to be sure that this is what I'd need?

My brain may not be bigger, but that looks about right.

03/10/2008 01:57:31 PM · #8

Thanks... I'm pretty sure this combination is gonna work. I just ordered the cord from B&H, and if the GPSGeek site would start working again, I'll order the other one from them...

Originally posted by Louis:

Originally posted by alanfreed:
Can someone with a bigger brain than mine check to be sure that this is what I'd need?

My brain may not be bigger, but that looks about right.

03/10/2008 01:59:47 PM · #9

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Thanks... I'm pretty sure this combination is gonna work. I just ordered the cord from B&H, and if the GPSGeek site would start working again, I'll order the other one from them...

I'd be interested to see a comparison to find out what you gain for the extra money and in-field connections. While browsing around I keep seeing comments about the 'extra hassle' of combining the results when downloading the images, but so far all I've had to do is plug in the Garmin and plug in the CF card at the same time, everything else happens automatically.

03/10/2008 02:04:07 PM · #10

I probably won't gain a whole lot, in all honesty. I would think that the directly connected method will mainly work toward fulfilling my own anal-retentive tendencies more than anything. I'm sure that I'd be lax in keeping my camera's clock set perfectly with the GPS time, for one thing. I'll just like the confidence of having it synced exactly, and writing it directly to the image.

I would also be concerned that if I would use the method you described as a habit, by touching the EXIF of my images when I copy them to the computer, I'd be rendering them invalid for DPC proof purposes.

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by alanfreed:
Thanks... I'm pretty sure this combination is gonna work. I just ordered the cord from B&H, and if the GPSGeek site would start working again, I'll order the other one from them...

I'd be interested to see a comparison to find out what you gain for the extra money and in-field connections. While browsing around I keep seeing comments about the 'extra hassle' of combining the results when downloading the images, but so far all I've had to do is plug in the Garmin and plug in the CF card at the same time, everything else happens automatically.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

03/10/2008 02:08:12 PM · #11

Originally posted by alanfreed:

It doesn't have to be. Part of the downloader configuration is entering the difference in the two clocks. They don't have to be in perfect sync, you just need to know the difference (which is as easy as looking at the clock setting on the camera when you download, if you wanted to check every time.

Originally posted by alanfreed:

I would also be concerned that if I would use the method you described as a habit, by touching the EXIF of my images when I copy them to the computer, I'd be rendering them invalid for DPC proof purposes.

It doesn't touch the EXIF data, at least if you shoot RAW files. The GPS data gets written into a meta data XMP sidecar file, that gets munged together with the EXIF data in the RAW file by most current readers. You can do the same if you shoot JPEG I'm sure.

magnus

Canon EOS-30D

03/10/2008 11:26:16 PM · #12

Any recommendations for what GPS to buy that works both as a GPS logger for geo-tagging and a basic navigation unit? I have a Treo 650, so the TomTom Navigator seems like decent low-cost solution when paired up with a basic GPS receiver like this one. But I'm worried that it'll be a nightmare to get these things all working together. Anyone know of any inexpensive (say around $200) car navigation units that have the receiver, map interface, and logger all in one unit?

03/12/2008 09:08:46 AM · #13

Originally posted by magnus:

I've heard of people using a wide variety of Garmin devices quite successfully (for geo-tagging you need one that will do a track log and connect to a PC - not much else as far as I can tell). It does depend a lot on if you want an in car or hiking unit - you'll end up making trade-offs in both directions if you want one for both, I expect. I haven't really paid much attention to car navigation units though, I only really use it for hiking.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/12/2008 09:09:35 AM · #14

Here's an example if this in use, with Google Earth and Flickr map screenshots to show how the images appear automatically to anyone looking.

Titus Canyon trip

Quasimojo

Canon EOS-30D

03/12/2008 09:15:41 AM · #15

Originally posted by magnus:

Magnus -

I had a Nokia 6600 with TomTom Navigator on it, using a Holux GPSlim 236 (SirfstarIII chipset) GPS receiver. I used it to provide auditory navigation to me on my motorbike (i.e. in my helmet, in one ear) and it worked really well. The main downside for mobile phones is that the bluetooth connection AND GPS both DESTROY battery life, so not that ideal (I have a 12v charger underneath my saddle on the bike, so it's easier).

Personally I'm in no hurry to geotag my shots. I'm fairly certain that Canon (and the rest of the manufacturers) will provide a GPS upgrade option in the next year or so, maybe even dedicated bodies with GPS functions...so I'm waiting until they provide a solution.

N

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/12/2008 09:18:07 AM · #16

Originally posted by Quasimojo:

Personally I'm in no hurry to geotag my shots. I'm fairly certain that Canon (and the rest of the manufacturers) will provide a GPS upgrade option in the next year or so, maybe even dedicated bodies with GPS functions...so I'm waiting until they provide a solution.

There were certainly several in-body solutions demoed at PMA and Nikon already have built in support. Canon also does if you get the wifi adapter (at least that's what I've read). I've been surprised how trivially easy it is with my existing GPS unit though.

Quasimojo

Canon EOS-30D

03/12/2008 09:23:11 AM · #17

Originally posted by Gordon:

I can envisage a way of connecting a GPS receiver to a camera body via bluetooth, if there's a bluetooth adapter for Canon bodies...but it would also require new firmware to write the GPS data to EXIF. Still, not rocket science and I bet Canon could do something like that tomorrow...?

