What driverless GPS loggers work well with Mac for photo geotagging?
Asked 5/11/2013
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2 answers
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I’m looking for a small, lightweight GPS logger for geotagging photos that works on Mac without special drivers or proprietary software. Ideally, when connected by USB it should appear as a standard storage device so I can copy the log files directly.
My goal is to record track points every few seconds and later match them to photo timestamps in Lightroom or another tool that can use GPX/NMEA data. I’m not looking for a phone app or a full navigation GPS unless it’s especially simple to use for this purpose.
Has anyone used driverless GPS loggers such as the AMOD AGL3080, Columbus V-900/990, or similar devices? How well do they work for Mac-based photo geotagging, and are there any models to prefer or avoid?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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I have a AMOD AGL3080, and I like it. Its basic, it logs GPS locations when its on. You can press its one button and mark a waypoint or point of interest. Lightroom will read the log file and use the internal date/time stamp on the photos to put them in the right place.
You can also use things like exiftool to merge in location data.
It uses 3 AAA batteries, and they don't last all that long. I'll guess they last 20 hours or so. Which is a couple of full days of shooting for me.
I've loaded the log files in a number of web based mapping tools. The only issue is that it takes a lot of log readings, so the files can get big -- too big for some tools if you have hours of log entries.
You simply plug in a USB cable into the device and copy the files using the standard Mac, Linux or Windows tools, drag and drop, etc. There is nothing special about it, the device records the location logs as simple text files in an industry standard format.
Originally by user8620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user8620
13y ago
0
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A driverless logger can work well for this. From the answers, the AMOD AGL3080 is a proven option: it logs positions continuously, has a button to mark waypoints, and connects by USB so you can copy files directly on Mac, Linux, or Windows with no special drivers. Lightroom can use the track log to match locations to photo timestamps, and tools like ExifTool can also merge location data.
The main downside reported for the AMOD is battery life: it uses 3 AAA batteries and gets roughly 20 hours, which is fine for a couple of shooting days but not exceptional. Also, long logging sessions can create very large files.
One responder also recommends older Garmin eTrex models. They’re bulkier than a pure logger, but they reportedly need no drivers, run a long time on AA batteries, and may have better GPS reception than cheaper loggers.
So if your priority is a small, simple, Mac-friendly logger with direct file access, the AMOD AGL3080 fits the requirement well. If you can tolerate more bulk for better reception and battery life, an older Garmin handheld is another practical geotagging option.
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