Pentax O-GPS1

Photodana · 07-04-2011, 12:58 PM

I just ordered the new GPS Unit. It's awesome not having to do anything at the computer in order to get the image files Geo-tagged. I'm going to love it! I already own three GPS devices - but they all need work at the computer in order to syncronize the GEO-data with the image files. That's time consuming and really a PITA.
Now I can offer my klients GEO-tagged images - effortless. Brilliant!
I even upgraded the firmware to 1.10, so it will work as soon as I get the GPS device :-)

I just sincerely hope that Ricoh will keep up the good work, that the people at Pentax/Hoya have done the last few years. I am going pro in 6 months and I don't want to have to switch to Canon or Nikon - since I've got at least 50 original Pentax lenses - and a few third party lenses as well. And quite a few bodies too - like Pentax 67, Spotmatic, ES, P50, MX, MEsuper, LX, MZ-S, K-20 and K-5 and perhaps a few more... I have been using Pentax for more than 30 years. AND I DON'T WANT TO USE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SEEM TO BE USING. Just Pentax, please!

REGARDS
Jens, Denmark

Last edited by Photodana; 07-04-2011 at 01:01 PM. Reason: stavefejl

Povl · 07-04-2011, 05:02 PM

I really look forward to hearing your experiences with the O-GPS1. I'm quite tempted to buy one, but want to hear a bit more about how it works in practice - especially battery life and speed of getting a fix.

By the way, you really need to go into your profile and set your language to English - at the moment the forum is trying to translate your post from Danish when it actually was written in English in the first place!

Med venlig hilsen,

Povl

kamayok3 · 07-04-2011, 10:20 PM

So, you got the unit in Denmark already?

Zorglub · 07-15-2011, 11:38 AM

Afa Fotoversand in Germany and SRS Microsystems in the UK are shipping in Europe now. I ordered one from AFA, and I will post on my experiences after I get it up and running with some clear skies. I wonder how the tracking is done, because I would love to be able to use it in conjunction with an equatorial mount (piggy bagged on the scope) for even longer exposures. I hope we can use this thread to share our experiences with the unit :-)

**jbinpg** · 07-15-2011, 12:55 PM

Called around to local London Drugs at lunch. They phoned back to Pentax Canada and they are expecting them to arrive in Canada at the end of this month. Retail will be CDN279.99.

Jack

Gimbal · 07-15-2011, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by Zorglub

I wonder how the tracking is done, because I would love to be able to use it in conjunction with an equatorial mount (piggy bagged on the scope) for even longer exposures.

That will not work I'm afraid. Either use a motor driven equatorial mount or the astrotracker function.

Zorglub · 07-15-2011, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by Gimbal

That will not work I'm afraid. Either use a motor driven equatorial mount or the astrotracker function.

My guess is that you are right about that. Still, it is going to be great fun to try and capture the sky for more than a few seconds without breaking the bank.

HawaiianOnline · 07-15-2011, 02:53 PM

I'm not sure, but wouldn't using the astrotracker in conjunction with the motorized equatorial mount lead to reversed startrails? You'd be getting twice the rotational correction that you'd need therefore it might make the startrails look like they're going backwards. Also, I believe that you'd get even more blurring in fixed objects like trees and buildings.

Zorglub · 07-21-2011, 06:23 AM

I received the unit today, but alas no clear skies tonight.

First impressions
- looks good on the k5
- attaches very firmly to the flash socket with a slide to lock mechanism. No pin lock like the 540 flash - phew!
- locks satellites pretty quickly, 1 minute outside, no lock indoors
- manual pretty clear on the astrotracker function, how to calibrate and so forth
- electronic compas is precise, tested it with my normal telescope setup and north was where it's supposed to be
- it syncs time with the camera
- simple navigation mode could be fun with some photo-geocaching
- no pouch! The socket feels somewhat unprotected

Is the manual online anywhere? I could scan it if anybody is interested.
Edit: I have scanned the manual -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/frylund/sets/72157627247817180/

**StigVidar** · 07-21-2011, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by Zorglub

I received the unit today, but alas no clear skies tonight.

First impressions
- looks good on the k5
- attaches very firmly to the flash socket with a slide to lock mechanism. No pin lock like the 540 flash - phew!
- locks satellites pretty quickly, 1 minute outside, no lock indoors
- manual pretty clear on the astrotracker function, how to calibrate and so forth
- electronic compas is precise, tested it with my normal telescope setup and north was where it's supposed to be
- it syncs time with the camera
- simple navigation mode could be fun with some photo-geocaching

Is the manual online anywhere? I could scan it if anybody is interested.

