GPS for Nikon D90

[xtemujin]

I've just received my Solmeta DP-GPS N90 and quite impressed with the package included.

Priced at US$175 including shipping and handling charges, it's definitely cheaper than the Nikon GP-1 solution at US$209.

I've not yet tested the unit outdoor yet.

Some photos to share.







More photos in my Flickr album.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtemujin/sets/72157601590395648/

[Rodrigo]

I like their products and their support is excellent. I have a DP-GPS N2 and it works like a charm. You'll have fun using it.

[jramskov]

I have the same device, it's quite nice! I used it a lot on my recent trips to usa and tenerife. I really like having my photos geo-tagged.

[nfoto]

A pity the cable is so awkward for using the camera with the GPS.  Prevents setting up the camera for portrait mode on a tripod, plus it interferes with the hand-held camera.

[jramskov]

nfoto: You're only speaking of the D90 right? I would think it isn't an issue on the D300, D700 or D3 with an L-plate and tripod? I haven't actually tried it myself, could do it now if it wasn't for the fact that I have forgotten to bring it with me

[nfoto]

As long as you need to plug in anything on the left hand side of the camera body, there will be undesirable side effects. A pity the designers never understand this self-evident truth.

Not familiar with this particular GPS unit, though. If you need an adapter cable to make it work with a 10-pin terminal camera such as the D3, this alone is a reason not to purchase the unit. Hopefully Solmeta provides a direct cable solution replacing the USB cable shown on the picture. Adapters are even bigger a hassle than the cable itself.

[jramskov]

I found this review which show it on a D3: http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3375

I do agree though, it is a bit of a hassle (and you can forget it like I just did). I'm quite frankly surprised they haven't integrated it into any of their DSLR's yet when it's available in one of their P&S models...

[xtemujin]

The Solmeta DP-GPS N90 is specificially designed for the D90.

If you would like the ability to use the circular and square ten pin input, you can get the DP-GPS Geotagger which will be available on January 2009.

http://www.solmeta.com/en/

I concur, the placement for the GPS connector is not well designed and I don't understand the need to change to a square 10 pin connector.

[xtemujin]

I've tested and evaluated the Solmeta N90, it's good to go.

However, someone in Nikon had a brain freeze with the connector on the left side and there is a tendency of hitting the wire when changing the M/A selector switch on the lens as the connector protrusion is quite long.

I would suggest this type of connector for the D90, this a remote controller for the iRiver H300 mp3 player.

[xtemujin]

I was using the Solmeta N90 during a photo shoot and the straight connector was a major hindrance.

PC-Mobile has come out with an L-shaped connector for the D90.

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







More photos in my flickr album.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtemujin/sets/72157601590395648/

[xtemujin]

First and foremost, all items are bought using my own pocket money and these review is my own personal opinion.

I've used the Solmeta DP-GPS N90 and the PC Mobile GN-1 GPS for my D90.

However, I've issues with the Solmeta straight connector and the PC Mobile push button which either jammed On or Off, unable to switch it Off or On. Both GPS have no Auto function.

The Solmeta DP-GPS N90 Auto function does not work as explained by Solmeta to me by email. The Auto function is whereby the GPS unit is either switched On or Off by the power selector on the camera.

Solmeta straight connector which hinders the end user.



PC Mobile GN-1 GPS for D90 push button has a tendency to jam On or Off.



I decided to get the Dawntech di-GPS mini IIs which was released on 2nd April 2009.

digital images GPS - Products





Comparison between the Dawntech L shaped connector with Solmeta straight connector.




Top view of the Dawntech di-GPS mini IIs.



AUTO function does work with the Dawntech.



Summarise:



]GPS[ Heaven and Earth - a set on Flickr

Solmeta DP-GPS N90

Pros:
1. Internal battery
2. Full accessories
3. Good built

Cons:
1. Auto function does not work
2. Straight connector hinders end user while using the camera and keeping the camera in a bag, high possibility of the connector breaking.
3. Big

PC Mobile GN-1 GPS

Pros:
1. Cheap
2. L shaped connector
3. Ability to change connector to ten pin input

Cons:
1. Cheap built
2. Push button has a tendency to jam On or Off
3. No Auto function
4. No internal battery

Dawntech di-GPS mini IIs

Pros:
1. Reasonably priced
2. L shaped connector
3. Small
4. Good built
5. Auto function does work

Cons:
1. No internal battery
2. No input for shutter release

I would highly recommend the Dawntech di-GPS mini IIs compared to the two products that I have purchased.

Solmeta needs to listen to it's customers feedback to change it's straight connector to a L shaped connector and make the Auto function works.

PC-mobile needs to change that POS push button.

HTH.

[TheMorchel]

Solmeta seems to have changed the Plug for D90, D5000 to an L-Shaped. And there is an exchange cable for Nikon 10 Pin (D200, D300, D700, D2x, D3x)

What I really like on it, is the compass direction (Heading) and the auto-indoor-function ...

