GPS cordinates in my exif

wim des bouvrie · 08-12-2019, 07:24 AM - **1 Like**

The GPS coordinates in my excif files give the wrong place. The difference between the Exif place in Google maps en the real place in Google maps is about 1000 m. The GPS tracker in the K1 works perfect en gives the exact location. Why is there a difference and how can I get the exact GPS coordinates in the exif files?

**Bob 256** · 08-12-2019, 07:47 AM

Not sure what you're saying. Does the K-1 list the correct coordinates and then record different (wrong) ones in the EXIF? I've used my K-1 and the EXIF files are spot-on when I go to Google Earth.

The pointing (compass point) coordinates can be affected by local magnetic fields and the camera should be calibrated if you want those accurate, but the actual location coordinates are read from satellite information and should be accurate and record the same as what you see on the K-1 compass display.

**UncleVanya** · 08-12-2019, 07:54 AM

+/- 50m wouldn't be unbearable. 1000? That's nuts.

stevebrot · 08-12-2019, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by wim des bouvrie

Why is there a difference and how can I get the exact GPS coordinates in the exif files?

Perhaps the issue is with Google Maps? The EXIF should report the same value as displayed on the camera. What do you get if you compare with a hand-held GPS?

Steve

photoptimist · 08-12-2019, 08:36 AM

Where were you?

GPS errors can be quite high around dense, high-rise buildings, bridges, cranes, and other metal structures because the satellite signals reflect off the metal in the structures.

GPS is dense forest also suffers from higher errors but 1000 meters seems excessive.

Finally, some sensitive buildings may be guarded by GPS jammers but that seems more like a tin-foil hat scenario than a common problem.

pschlute · 08-12-2019, 08:37 AM - **1 Like**

I believe Google maps uses decimal co-ordinates. Does Pentax ?

fehknt · 08-12-2019, 08:54 AM - **1 Like**

What country? Some countries use different definitions of the shape of the earth, most places use WGS-84 these days but for example China uses GCJ-02
wgs84 - What causes the GPS offset/shift in China? - Geographic Information Systems Stack Exchange

Google maps, uses the "correct" datum for the local users, but it's "wrong" for data from most international devices.

Most countries use WGS-84 these days though.

Unregistered User · 08-12-2019, 09:37 AM - **1 Like**

Just brain storming a little... Have you been moving fast between shots? The coordinates you have, did you stop in that position or is it a position you have not been to at all? Maybe the camera did not have the time to update?

My experience with the gps is that it is spot on. Have you calibrated it?

---------- Post added 08-12-19 at 06:52 PM ----------

To put the correct position in the file you can use Adobe Bridge or Lightroom to edit the position. Or you can use a program called ExifTool. ExifTool has a learning curve to it but ones you master it, using the ExifToolGUI, you can edit and add data to the exif.

**microlight** · 08-12-2019, 09:59 AM

Welcome, Wim.

There might be a few things going on here.

1. If you are recording the GPS coordinates direct from the camera, then unless there's a fault with the camera itself then the coordinates should be spot on.
2. I used a Windows10 app called GeoPhoto to GPS-tag photos that didn't have in-camera coordinates - and that gave me a significant error.
3. Google Maps does indeed use decimal, so they have to be converted before you can insert them in software like Adobe Bridge.

For older photos (or ones where I forgot to turn on the GPS...) then I find the location in Google Maps, drop a pin and that gives you the decimal coordinates, then convert to degrees/minutes.m.

jgnfld · 08-12-2019, 10:08 AM

On my K-70 the GPS logging interval can be set to as high as 1 minute. You'd really have to be moving fast to get that offset. But is it possible the K-1 has a longer logging interval available?

DrawsACircle · 08-12-2019, 11:56 AM

Try Geosetter, shows the location, shooting direction and camera FOV based on the specific focal length: Download - GeoSetter

**Bob 256** · 08-12-2019, 01:22 PM

OK. I just went outside and shot a photo. Using PhotoME, I recovered the EXIF coordinates which can be entered directly in Google Earth without modification (degrees/decimal minutes). Zooming in on the location, the indicated position was 28 feet off (using the Google Earth ruler function).

Please don't critique the photo - my subject wouldn't hold still and it was a grab shot just to test the GPS - also I won't reveal the location for squirrel protection reasons.

I think I've had other shots which were considerably closer than this but 28 feet isn't bad. Just be sure you realize the position recorded is YOUR position and not the position of the subject you took the photo of (assuming you were holding the camera) - duh that makes the error about 29 feet

pschlute · 08-12-2019, 01:52 PM

Is there any lag between turning on a camera with GPS and getting the most accurate fix ?

My cars satnavs often take a bit of warming up because it is poor signal directly where I live.

**jbinpg** · 08-12-2019, 03:42 PM

I shoot my K-1 with onboard GPS enabled all the time. Yes, there is a warmup period but that mainly affects elevation which is the least accurate of all the GPS outputs anyway. The lat/long output is usually within a few meters right away. BTW, Google Earth and I imagine Google Maps automatically convert any format of lat/long into what it needs internally to do the plot. - Jack

**Oakland Rob** · 08-12-2019, 05:18 PM

The OP has left the building but if not, I'd want to see the exif file data. Since apparently his K-1 is accurate per his post, and since the data is recorded in the photo file perhaps there's a mismatch between say the GPX and the image file name or maybe in some conversion of the GPS data to whatever format he's using, which we are unaware of. I haven't heard of the camera having accurate data and then not recording it accurately.

