Originally posted by MikeD I still don't get how adventure photogs,(probably a very small percent of the market) use, and feel it is so important to have GPS "in camera" if you are going into the wild why not use a good Garmin and take notes. I'm totally missing the point, an explanation would be appreciated. On the other hand although it's a given that the on camera flash is very harsh there are ways of fixing that and I would think the vast majority of users would use the flash more often than geotagging just by the fact of sheer numbers. I use mine sparingly in a pinch, I just put a piece of tissue over it and the harsh light is softened a lot. For me I'll wait for the FF and hope that it has tilt and enough mpxs to do the job in crop mode or I'll wait until the true upgrade from the K3 comes through. I only have the K5 but when I go to the "Elite photos" and see what those people (like Dr. Orloff) can do with the K5 I think I can afford to wait. So for me no tiltee no buyee.
You're very right, on one matter: An AA battery powered GPS logger is a much more efficient way to add GPS data to your images, ...after the fact, in post-produciton. Using your in-camera GPS constantly is going to consume much more battery power, while AA batteries are easy to bulk up on before or during any trip.
Personally, I use my cell phone and an app called Backcountry Navigator to GPS log my travels, and all you have to do is create a GPX file afterwards and there are programs that will add the correct GPS data to your images. As long as your GPS logger is NEAR your camera, that is. If I let my camera run all night for a timelapse, and it's 1/4 mile away from where my tent is, then obviously I'd be turning off my GPS for the duration, whether it be in-camera or external.
As others have pointed out, the main reason that having GPS built-in on the K-3 II is of course the astro-tracking. This is something that no GPS logger can offer to your camera, and not having to add an external GPS module to your camera hotshoe is definitely worth the loss of a pop-up flash for 99% of adventure photographers who care about either astro-landscapes, or GPS logging in general.
It is unfortunate that the pop-up flash has been removed, and with it the ability to quickly trigger remote flashes too, but considering the features the K-3 II adds over the K-3, (and considering the extreme similarity to the K-3 as well) ...I'd say that both cameras will coexist in the market very well, and the K-3 II will be a dream camera for adventure, landscape, and astro-landscape photographers while the original K-3 will continue to make a great all-around camera.