Originally posted by jumbleview I would ask more. If GPS can be embedded in virtually any smartphone, why it is a problem to find a tiny place in the camera which is much bigger. The argument about metal housing for new pentaprism which blocks signal I find ridiculous.
Since I work in tech, I'll try to explain why having an all metal housing does block the antennae's ability to pick up a signal and that it's not a "made up excuse"..
Let's see.... Radio waves, The last time I checked, Radio and Television stations have their dishes/antennae's
outside the building. I wonder why? It's simply the fact that radio signals don't do well passing through solid objects. Neither do Satellite signals. Actually, Satellite signals are even worse at passing through concrete, metal, brick, etc. Go under a bridge while listening to XM radio and the signal just ups and leaves.
You can easily test this using a phone as well. Enable your own GPS/Nav on your phone (disable cell data so it only uses the GPS module) and walk into a shopping mall or go into a building that has an elevator. Your signal will vanish because there's no clear line of sight. Line of sight? Yes. That means no material that blocks or actually reflects the signal, such as
metal.
Phones are a bit different because they're now glass and plastic. Glass is used because the signal can get through much easier. Plastic is used because it also get's through.
The actual GPS antennae in a phone isn't surrounded only by metal, the top plate that houses the screen on a phone gives a direct line of sight for the GPS module.
If you want a camera that has reliable GPS built in, it'll have a plastic top plate. If you want a rock solid camera encased in a heavy duty all metal enclosure, well, then you get no built in GPS. It's the physics of how the signals work and what they require. I'd rather take a rock solid camera body that still gives me the option of GPS rather than a more fragile top plate just for a built in GPS module. *Starts remembering the threads of K-1 owners with damaged top plates by the hot shoe*
---------- Post added 05-28-21 at 06:53 PM ----------
Originally posted by reh321 The issue is said to be the antenna, which needs a certain view of the sky.
I know that sometimes my iPhone cannot find the view in my auto that it needs.
I don't know more - do you have expertise in antenna design?
Unless you do - when I worked at a defense contractor, antenna designers were considered to be artists and were very much respected - I would keep my opinions to myself.
Exact-a-mundo!