Very interested in the manual, please :-)

Gimbal · 07-21-2011, 07:16 AM

Originally posted by Zorglub

Is the manual online anywhere? I could scan it if anybody is interested.

I'm interested, please scan.

Zorglub · 07-21-2011, 07:57 AM

Scan: Pentax O-GPS1 english manual - a set on Flickr

**StigVidar** · 07-21-2011, 08:23 AM

Originally posted by Zorglub

Scan: Pentax O-GPS1 english manual - a set on Flickr

Thanks.

Wonder what is meant with positioning interval on page 18 and the difference between 1min and 10min?

Gimbal · 07-21-2011, 09:06 AM

Thanks.

Originally posted by StigVidar

Wonder what is meant with positioning interval on page 18 and the difference between 1min and 10min?

I would guess that in order to save battery it doesn't acquire GPS positioning every second but only every minute, or third or what ever you choose.

adr1an · 07-21-2011, 09:45 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Gimbal

I would guess that in order to save battery it doesn't acquire GPS positioning every second but only every minute, or third or what ever you choose.

It updates every Second - what that does is configure for how long its updating 'for'. You'll note that it speaks of overriding the Light Meter settings and extending them automatically based on the chosen setting..

So it would seem that the unit 'wakes up' based on the meter (i.e, half shutter if camera asleep or been idle) and then will continue to plot its position @ 1Hz (based on details on next page of specifications stating 1second update rate) for the duration specified.

This makes sense so that A: it doesn't constantly drain like you suggest, and B: is able to geo-tag any picture once awake without having to wait 2-3 seconds for a 3D lock again... as the light meter also triggers automatically when the camera is first turned on..

This means you can switch on, compose for a bit, then 'snap', and still have it tagged to the 10m RMS the unit supplies...

I'm almost convinced now that it uses the pTTL feedback packets maybe to pull the NMEA data (same ones that will light the flash symbol on ok exposure) - stamping the GPS lat-lon that the O-GPS1 transmits based on the normal flash trigger linked to the shutter.. and it'll work up to 1/4000 etc because it'll also fake out that it does HSS etc..

This is no doubt why Pentax state you cannot use dongles etc to use other pTTL flashes when using the O-GPS1...

07-04-2011, 12:58 PM	#1
Photodana Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Greater Copenhagen Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 161	[langtitle=da]Pentax O-GPS1[/langtitle] I just ordered the new GPS Unit. It's awesome not having to do anything at the computer in order to get the image files Geo-tagged. I'm going to love it! I already own three GPS devices - but they all need work at the computer in order to syncronize the GEO-data with the image files. That's time consuming and really a PITA. Now I can offer my klients GEO-tagged images - effortless. Brilliant! I even upgraded the firmware to 1.10, so it will work as soon as I get the GPS device :-) I just sincerely hope that Ricoh will keep up the good work, that the people at Pentax/Hoya have done the last few years. I am going pro in 6 months and I don't want to have to switch to Canon or Nikon - since I've got at least 50 original Pentax lenses - and a few third party lenses as well. And quite a few bodies too - like Pentax 67, Spotmatic, ES, P50, MX, MEsuper, LX, MZ-S, K-20 and K-5 and perhaps a few more... I have been using Pentax for more than 30 years. AND I DON'T WANT TO USE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SEEM TO BE USING. Just Pentax, please! REGARDS Jens, Denmark Last edited by Photodana; 07-04-2011 at 01:01 PM. Reason: stavefejl

07-21-2011, 06:23 AM	#9
Zorglub Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 486	I received the unit today, but alas no clear skies tonight. First impressions - looks good on the k5 - attaches very firmly to the flash socket with a slide to lock mechanism. No pin lock like the 540 flash - phew! - locks satellites pretty quickly, 1 minute outside, no lock indoors - manual pretty clear on the astrotracker function, how to calibrate and so forth - electronic compas is precise, tested it with my normal telescope setup and north was where it's supposed to be - it syncs time with the camera - simple navigation mode could be fun with some photo-geocaching - no pouch! The socket feels somewhat unprotected Is the manual online anywhere? I could scan it if anybody is interested. Edit: I have scanned the manual -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/frylund/sets/72157627247817180/ Last edited by Zorglub; 07-21-2011 at 08:00 AM. Reason: forgot about the missing pouch

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07-04-2011, 05:02 PM	#2
Povl New Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cambridge Posts: 12	I really look forward to hearing your experiences with the O-GPS1. I'm quite tempted to buy one, but want to hear a bit more about how it works in practice - especially battery life and speed of getting a fix. By the way, you really need to go into your profile and set your language to English - at the moment the forum is trying to translate your post from Danish when it actually was written in English in the first place! Med venlig hilsen, Povl

07-04-2011, 10:20 PM	#3
kamayok3 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 90	So, you got the unit in Denmark already?

