Leader Canon with embarrassing unworthy confusion in the introduction to his GPS DSLR cameras!

For the mere description of the product should be noted on previous assessments. This review is primarily concerned with the classification of the instrument in the context of the content of general image localization by camera-GPS.

The EOS GP E2, as the new and first GPS module for DSLR cameras has been designated by Canon in Europe, is victim to the Canon model flood, you should probably call more appropriate as a model Dünnschiss of the photo market marketing because it does not require a human visitor and to has become a consumer confusion producing disease of the major providers! Canon shows with his dubious performance with this GPS that the company has obviously lost track of their own products, so that the right hand does not know what makes the left!

What happened?

Canon introduced earlier this year his long overdue first with DSLR cameras directly coupled GPS receiver as bad but at least advanced copy of the Pentax GPS module out of the finally closes a gap after almost 10 years late, the technically in many ways far better predictive archrival Nikon had been occupied as a leader and all other well-known camera manufacturers of traditional DSLR formats already dominate their specific ways. Was announced the module in combination with the current Topvollformatkameras Canon. As a consolation for the poor APS camera owners the EOS 7D, which has come in the days lead horse of the popular DSLR systems from Canon on a firmware update should therefore also be functional. This update is finally the middle August 2012 and appeared to be more accurate reading of the announcement probably have only limited function for the GPS application! Details will be lit shortly; because the Canon customer service feels once again at this issue and overwhelmed Amazon Reviewer make contradictory statements, even though it is highly likely that the direct function on the hot shoe is not possible!

The GPS module EOS GP 2 was because even introduced befitting with the new full-size luxury class cameras of Canon hierarchy in March 2012 and it was unclear whether it would be combined with any future DSLR models, like the one at the competition Nikon and Pentax with their GPS modules is the case. The horror for expert was then large, the EOS 650D was the end of June as a continuation of the 600D on the market and was to discover neither accessories nor the data sheet a reference to this GPS module. My first reaction was an immediate demand when Canon Customer Support. The promptly replied and denied the function, which caused me immediately to a bitingly cynical commenting on Amazon that I did not withhold from Canon Germany. Likewise swiftly came from alleged makers of the company the answer of regret this lack, and the announcement of forwarding my complaint to Japan because all conceptual decisions for camera manufacturing in the country Nippon (answers from the house of Canon Germany is available upon request at any time prospective happy to available).

Meanwhile, however, doubts had surfaced because an EOS 650D Contributor Amazon had at least discovered a placeholder for GPS functions in the menu of the camera. Then we first checked in our group the new GPS receiver on a EOS 5 Mark III in an open area through its paces and found acceptable for work.
This prompted me to visit my spontaneous dealer PHOTO KOCH in D to the thing to go with the 650D to the bottom. Here I was fortunate that a Vorführkamera and the GP were 2 GPS available and I. To a young, inquisitive, albeit GPS inexperienced retailers fell, for it was an exciting event to attend this review He marched with me without hesitation to the door of the house where we once more luck was bestowed the curious, because a huge construction site brought despite deep urban canyons clear sky and so good satellite access. So we believed our eyes not as fast as on the Mark III, the positions were displayed along with location heights on the monitor! The stabilization of the display, thereby optimizing the measurement data took as with all GPS-measurement systems of navigation his 5-10 min. To the direction of the shooting, however, we waited a very long time and in vain! We consoled ourselves with the hope that these parameters could still appear in the EXIF ​​file of photographs and made to control Photos with strong angular deviations. Later evaluation result on the computer: Further Wrong!

Conclusion: At the EOS 5 Mark III the GPS unit displays the recording direction while it does not show at the 650 D. A similar phenomenon as in the flash sync, where the closure while at the 650D a 1/250 permits, but for marketing reasons the EOS entry-level series artificially a barrier is built to 1/200 in order to justify its hierarchy strategies better! One has to know that the direction of measurement over the receiver, ie the antenna configuration thus takes place in the plug-in the camera and then only the display on the camera screen and registration in EXIF ​​is executed. This is, moreover, at Canon minimalist and purely numerical in all camera hierarchies! While it is displayed graphically plausible with Pentax in general and also in some newer cameras of the compact series from Sony, which is much clearer and more informative! For beginners in the matter so that the GPS data is also much easier to understand!

