www.sciuridae.co.uk

So what I've done next is to load up an image tagged by the Picture Tracker and let Picassa place it on the map. Then I've uploaded another image and manually placed it on the map where I actually took the photo. Then I uploaded another image, and placed it where the GPS Sat Nav thought it should be.

Click on the picture to enlarge and get a better look. (Will open in a new Window).

As you can see the Picture Finder tagged image is about 30 feet out, just like ATP say it might be. This was taken in pretty perfect conditions, the Picture Tracker had a good view of the sky for two minutes before and after I took the image, and the camera's clock was synched perfectly.

Update: Several people have been disapointed that you can't plug Compact Flash cards straight into the ATP GPS Picture Tracker in order to Geotag your images.

This can be done however without a pc , you just need to use the lead that came with the tracker, a card reader and an extra USB-mini usb lead (which probably came with the reader.)

Just plug the reader into the mini usb jack on the back of the GPS tracker, then put the CF card into the reader.

The tracker will recognise the images and tag them with lat / long appropriately.

No PC required!

Update: I'm pleased to announce that the ATP Picture Tracker is compatible with my new Fujifilm Finepix S5700, I just popped the SD card in and all my pics were tagged.

At last I can now have a go at taking some half decent pics (but I've got lots to learn!).

You make great play in the fact that the system does not require a PC. However, would it be possible to upload the images and associated location tags to a PC for mapping on a GIS system for example?

Also what datum does the unit use? Kevan.

Its not obvious which datum it uses, I've checked the documentation too, I would guess WGS84, but I could be wrong, contact ATP. The unit acts like a usb mass storage device, so you can pull the log files off to use with third party software on your pc, in fact if you go to ATP's site, they now provide a desktop application for those that have trouble geotagging "on the go".

I recently received the latest version of this product from ATP.   It seems to work better that the previous version I was testing.   I still have to copy photos from my CF card to an SD card to get it to work though.   It even has a feature to export KML files now. Tim.

Great! I'll try and get a review model.

It sounded such a useful device, I jumped at the chance to get one of these in the UK. We bought ours from www.easydevices.co.uk for about £80, together with a card reader which you need if you want to tag images on Compact Flash cards. The USB socket on the ATP reader is mini-USB2, so you need to use the included dongle in order to connect most USB card readers.

The ATP does the job, but there are shortcomings:

1. the battery life can be pretty dire. I managed to record about an hour's track with a pair of new alkaline AAAs from Superdrug, but there wasn't enough juice when I got back to geotag the files. I thoroughly recommend the use of top-brand batteries, like Duracell, or get yourself some high capacity NiMHs from the likes of play.com

2. the display is extremely difficult to see. In order to save power, the backlight goes off about about five seconds. If you've taken a lot of photos, the geotagging process can take a long time and without the display on, you have no idea that its still working.

3. time for GPS acquisition from cold is very long - you have to wait a good five minutes before the device will start logging your position.

4. the KML track files that the device creates are not correctly date-stamped. Given the device has such a large storage capacity, you can end up with a lot of track files in the device (which you can then copy to your SD card), but they are all datestamped 1st Jan 2007.

I think the GPS accuracy issue is common to all small, portable GPS devices - they've never going to work that well in built-up environments since the receivers all require a clear view of the sky to operate properly.
Chris.

Great comments, I'll pass them on.

Will the unit work with a camera that has the photos written to a sub folder? Example my Pentax DSLR has a Route folder called DCM and the sub folder called 100PENTX with the photos? Thanks. Joel.

When using pics from my Fujifilm, which are stored in a sub-folder, the tagger works fine. However, before you decide on the ATP, check out the Qstarz Tagger.

I bought one of these from Easydevices in the UK shortly after they became availalbe. Big problems getting it to work and also problems getting it to transfer data to my CF cards. I sorted out the transfer problems through Easydevices service department, but the unit itself still seems to take forever to get a position, if it ever does. I went to Australia recently and had to give up using the unit as even in Alice Springs it would not get a signal at all.
For a device that is supposed to log your position it is( or mine is at least) useless for situations where, for instance, you are driving along, see something you want to take a photo of, get out of the car, quick photo, back in the car and drive on. The unit will work in the car so you have to wait what seems a long time for it to get a signal after you get out, if it ever does, before taking the picture. Therefore the whole reason for the unit, to tell you where the picture was taken, has failed.
Also Easydevices seem to have lost interest in these problems. Chris.