07-15-2011, 11:38 AM	#4
Zorglub Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 486	Afa Fotoversand in Germany and SRS Microsystems in the UK are shipping in Europe now. I ordered one from AFA, and I will post on my experiences after I get it up and running with some clear skies. I wonder how the tracking is done, because I would love to be able to use it in conjunction with an equatorial mount (piggy bagged on the scope) for even longer exposures. I hope we can use this thread to share our experiences with the unit :-)

07-15-2011, 12:55 PM	#5
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Called around to local London Drugs at lunch. They phoned back to Pentax Canada and they are expecting them to arrive in Canada at the end of this month. Retail will be CDN279.99. Jack

07-15-2011, 01:08 PM	#6
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	Originally posted by Zorglub I wonder how the tracking is done, because I would love to be able to use it in conjunction with an equatorial mount (piggy bagged on the scope) for even longer exposures. That will not work I'm afraid. Either use a motor driven equatorial mount or the astrotracker function.

07-15-2011, 02:19 PM	#7
Zorglub Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 486	Originally posted by Gimbal That will not work I'm afraid. Either use a motor driven equatorial mount or the astrotracker function. My guess is that you are right about that. Still, it is going to be great fun to try and capture the sky for more than a few seconds without breaking the bank.

07-15-2011, 02:53 PM	#8
HawaiianOnline Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hawaii Posts: 613	I'm not sure, but wouldn't using the astrotracker in conjunction with the motorized equatorial mount lead to reversed startrails? You'd be getting twice the rotational correction that you'd need therefore it might make the startrails look like they're going backwards. Also, I believe that you'd get even more blurring in fixed objects like trees and buildings.

07-21-2011, 06:59 AM	#10
StigVidar Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 704	Originally posted by Zorglub I received the unit today, but alas no clear skies tonight. First impressions - looks good on the k5 - attaches very firmly to the flash socket with a slide to lock mechanism. No pin lock like the 540 flash - phew! - locks satellites pretty quickly, 1 minute outside, no lock indoors - manual pretty clear on the astrotracker function, how to calibrate and so forth - electronic compas is precise, tested it with my normal telescope setup and north was where it's supposed to be - it syncs time with the camera - simple navigation mode could be fun with some photo-geocaching Is the manual online anywhere? I could scan it if anybody is interested. Very interested in the manual, please :-)

07-21-2011, 07:16 AM	#11
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	Originally posted by Zorglub Is the manual online anywhere? I could scan it if anybody is interested. I'm interested, please scan.

07-21-2011, 07:57 AM	#12
Zorglub Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 486	Scan: Pentax O-GPS1 english manual - a set on Flickr

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07-21-2011, 08:23 AM	#13
StigVidar Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 704	Originally posted by Zorglub Scan: Pentax O-GPS1 english manual - a set on Flickr Thanks. Wonder what is meant with positioning interval on page 18 and the difference between 1min and 10min?

07-21-2011, 09:06 AM	#14
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	Thanks. Originally posted by StigVidar Wonder what is meant with positioning interval on page 18 and the difference between 1min and 10min? I would guess that in order to save battery it doesn't acquire GPS positioning every second but only every minute, or third or what ever you choose.

07-21-2011, 09:45 AM - 1 Like	#15
adr1an Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 739	Originally posted by Gimbal I would guess that in order to save battery it doesn't acquire GPS positioning every second but only every minute, or third or what ever you choose. It updates every Second - what that does is configure for how long its updating 'for'. You'll note that it speaks of overriding the Light Meter settings and extending them automatically based on the chosen setting.. So it would seem that the unit 'wakes up' based on the meter (i.e, half shutter if camera asleep or been idle) and then will continue to plot its position @ 1Hz (based on details on next page of specifications stating 1second update rate) for the duration specified. This makes sense so that A: it doesn't constantly drain like you suggest, and B: is able to geo-tag any picture once awake without having to wait 2-3 seconds for a 3D lock again... as the light meter also triggers automatically when the camera is first turned on.. This means you can switch on, compose for a bit, then 'snap', and still have it tagged to the 10m RMS the unit supplies... I'm almost convinced now that it uses the pTTL feedback packets maybe to pull the NMEA data (same ones that will light the flash symbol on ok exposure) - stamping the GPS lat-lon that the O-GPS1 transmits based on the normal flash trigger linked to the shutter.. and it'll work up to 1/4000 etc because it'll also fake out that it does HSS etc.. This is no doubt why Pentax state you cannot use dongles etc to use other pTTL flashes when using the O-GPS1...