GP-1 GPS Unit, Geotag your images! Geotags can be added to your images so you can record latitude, longitude, altitude and time information.
Not sure if this is for everyone but it's definitely cool! If your into geo-tagging then you might want to read more about this over at Digital Review
Update: New GP-1 Micosite from Nikon See it Here
28 comments:
The price point feels a bit high, but it is a pretty neat add-on. I just wish it could be more integrated instead of relying on that ugly cable between the GPS unit and the camera.
I agree Jase, Maybe a used one will pop up on ebay someday. It is pretty cool.
I heard about it and I think its a neat idea but it is a bit stiff in price. To buy this you really have to think what uses you may have.
I don't recommend buying the GP-1 for the D-90. The GPS functions ok, but after a short period of time, the D-90 that it was connected to had the jack that the plug connects to damaged because of how it is designed. When it was working, it worked ok. I did have some problems when I tried to use it around high-rise buildings. I could not get a signal in 'the big city'.
Bottom line, the cable sticks out of the side of the camera where it is easily bumped. If you bump it, even lightly, you can damage your camera. Until Nikon fixes the cable for the D-90, I would avoid this accessory on this camera.
Unfortunately, I just had the same problem as Mo, where the GPS connector in the camera appears to have been pulled loose after only two short outings of careful use with the unit. I'm really bummed, as the GPS capability of the D-90 was a big selling point for me. I can't imagine how such an obvious design flaw escaped quality control at Nikon, so I'm hoping that Mo and I have manufacturing defects in our camera that are covered by warranty.
Thanks for the heads up guys!
Don’t buy this product. I also experienced the loose port problem after only a few uses. Nikon's service rep professed no knowledge of this problem and was totally unhelpful.
I have the same problem with my Nikon GP-1 GPS connecting with my Nikon D90 DSLR camera. It worked great for a few months, but now the connection where the GPS cable plugs into the D90 camera body has become faulty. The symptoms are just the ones that Julien and Cindy described above.
What's the most economical, safe and quickest way to get my D90's GPS connection port and/or the GPS cable repaired? I live and work in Manhattan, New York City. A Nikon service center or Nikon authorized repair center in Manhattan where I could drop off the camera and pick it up would be ideal for me, but if that's not possible or too expensive, then I'd mail my camera to a Nikon service center. I've had the camera for less than 1 year. Would it still be under warranty?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can post advice here on how and where to get this problem fixed.
I have been discussing with Nikon service people about how to fix the problem of loose GPS cable damaging port on D-90 body. Apparently, not enough people have complained about this problem so Nikon is not aware of it.
I suggest those of you who have a problem to report it to http://support.nikontech.com/
and bring it to the attention of David Dentry, General Manager of Technical Support, Nikon Inc.
David told me to send in the camera and GPS to be evaluated, but as Nikon does not have any advisories on GP-1, customers have to pay for shipping cost.
Perhaps if enough customers complain about this problem, there will be an advisory and they will take the issue more seriously.
I had a GPS GP-1 unit as early as December 2008. After a little more than one month, I already broke the GPS connector inside the D90. I have to say I inadvertently bumped it, but that's so easy: you have the choice to either leave the cable always plugged, having a huge risk to hit it (then you cannot event put back your camera in a normal fitted case), or plug and unplug it ten times a day and loosing the connector by doing it. I sent it to Nikon in February 2009 and they repaired it free (anyway, you lost two weeks of use and the shipping costs). I was already careful before (but only one small hit is enough), I went even more then, and I was able to use the GPS until the end of September 2009 (using it in two trips to Canada and one to Pakistan), but know it’s getting loose again, and I can ensure I was careful as never before. I don’t know how Nikon could have designed a so stupid connection; you don’t have to be a genius to understand that is really a bad conception; when I received it, I thought “how long will last this silly cable”. In fact, the weakness is not the cable, but the camera itself, which is even worse. Now, if they cannot see by themselves how bad it is and they need plenty of complaints to understand it, that’s even worse than I thought. I’m using Nikon cameras since more than twenty years (F801, F80, D80 which was disappointing for its recurring sensor dust, and D90), but I never encountered such a bad design.
I have the exact same problem. I sent in the camera to the service and they are saying it is not covered by warranty. I sent an email to Nikon support and they claim the same - they have not heard of such a problem.
Martin
Same problem here. My D90 connector has been replaced already 3 times by Nikon!!
It's simply impossible to have it worked under normal use conditions. Connector is too fragile.
A lot of users have been complaining. I know that the Nikon Euopean Support Team are aware of the problem but so far no answer from them either. A french guy sent them a detailed technical analysis to help them understand the pb. I know another one who built himself an external support for the cable with a piece of metal!!!
