GISTeq PhotoTrackr Mini- Geotagging Fun
Posted by RustyHill - 18/06/10 at 10:06 pm
Location, Location, Location
Location may not be “everything” in photography. Composition, focus, exposure and a tack sharp image are still king. When using images to tell a story – even “where I went on my last vacation” – knowing the images location makes a story come alive.
Size Matters
The GISTeq PhotoTrackr Mini is small. At about the size of a pack of gum or a large flash drive, the Mini easily fits in a pouch, pocket, purse, or camera bag. Like any GPS device, the PhotoTrackr Mini must be able to receive the GPS signal. If the PhotoTrackr Mini is left in a car, building or ferry boat where GPS reception is limited or non-existent while taking pictures outside (where GPS signals are available), GPS data for the pictures will not be available. To maximize the chances of automatically geotagging photos, keep the Mini with the camera. A small pouch on the camera strap is the best solution.
Timing is Critical
Camera time, GPS time, local time, close is good enough … right. Too early, too late – either way the geotag could be incorrect or the photo may not be automatically geotagged. For best results, fully charge your camera battery and then set the camera’s clock to match the GPS time from the PhotoTrackr Mini. GPS time is obtained using the PhotoTrackr software with the PhotoTrackr Mini plugged into the computer USP port.
Geotagging
The included PhotoTrackr software can geotag JPEG images. If you do not use image data base tools like Adobe Lightroom or Apple Aperture, the images can be imported in to PhotoTrackr, crops and minor edits made if desired, and geotagged. PhotoTrackr also makes it easy to upload images to photo sharing websites like Flicker. However, if you use Lightroom, Aperture, or other image data base tools, the process is more complicated. One option is to import the images into PhotoTrackr, geotag the image, and then export the geotagged image. The geotagged imaged can be imported into the image data base application. This option results in making three copies of the image – the original, PhotoTrackr import, and geotagged export. A second option is to us a third party geotagging software, for example PhotoLinker. This option requires exporting the GPS track (GPX file) using PhotoTrackr. Then using the GPX file in PhotoLinker or another third party geotagging application to geotag the photos.
Pros:
- Small Size
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Three step process if you want to use the Geo-tagged image outside the Photo Tracker software.
- Non-replaceable battery must be charged from a computer USB port.
System Requirements:
- Windows XP or Vista, Intel ® Pentium ® PIII 500 MHz
- MAc OS X 10.3.9, 10.4, or 10.5.4
- 256MB RAM
- 25MB hard-disk space
- 1024×768, 32-bit (true color) screen
- USB1.1 Port
- Internet connection is required for online mapping
Contact: GiSTEQ
Cost: $69.00 US