[ChrisLilley]

Just to update, the new DawnTech diGPS mini 3L for D90 now has an L-shaped connector. It also has a data logger and uses the last known position to acquire a new fix more rapidly.

http://www.dawntech.hk/di-GPS/mini_3l.htm

[nfoto]

There is a hidden bug with the new Dawntechs. It's true it keeps the last position so you can get a new fix quicker, but this also carries with it the danger of getting an incorrectly geo-tagged file if you start shooting before the new location is determined.  I have had some bad cases of this with the new "Pro" model, where it used my position the day before as the reference point and tagged the first shots on the next days with these old co-ordinates. However, even my old red Peuogeot can cover a lot of ground over the night 

[TheMorchel]

There is a hidden bug with the new Dawntechs. It's true it keeps the last position so you can get a new fix quicker, but this also carries with it the danger of getting an incorrectly geo-tagged file if you start shooting before the new location is determined.  I have had some bad cases of this with the new "Pro" model, where it used my position the day before as the reference point and tagged the first shots on the next days with these old co-ordinates. However, even my old red Peuogeot can cover a lot of ground over the night 

No, this is no bug! This is a feature that Dawntech added knowingly. An I love it. In German we call it "Direktstart-Funktion". The new Dawntechs with logging function can take the last GPS information out of the logger after shutting completely of. The LED on the Geotagger shows you when there are fresh GPS information. Just Wait if you travelled to much since you shut the GPS off.

For example: I allways log until I am at home. If something funny happens with the kids, ... I do not have to go to the balcony, wait for a satellite fix and then come back in to see the funny situation is gone ... I love it!

[TheMorchel]

Yes, Dawntech has now 3 versions with L-connectors for Nikon D5000, D90 and >D200 ...
D90:


D5000:

D200-D3x:


Solmeta has 3 cables to exchange ...
D90:

D5000:

D200-3x:

[ChrisLilley]

I agree with TheMorchel that this is mostly a feature, and with Bjørn that, when the assumption of "probably close to last measurement" is incorrect (due to time, or speed) confidently reporting a wildly incorrect position is worse than reporting "unknown". Is it possible to tell from the exif if there was an active fix or if its a guess?

Don't D5000 and D90 have the same rectangular 10pin connector?

[TheMorchel]

Don't D5000 and D90 have the same rectangular 10pin connector?

Yes, but some stupid (sorry but it is true!) at Nikon turned the socket by 180° 

On my older post (scroll up to July 06, 2009) you can see a Solmeta Geotagger N1 on D5000 with cable for D90. As you see the cable is just long enough and goes down first. The new special cable for D5000 goes straight up.

The engineers at Nikon did probably not care about the socket orientation as the Nikon GP-1 (as well as Phottix, ...) all have a straight connector.  It is only Solmeta and Dawntech doing nice L-connectores 

This is the Nikon GP-1 way:
D5000:

D90:

D200-D3x:


As you see Dawntech and shortly behind Solmeta make the nicest cables for geotaggers ... I use a Dawtech mini on my D90.

[nfoto]

In my book, the Dawntech "feature" is a bad bug and I'm currently writing to the manufacturer about it. The problem is that EXIF can't differentiate the misleading coordinates and in an automatic geotagging system, manually fixing the error is a real pain. Dawntech needs to incorporate a check of the last GPS timestamp and let the coordinates expire if they are too old. A longevity 15 to 30 minutes should suffice to balance the need for a kickstart vs the issue of wrong positioning.

The new "Unleashed" (www.foolography.com), which is my preferred GPS solution, keeps the geodata only for a few minutes so the false coordinate issue is moot unless you're travelling by air, and then what's a few km offset anyway?

[TheMorchel]

OK, this is your point of view.

The Manual (http://www.dawntech.hk/di-GPS/library/di-GPS_ProL_UserGuide_v1.2.pdf) says clearly:
"Indoor Fixed (“IF”)
[...]
After a power reset (power off….on), the di-GPS Pro L reads the data logger
memory. If there is no GPS data in the data logger memory, the GPS reports
no fix available, the camera's GPS icon will flash and no GPS data will be
recorded. When the data logger is enabled and the Tag Time is set to off.
GPS data is still recorded in the data logger memory. The GPS will report the
last recorded GPS data in the data logger memory after power reset. The last
good fixed will be recorded in each photo until the GPS has a new fix."
The only point is that you should be aware of this function. So it not a bad bug and it is even not a bug at all. Just, because a bug is always caused by a mistake and not by a feature added by the engineer knowingly. This is the definition.

So you could tell: I do not like this new feature!

I am aware of it and I love it!

Example: I have been to a bigger city a few weeks ago. I woke up in the hotel in the "middle of the night". While going to the bath I found a the street light was great. I took my camera and shot the picture. At this hotel window, in that narrow street, with those high buildings around,  I would have waited for ages to get a GPS fix.

I did not wait, I took advantage out of the last point in the logger. This was logged when I came back to the hotel the evening before. The pic took me 2 minutes and I went back to my holy sleep!

I have found this feature very handy in various situations!