Build your own Nikon D200 geotagger for under $100

While we wait patiently for camera manufacturers to realize that geotagging is a much more compelling feature than yet another megapixel, we'll be building this DIY GPS attachment for the Nikon D200 instead. Just like the $400 GeoPic II, the box is based on a SiRF Star III chip, but since you're building it yourself, you'll wind up shelling out less than $100. While you'll need a steady hand and a bit of soldering skill, it doesn't look too hard to put together -- so what are you waiting for? Instructions at the read link.

[Via Make and hack a day]

[andres @ Feb 27th 2008 7:48PM]

from site:"I cannot guarantee that it will do harm to your camera, even if all directions are followed exactly."

so its designed to harm your camera?

[wickedpheonix @ Feb 27th 2008 8:08PM]

"Build your own Nikon D200 geotagger for under $100"

Seriously? Last time I checked the D200 body-only alone retailed for well over $1,000 and now Engadget has somehow made the camera (AND a geotagging kit!) cost for less than a tenth of that! Well done! [/sarcasm]

In other news, misleading titles are on the rise...

[Josh @ Feb 27th 2008 8:15PM]

No, "Build your own Nikon D200 geotagger for under $100" doesn't imply the Nikon D200 is included. It says you're building a geotagger for your Nikon D200.

[wickedpheonix @ Feb 27th 2008 8:23PM]

That's why it's misleading - a better title would be, "Add geotagging for $100 to your Nikon D200" or something like that.

[austin @ Feb 27th 2008 8:25PM]

at least its grammatically correct. idiot

[Alijah @ Feb 27th 2008 8:39PM]

They expect the majority of their readers to be intelligent enough to realize you're building the geotagger for under $100, not the camera + the geotagger.

Then again, I suppose assumptions like that never work out, why should this be any different.
You people need to stop reading so deep into things, even if you're trying to be funny, you're just failing and making an ass of yourself. Makes comments annoying as hell to read, yet fun to reply to.
Grow up.

[DarkLightConnection Unbanned @ Feb 27th 2008 8:12PM]

""Build your own Nikon D200 geotagger for under $100""

How is that misleading? It looks like the right title to me

[DarkLightConnection Unbanned @ Feb 27th 2008 8:14PM]

Damn, this was supposed to be a reply to wickedpheonix (shouldn't it be "phoenix"?... nvm, it's YOUR name)

[Allister @ Feb 27th 2008 8:40PM]

Is geotagging compelling enough that I want my camera to look like Frankenstein?

Nope.

I can't wait until manufacturers start building this *into* their bodies...

[Tim @ Feb 27th 2008 8:50PM]

I don't understand why someone would want to know where i was when i took a picture of my cat sleeping on a toaster.

j/k. its a cool concept for people that actually get out of the office/house to enjoy life and take pictures. And homebrew stuff always amazes me.

[Stevo @ Feb 27th 2008 9:14PM]

I've been on a lot of road trips and went back to look at the pics and been like "Where the heck was that?"


That's the worst sentence I have ever written. I give up.

[EricBrian @ Feb 27th 2008 9:51PM]

Why not just go with Blue2Can and a bluetooth GPS receiver?

https://ecommerce.redhensystems.com/pc-47-2-blue2can.aspx

[Precision @ Feb 27th 2008 9:58PM]

i think the fact that the Blue2Can costs $279.00 ALONE without a bluetooth GPS receiver aswell as it wasting camera battery for the Bluetooth connection between the devices is reason enough not to get it, don't you ?

[EricBrian @ Feb 27th 2008 10:02PM]

Yeah, the cost for it is high. But, I am going to buy it.

The two people I talked to who have one said they didn't notice a difference in battery life.

[Only morons take this seriously. @ Feb 28th 2008 1:20PM]

You have to lug around extra batteries for a D200 anyway, since it smokes a charge after 500 frames. I'd be more worried about accidentally knocking the toucan dongle off the camera and losing it.

[EricBrian @ Feb 28th 2008 1:58PM]

Yeah, I've read about people worried about that... but some have solved that by attaching it to a lens cap strap which, in turn, is attached to the camera strap.

[Onetruebill @ Feb 27th 2008 10:56PM]

Remember the OLD DAYS when you took a picture and then used THE PICTURE to tell where you had been?

I am converting some GPS steaknives in my garage that will track prime rib using the Outback Steakhouse spy satellite.

[Jeff_R @ Feb 28th 2008 1:38AM]

wickedphoenix: Just FYI, when you go into a car parts store and they offer to sell you a Ford Mustang drive shaft loop for $200, it doesn't include the actual Ford Mustang. :-)

[joeroddis @ Feb 28th 2008 4:39AM]

I'm sure there are people that spend their time blasting engadget on every article they write. If you don't like it go to another tech blog.

[Geir E @ Feb 28th 2008 5:14AM]

What about Sony GPS-CS1 geotagger? A friend with a Canon who uses it so it should be able to be used with a d200. Costs less than $100, closer to $75 i think.

[Lee, ChihCheng @ Feb 28th 2008 8:36AM]

My company have GPS product for Nikon D200(also D2H,D3,S5Pro), it can direct connect to
Nikon 10 pin connector provide GPS data. and it also a logger can work in "Sony CS1 mode"
so also compatible with other camera and also have POI button can export data to KML format
then user can track with Google Earth.

Our product OEM price is only US$60. I don't know street price. I think the reseller take
too much money.

[bezdomny @ Feb 28th 2008 10:11AM]

Build your own? When you can get a key fobbed one for $240? See:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bezdomny/sets/72157603997529380/

[Steve Childs @ Feb 28th 2008 10:12AM]

hmm, the easiest way to Geotag images I've found so far is the Sony GPS CS1 (Link at end of comment).

It works with any camera and you don't need to plug it in. You simply make sure the clock of your Camera is that of the time zone you're in, switch the GPS CS1 on and snap away.

Then you go back to the PC, fire up the software included, download the GPS log from the CS1 and the software then goes through the photos you took. It checks the time the photo was taken against the GPS log file and updates the EXIF info with the Long / Lat where you were at the time the photo was taken.

Ok, not as good as a truly integrated solution and seeing as you can now buy GPS chipsets (note, chipsets, not full devices) for $1, I'm surprised camera manufacturers don't include them into the bodies now.

Link: http://ohgizmo.com/2006/08/03/sonys-gps-cs1-device-will-geotag-your-pics/

[Jeff_R @ Feb 28th 2008 10:41AM]

There's also a program called RoboGeo that does that same thing via a GPS-capable PocketPC.

[tracy @ Feb 28th 2008 2:20PM]

yeah i dont understand why people do this. check out just getting a data logger like this one

http://www.semsons.com/hogr3bldalog.html

or the sony someone else linked to and then you use one of the many tools out there to synch based on time stamps. the only way this is better is if it included a digital compass to encode bearing, then i would be onboard.

[foolography @ Feb 29th 2008 6:35AM]

check out http://www.foolography.com

I have a tiny bluetooth module, which allows the use of pretty much any modern Bluetooth GPS to the better Nikon DSLRs, it draws less than 10mA while connected, and turns off completely while the camera is turned off.

I also sell a modified Holux GR-236 with a cable to fit Nikon cameras for those that don't trust bluetooth even though there's no reason to.

although a little more pricey than the above solution, they're definitely much neater, but for those that can't afford them, I'm currently planning a low-cost model as well.

theFool
http://www.foolography.com

[Haroon @ Mar 14th 2008 9:40PM]

Super