I've received a number of emails about this product not working properly, I've forwarded them all to ATP, all I can say is the one I have works fine, but I know that doesn't help you at all. I hope this doesn't put you off geotagging your images, I'm currently trying out this unit, and it seems much more reliable than the ATP.

I have tried, I have really tried, but I can not get my unit to give me the correct location. The first time it tagged my pictures with a location in Australia (im in Colorado)next few times it targeted a location in Eastern Kansas (im still in Colorado) I have read and synchronized the clocks and tried over and over again....no luck. Wayne.

Not sure why you're having problems (unless you have a faulty unit.) This is what I do if I'm going to use the Photo Finder to tag some pics.

Before I set off I turn the ATP on and leave it outside for 5 minutes.
Take my camera outside and synchronise the time on the camera to that on the ATP.
Pop the ATP in my jacket chest pocket, and head out to take some pics.
When I get home I take the SD card out of my camera, pop it into the ATP and get it to tag the pics while I make a cup of coffee.
Upload the pics to Picassa online, then look at them in Google Earth if I want to.

Good luck, send it back if it still doesn't work!

Very useful review, plese test it with various cameras and then write your review again. Thanks now for good info. I have also ordered. Thakur.

Thanks for the comments! Sorry, I've only got two cameras, so that's all I can test it with!

I just receivied your ATP Photo Finder thru a order I sent to Costco. I Did not receive the Carabiner with the order. Andre.

Sorry, I don't sell the picture tracker, I just reviewed it, and they may have changed the specification. You should contact Costco or ATP.
Hope you enjoy using it.

Hi, this seems to be a fantastic product and i am so very tempted to order one right now from easydevices.co.uk for my photos!
I am wondering though, whether the GPS data can be used to plot car journeys, I have always wanted to see where my random travels have taken me, also useful for any mini runs that i go on. I seem to just follow the leader on these but i would love to find out where exactly i have been! Of course, i doubt there would be a plugin for google earth that would allow me to do this simply, but i would be interested to know whether the GPS data is accessible and easy enough to read/enter into a database and from there plot a course, so to speak...

If you go to gpsvisualizer.com you can upload gps log files directly from the picture tracker and it can output a number of different map styles, including google earth .kml tracks.
Click on the images below for larger examples. (Will open a new window.)

Google Maps Track	Google Earth Track

Right, I've done a video that shows the technique a little better:

A fairly good alternative to the Red Hen Blue2can which is great but costly. Would I be correct in assuming that:
a) this is reasonably waterproof - at least as far as rain and snow goes
b) it will not lose a track log when you change the batteries
Can it only read files from flash cards or could one feasibly download photographs to a portable hard drive and sync the GPS log data on that? Nick.

a) I would say that the unit is shower-proof only. The mini-usb / SD card slot is only covered by a rubber cover that could let in water if immersed.
b) All track logs are stored to flash memory, so are not lost between battery changes. You could lose a log if you allowed the batteries to flatten while it was recording a log. (There is a low battery power warning light).
The phototracker works best with SD cards, but it can handle CF through an attatched card reader, though there have been some compatibility issues. The unit would not sync images on the portable hard drive, but you could copy them on to an SD card and then they would be tagged.

Hello! Just one question: When you will release the second version with CF and CR2 file format support?
I wish, it will be very useful device for Canon photographers. Romario.

Not sure about that one, but keep an eye on the ATP Website for news,

You can buy from The UK distributor, www.easydevices.co.uk, heres the link: ATP Photofinder.

Shakil.

Thanks!

It´s crazy, that ATP forgot the CF card reader. Is the ATP GPS photo finder able to copy the data into a RAW file like CR2 from Canon? Axel.