N

03/12/2008 09:30:22 AM · #18

Originally posted by Quasimojo:

Originally posted by Gordon:
There were certainly several in-body solutions demoed at PMA and Nikon already have built in support. Canon also does if you get the wifi adapter (at least that's what I've read). I've been surprised how trivially easy it is with my existing GPS unit though.

I can envisage a way of connecting a GPS receiver to a camera body via bluetooth, if there's a bluetooth adapter for Canon bodies...but it would also require new firmware to write the GPS data to EXIF. Still, not rocket science and I bet Canon could do something like that tomorrow...?

N

Not sure if the wifi adaptor is actually wireless for GPS data, or not. You'd need an 802.11 GPS device then. It probably just has a 10-pin connector or something though I don't plan on spending $800 to find out. Both seem kinda inelegant and expensive compared to just having it happen later.

A built-in solution would be nice too, though not too useful for helping you find your way around (similar to the Sony tracker - it does one thing well, but just as well as an equivalently priced multi-function navigation unit) Check Westfall is quoted as saying GPS will be available in-body in about 2 years or less for Canon cameras.

Message edited by author 2008-03-12 10:20:34.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/12/2008 03:00:50 PM · #19

One of those simple/ brilliant/ d'oh titbits of info.

If you are really worried about accurately syncing your GPS clock and the camera clock, or more specifically knowing the delta between the two, it is easy.

Take a picture of the GPS clock in the camera. Read the EXIF for that shot.

I haven't bothered doing this as I'm logging location every 6 seconds and I don't shoot/move that fast to really be worried, but it is a good way to get it spot on.

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

03/12/2008 05:26:50 PM · #20

I have a Garmin GPSMAP 60 and a Mac and use GPSPhotolinker and GPSBabel+ (if needed).
GPSBabel is for ALL computers. I like running the beta versions to test them. It looks like you need to donate prior to downlaod...you don't, it wouldn't be called donation then would it?
GPSPhotolinker works very well. It matches up photo times and GPS tracking (best way to get exact locations, if you turn it on), and waypoints. Fun to play with. then when you have the metadate in, drop a photo on MapthePhoto to show it on Google (helpful in My Maps, etc), Terraserver, Microsoft, or any other internet mapping area. Pretty cool

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/12/2008 05:35:12 PM · #21

I also use my 60c in the truck, bike, along with hiking. Just have to change over a few things (MPH in particular) in the settings. I usually use the mapping pages when hiking and the INFO pages while driving (mph, distance, etc), so not a big deal. Have the dashmount adapter and motorcycle adapter to switch between the 2 without problems, then off hiking when I arrive.

03/13/2008 02:09:46 PM · #22

Just got my MC-35 cable, and I was successful in getting it hooked up to the GPS -- hooray :)

Having only had the cable for half an hour, I've only been able to experiment so much, but with a little work with Picasa, I can export stuff to a Google Earth view of where things were shot. And with a Firefox EXIF viewing extension, I can view the GPS data and click a few maps. It's interesting that it is not only recording the lat/long, but it also records the altitude and which way the GPS was facing at the time!

Here's what it generates, as viewed in the Firefox plug-in. If anyone has good software advice for using this data in interesting applications, I'd enjoy learning about it!

Exif GPS IFD

* GPS Latitude Reference = N
* GPS Latitude = 40/1,35/1,20214/1000 [degrees, minutes, seconds] ===> 4Â° 35' 20.214"
* GPS Longitude Reference = W
* GPS Longitude = 80/1,12/1,517799999/10000000 [degrees, minutes, seconds] ===> 8Â° 12' 51.78"
* Links to online mapping websites:
o Googleâ�¢ Maps
o Yahoo!Â® Maps
o MSNÂ® Maps & Directions
o MapquestÂ®
* GPS Altitude Reference = sea level reference (negative value)
* GPS Altitude = 349/1 m = 349 m
* GPS Time Stamp / UTC Time = 17/1,28/1,46/1 [hours, minutes, seconds] ===> 17h 28m 46s
* GPS Satellites = 09
* GPS Image Direction Reference = magnetic direction
* GPS Image Direction = 2986/10 degrees
* GPS Map Datum = WGS 84
* GPS Date Stamp = 2008:03:13 UTC

Message edited by author 2008-03-13 14:14:06.

03/13/2008 02:23:59 PM · #23

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Here's what it generates, as viewed in the Firefox plug-in. If anyone has good software advice for using this data in interesting applications, I'd enjoy learning about it!

That's about where I'm at - at the 'now what' stage. There's //www.gpsvisualizer.com/ for one, as well as the flickr layers in Google Earth.

I'd quite like to to work out how to get the images in Google Earth as 'billboards' sort of the way the gigapixl images float around in the scene. Having the direction would be quite useful there too - is the GPS aligned/ attached to the lens when you are shooting with the tethered option ? or is it on a cable and in a backpack ?

Message edited by author 2008-03-13 14:25:24.

03/13/2008 02:37:44 PM · #24

Also //www.mapwing.com/ which appears to understand the direction fields - not tried this one though.