It's a shame because both products are great. hope we will have solution soon...
Thanks for all the great and helpful input on this GPS guys!
The weak connector problem appears to have happened to me now as well - after a mere 6 days of use! This is ridiculous. I verified that the GP1 unit works on another D90, so it's fine - but all it does on my body is trigger the meter to wake up, but it doesn't detect the GPS, nor does the GP1 light up at all. I've sent in a request to Nikon, per the suggestion in the above comments. Thanks everyone! Hopefully Nikon will get their act together with this problem.
Heres what I suggest. Now I am not an owner of the D90, but I will be soon and I was checking this out. I don't know about you guys, but this is going to be my solution to this problem. It involves my iphone, which many of you may not have, but I have one and someone else who has one may not have thought of this. Whenever I am out taking pictures for each spot I visit I will snap one shot with my iphone as well. I don't know if you knew this, but iphones have geo-tagging built in. I know for someone without an iphone this is an expensive alternative, but you get a phone along with it for about the same price as the GP-1. I have been goe tagging for years with my phone, may as well continue and just simply fill in the correct info for my D90's shots when I get home.
Anybody with any further updates on status from Nikon, as this facility really interests me (this was one of the advantages of buying the D90!)?
I definitely won't be buying the GP-1 if this problem is not fixed.
Anyone with experiences with the 3rd-party GPS units, such as Dawntech, etc?
I also have the same issue with loose connector port in D90 after only limited use.I just bought the gps unit 2 months ago.....What a terrible design by Nikon
Fixed by nikon nc and very quick.
Great tech people!!
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1 gps unit
I am about to upgrade from my Nikon D70s to a D90 and I am interested in the GPS feature. I am doing surveillance photography and it would be helpful to have reliable location, date and time information for court purposes. I will wait to buy the GPS unit until they fix the design flaw. Nikon, if you are reading this, step up and fix this problem. I expect better from Nikon than to tell customers that this isn't covered or it isn't a problem. Who ever is in charge should fix this or seriously consider another line of work. If Nikon wants loyal customers, they should take care of their problems and concerns.
I also have a problem with the GP-1 and my D90. The port on my D90 seems to have been broken from the start because it didn't work even the first time I connected it. My camera is out of warranty and Nikon wants to pretend that this is an uncommon problem. They even tried to convince me to buy a new cable rather than admit that the problem is the camera. I connected the GP-1 to a display model at a local retailer and it works perfectly, so I know it is the camera. It is very disappointing and frustrating to hear that this problem has been a known issue with the D90 for over 2 years and Nikon has still not done anything about it.
They didn't even correct that stupid thing in the D7000...
SitDown, you are a genious, you could work at Nikon's design lab. Imagine: you leave for three weeks in a trek (without electricity, I’m speaking of a real Himalayan trek), you shot between 500 and 1000 pictures. First, you have to “double” all of them with your iPhone (assuming you have plenty of solar cells, which is another of your solution's big challenges). When you come back home, not only you have to sort and maybe work a little on your photos, but you also have to update each of them manually with the geolocation you got from your iPhone. I’m sad I didn't think to such an outstanding solution before.
FWIW, I forgot to tell you guys that after fighting with Nikon fro a cpl of months (camera at their repair shop) They fixed it at no cost.
Have hardly used the GPS since. I know that what I am about to say will seem close to apostasy (and I have had a Nilon since my first Nikon F in 1970) i went out and bought a Panasonic DMC-ZS7 / TZ10 as a backup.
@Ramon,
There is no need for sarcasm. At least it is a constructive suggestion.
John
I don't see how an unrealizable solution can be constructive (that would be too easy)...
Now, in the external GPS devices solutions, there are plenty of software which allows to update pictures with the positions recorded using a GPS device (certainly less expensive and possibly more accurate than an iPhone), there is nothing new there (just search "geotagging software" in your favorite search provider). Anyway, that doesn’t help in long trips, you'll still need plenty of spare batteries.
enough about the weak GP-1. What would you suggest. There are 3 types on e-bay for under $100.00.
I have to buy one for my D-90. I know a guy who has one for same purpose as I need and he likes his so no problem yet .
Hi,
I just tumbled on this thread as I was building my own GPS for the D7000. It would consist of a bluetooth modem and bluetooth gps mouse. After two or three connect-disconnect cycles my bluetooth modem doesnt light up the status LED anymore. I thought that I fried the 5V supply but I guess that it is rather the plug that is not working anymore after reading this. Did anybody try to repair the GPS plug of the D7000 himself?
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