08-12-2019, 07:24 AM - 1 Like	#1
wim des bouvrie New Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Rotterdam Posts: 3	GPS cordinates in my exif The GPS coordinates in my excif files give the wrong place. The difference between the Exif place in Google maps en the real place in Google maps is about 1000 m. The GPS tracker in the K1 works perfect en gives the exact location. Why is there a difference and how can I get the exact GPS coordinates in the exif files?

08-12-2019, 09:37 AM - 1 Like	#8
Unregistered User Guest	Just brain storming a little... Have you been moving fast between shots? The coordinates you have, did you stop in that position or is it a position you have not been to at all? Maybe the camera did not have the time to update? My experience with the gps is that it is spot on. Have you calibrated it? ---------- Post added 08-12-19 at 06:52 PM ---------- To put the correct position in the file you can use Adobe Bridge or Lightroom to edit the position. Or you can use a program called ExifTool. ExifTool has a learning curve to it but ones you master it, using the ExifToolGUI, you can edit and add data to the exif. Last edited by Unregistered User; 08-12-2019 at 01:20 PM.

08-12-2019, 01:22 PM	#12
Bob 256 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,377	OK. I just went outside and shot a photo. Using PhotoME, I recovered the EXIF coordinates which can be entered directly in Google Earth without modification (degrees/decimal minutes). Zooming in on the location, the indicated position was 28 feet off (using the Google Earth ruler function). Please don't critique the photo - my subject wouldn't hold still and it was a grab shot just to test the GPS - also I won't reveal the location for squirrel protection reasons. I think I've had other shots which were considerably closer than this but 28 feet isn't bad. Just be sure you realize the position recorded is YOUR position and not the position of the subject you took the photo of (assuming you were holding the camera) - duh that makes the error about 29 feet Attached Images Last edited by Bob 256; 08-12-2019 at 01:45 PM.

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08-12-2019, 07:47 AM	#2
Bob 256 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,377	Not sure what you're saying. Does the K-1 list the correct coordinates and then record different (wrong) ones in the EXIF? I've used my K-1 and the EXIF files are spot-on when I go to Google Earth. The pointing (compass point) coordinates can be affected by local magnetic fields and the camera should be calibrated if you want those accurate, but the actual location coordinates are read from satellite information and should be accurate and record the same as what you see on the K-1 compass display.

08-12-2019, 07:54 AM	#3
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,445	+/- 50m wouldn't be unbearable. 1000? That's nuts.

08-12-2019, 08:27 AM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by wim des bouvrie Why is there a difference and how can I get the exact GPS coordinates in the exif files? Perhaps the issue is with Google Maps? The EXIF should report the same value as displayed on the camera. What do you get if you compare with a hand-held GPS? Steve

08-12-2019, 08:36 AM	#5
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,127	Where were you? GPS errors can be quite high around dense, high-rise buildings, bridges, cranes, and other metal structures because the satellite signals reflect off the metal in the structures. GPS is dense forest also suffers from higher errors but 1000 meters seems excessive. Finally, some sensitive buildings may be guarded by GPS jammers but that seems more like a tin-foil hat scenario than a common problem.

08-12-2019, 08:37 AM - 1 Like	#6
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,210	I believe Google maps uses decimal co-ordinates. Does Pentax ?

08-12-2019, 08:54 AM - 1 Like	#7
fehknt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 142	What country? Some countries use different definitions of the shape of the earth, most places use WGS-84 these days but for example China uses GCJ-02 wgs84 - What causes the GPS offset/shift in China? - Geographic Information Systems Stack Exchange Google maps, uses the "correct" datum for the local users, but it's "wrong" for data from most international devices. Most countries use WGS-84 these days though.

08-12-2019, 09:59 AM	#9
microlight Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,129	Welcome, Wim. There might be a few things going on here. 1. If you are recording the GPS coordinates direct from the camera, then unless there's a fault with the camera itself then the coordinates should be spot on. 2. I used a Windows10 app called GeoPhoto to GPS-tag photos that didn't have in-camera coordinates - and that gave me a significant error. 3. Google Maps does indeed use decimal, so they have to be converted before you can insert them in software like Adobe Bridge. For older photos (or ones where I forgot to turn on the GPS...) then I find the location in Google Maps, drop a pin and that gives you the decimal coordinates, then convert to degrees/minutes.m.

08-12-2019, 10:08 AM	#10
jgnfld Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,796	On my K-70 the GPS logging interval can be set to as high as 1 minute. You'd really have to be moving fast to get that offset. But is it possible the K-1 has a longer logging interval available?

08-12-2019, 11:56 AM	#11
DrawsACircle Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Ulfborg, Denmark Photos: Albums Posts: 434	Try Geosetter, shows the location, shooting direction and camera FOV based on the specific focal length: Download - GeoSetter

08-12-2019, 01:52 PM	#13
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,210	Is there any lag between turning on a camera with GPS and getting the most accurate fix ? My cars satnavs often take a bit of warming up because it is poor signal directly where I live.

08-12-2019, 03:42 PM	#14
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	I shoot my K-1 with onboard GPS enabled all the time. Yes, there is a warmup period but that mainly affects elevation which is the least accurate of all the GPS outputs anyway. The lat/long output is usually within a few meters right away. BTW, Google Earth and I imagine Google Maps automatically convert any format of lat/long into what it needs internally to do the plot. - Jack

08-12-2019, 05:18 PM	#15
Oakland Rob Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Bay Area California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 798	The OP has left the building but if not, I'd want to see the exif file data. Since apparently his K-1 is accurate per his post, and since the data is recorded in the photo file perhaps there's a mismatch between say the GPX and the image file name or maybe in some conversion of the GPS data to whatever format he's using, which we are unaware of. I haven't heard of the camera having accurate data and then not recording it accurately.