Canon has also since not with glory may be able to launch any full copy of Pentax in the marketplace from Lizensgründen? Positive consideration is the data logger which operates via a memory in the receiver module, whose time intervals can be controlled via the camera menu and can continue to operate even when the camera is on record of distances, but this is at the expense of Aufsteckmodulgröße they available at the moment for klobigsten all plug-in modules of the market power. This is also due to the power supply by AA batteries / accumulators. But I do not think this is a major drawback, as it hereby two days autonomy for continuous measurement provides, which is conducive to the quality of the data see Annex. However, in my experience would be the use of AAA battery format, as it practiced Pentax, with plenty of one-day battery life sufficient. In any case designs are to be welcomed both GPS models because they provide the cheapest and most environmentally friendly energy supply and remain independent from the camera power supply in this form. This is not the case with the Nikon GPS modules and their Billignachbauten. Only certain models of Solmeta for Niko cameras make an exception. Nikon GPS accessories but getting old and needs to be updated, but as primitive GPS according to the function in the EOS 650D in clean working replicas already for under 50, - traded ex-factory price. A big advantage to animate GPS indifferent or even ignorant photographers to use this means of orientation.

How important is the aspect of energy supply, demonstrate the bumbling pullups Sony with its fully integrated / built-in GPS in SLT cameras, which I have expressed myself devastating in other places, because he unreasonably few trips per battery charge leads, particularly at the A55, constant GPS shutdowns entails that measurement intervals ranging from 1 sec. to 15 sec. and increases, and, and. Conceptually, the incorporation into the camera body, although as with Sony practiced ideal, but of the execution at the SLTs around in subsequent models A65 and A77 are still a disaster. In plain language this means: If you want Camera GPS without its own power / battery power, must accept significant crutches at the camera function and GPS accuracies because a using state of the art and the GPS system-related functioning uninterrupted satellite reception by constant Energy consumption is connected. This is unfortunately only with some comfort deficiencies. Even compact cameras offer here so far only pseudo-solutions!

Despite all this remains at Canon next to the mockery of the failure of customer service continues to be the verbal cynicism that Chinese people the Japanese hopefully soon may teach to walk upright for GPS applications in cameras, even if you never want to prepare the way for piracy even if it appears to Canon at Pentax also operates! Maybe we already brings the Photokina yes the first plagiarism of GP E2 to then certainly more moderate price. To hope is also that these are then fitted with a mounting foot, despite the GPS plugged opening of lightning allowed on cameras with built-in flash. Another stroke of genius of the technical inability Canons and reason enough to decide only in urgent cases for buying this current module. Not for nothing it is said: The only thing that Canon can, is to sell! For the sake of justice must, however, make it clear also that neither Nikon nor Pentax with their Aufsteckempfängern offer better solutions here. But you can from such a long-overdue laggard when it comes to camera-GPS as Canon probably expect him not simply copied those inadequacies of pioneers.

Until also the lack of the lack of direction implementation removes all cameras from Canon, you should already cut in protest against this Kundenverhöhnung with this model combining GP-E2 --- EOS 650D by Canon both this camera and the new GPS receiver in order to not to degrade themselves for undemanding Kameramob, which can be with Primitv-GPS, so yesterday's technology in a modern DSLR fobbed off and fallen every idiocy of a brand-finished product can, as I ironically already in the Vorkommentaren (for Canon fans expected unsuccessfully!) suggested , Moreover, after the announcement of the new M-Series absolutely inadvisable hasty purchase of the EOS 650D, since the image sensor in this completely identical and much technology of SLR in much more compact design - similar to a hip flask - should be installed in it. GPS is also announced it as an accessory, but in turn also unwilling to give the Canon Service unable and even the precise specification of functions on this camera! The procedure is now no longer hold with coordinated by the head hands, but proper blind at the computer to have had with characteristic lists without ever camera and accessories in his hand as a perversion of modern art by qualified blind economists to reduce costs!