I've added some pics of how to use a card reader to tag CF cards above.
As for the RAW / CR2 formats, I think the Picture tracker only works with jpeg files.

Thank you for the fast information. I think, it is not okay, when ATP publish a "Camera Compatibility List", if it works only with the global jpg format, which is independent from the cameras. :) Axel.

If the basic Picture Tracker is a sucess maybe ATP will a release a "pro" version with built in CF reader and support for RAW and other file formats, but I guess the majority of Digital Camera users still rely on jpg, like myself.

Hi, The ATP looks cool, am I correct that you can plug a camera into the USB port to transfer data to other card media. I have a Nikon D70s. I have read most of the reviews but none of the sites are clear about this. I use a Mac, so if this is possible it would be a godsend. All the best. Huw.

I don't think you can use the Photofinder like that, the usb is for connecting to your computer to back-up your gps data.
Now what is true is that when connected to a PC the photofinder appears as a mass storage device, and if there's a storage card in it, that appears as an external drive. If your camera has a built-in file viewer that can access external devices, then you might be able to copy between the camera and an SD card inserted into the Photofinder, but it’s a bit of a long shot, and not mentioned in the manual.
I wouldn't buy a Photofinder on the basis of what you want to do.

Thanks for that, I'll have to keep looking for a unit that will work with my Mac without having to install the dreaded windows :-)

Why do you need windows?

I assumed I'd need windows for the data loggers to work. This is why I thought ATP was ideal apart from not taking CF cards. Can you advise me of which units will work with my Mac.

The idea of the ATP photofinder is that you don't need a pc or mac to geotag images. I've added a new section to the review showing you how to tag photos stored on a CF card, still without a pc.
Hope that clears things up!

That looks the ticket, Sorry to be a pain but......... what lead are you using on the ATP, I thought they were Male ended. Did you use a gender adapter? or does it come with it?
Thanks again for all your help, all I need to do is find a supplier. I emailed ATP and they gave me two email addresses, neither replied.
I'll just have to wait. I'm so glad you were able to answer my questions.

The white short lead in the pictures comes with the Picture Tracker, it's male mini-usb to female USB. The long black lead is male usb to male mini-usb, which came with my card reader.
Original plans for distribution said that large quantities were to hit the shops early 2008, so I guess we should be seeing them soon!

Thanks again for your advice, I have been lucky in obtaining one from Borge.com.au for £84 ($191asd) inc shipping.
Here's to tagging my life and Photos, how sad am I :-). I'll give you an update when I've got it.

Great News!

Your product ATP GPS photo finder seems interesting from where and how much can I buy in usa or uk? Thakur.

Unfortunately no one is selling The ATP photofinder yet - the unit I got was a review model. Should be available soon.

Fantastic concept, but suggestions for v2:
1. CF card reader also, so that it will be useful to users of higher-end cameras such as Canon DSLR's.
2. Instead of requiring AAA's, utilize an interchangable rechargable lithium ion battery which can be charged via USB port with a 12V/car or AC USB power adapter (and include both adapters in the package). Scotty.

Great ideas., I'll pass them on to ATP.

I've been trying to get the ATP GPS Photofinder and I've emailed to the ATP customer service, Mr Steven – and Borge's Imaging Australia.There were no reply from them. Emailed them in late October.
Good to know that you were able to get it. Where can I get one? Imran.

I think ATP are still sorting out distributors in Europe, North America and the rest of the world, I guess we'll see them at Amazon, Expansys, etc as soon as these channels come on line. The unit I got was a review one - it really is a great product, easy to use, etc, and would have been a great stocking-filler for Christmas. I tried to get in touch with my contacts at ATP but the emails bounced back - maybe problems with their mail server.

Reply: Thanks for the information about the current situation with the ATP GPS photo finder.
I've been using the Sony GPS-CS1 and would like to upgrade to the ATP GPS as the Sony GPS is not using the SiRFstar III chipset. Imran.

Update from ATP: Hi! We don't have many distributors for now. But you can get it directly from us by emailing our sales at cynthiatsai@tw.atpinc.com