All Niko cameras to the D200 offer, albeit presently even with foreign-GPS modules of Dawntech and Solmeta well as all current Pentaxkameras (with Make own GPS module) these camera-specific comfort of positioning with direction measurement and at prices that are significantly lower in some cases under the Canon GPS, which, after all the nice sum of half 650D camera body devours! For other camera manufacturers, you get much more for your money, bearing in mind that cameras are highly complex entities these days, the need to offer far more and even more significant than a solid localization device in the accessory, which many already see as unnecessary. Hopefully, because Canon has be long in coming, not only so as long !? And now with the introduction itself is by hierarchy strategies and over-inflated price in the way! As I said, the Chinese people will judge it on, possibly already at Photokina and hopefully even more practical.

Please now here again the question: Why this image indication of direction? For this purpose, first please contact [...] make clever. After that, I will gladly answer well reflected Application doubt.

One gets increasingly the impression: GPS use is anyway only for forward-looking education elites with unlimited horizons. Fellow photographers have their space intelligence evoke obviously only and schools in order to use this camera innovation useful and comprehensive can. In addition to the repeated reference to MBK below an appendix as a guide check for the purchase of a camera with GPS equipment for preformed interested and for deeper reflection on camera GPS affairs.

ATTACHMENTS please do not read, who does not, has these requirements, or the willingness to acquire them! Otherwise, please do not hold me responsible for your anger at your lack of understanding of my remarks in the notes.

Finally, as a conclusion, a summary of advantages and disadvantages of the EOS GP 2 at the various Canon cameras for image positioning.

Benefits:

- Closure of an existing for almost 10 years gap with competitors
- Autonomous power supply and thus independence from the camera battery / battery
- Continuous measurement of received satellites
- Continuous control possibility of measuring cycles and iteration calculations of the satellite signals to the monitor
- Acquisition of Iterationsstatus in the EXIF ​​file of the recording at the time of release.
- Use of inexpensive and environmentally friendly standard AA batteries / accumulators
- Relatively long operating life
- Measurement data recording even when the camera is off and thus possibility of distance tracking
- Adjustment of the measurement cycle in different time intervals for the distance monitoring
- Used via hot shoe or via external interface wired and prevent blockage of the flash as well as the slave flash trigger options (not valid for 7D, probably only works with cable?)
- Use of a modern, fast receiver Ships which allows the initial reception as soon as possible.

Disadvantages:

- Only primitive GPS with display and recording of X, Y and Z coordinates without receiving direction measurement (the 650D)
- No Messintervalleinstellmöglichkeit for the actual image positioning.
- No adjustment if the last valid measurement is to be taken or not; , tunnels, multi-layered roofs foliage of trees or forests or other circumstances do not penetrate in measuring precipitation in receiving dead positions as Inner house of houses or premises Gorges in the Erdmesssatellitensignale, etc.
- Blocking camera flashes its own when used on hot shoe should have been avoided by the form-design of Aufsetzfußes
- Therefore, in such cases, no recording direction measurement is possible when used with cable operation
- Distance measurement data can be read only on cable from receiver module, but not interchangeable mini-SD memory card
- Size and weight and thus Klobigkeit the receiver module, for AA-battery / battery power supply and internal memory (associated with this constellation advantages and disadvantages of each user must choose for yourself)
- Only numerical display of the measurement data in the camera menu no graphical representations
- Do not display satellite positions and intensity of each satellite signal
- Cable too short for a precision measurement promotional positioning of the GPS receiver
- Lack of camera-specific documentation of the functions of the EOS GP2 receiver, electronic components and used satellite
- Exorbitant, not much to say, outrageous price for what the beneficiary on the 650D, but also in general a price turnoff!
- To grant incapacity and unwillingness of the Canon Customer Service Europe, competent information about the different functionalities of the receiver to various Canon cameras
- 2 months ago for information on Canon Europe about errors in the data sheets for GPS compatibilities still no correction of these shortcomings
- For many in sales still contained Canon DSLR cameras can not be used!
- No direct linking possibility with saved sights of the respective location in the camera (which many compact cameras offer).

Because of the length of the review text of the Annex may be added for capacity reasons this field of vision just as 1st comment. If interested, please open this.