O-gps1

Mike Cash · 06-25-2011, 02:17 AM

Has the new hotshoe mount GPS unit been discussed yet?

Adam · 06-25-2011, 03:58 AM

A little bit here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/official-pentax-news/146161-pentax-announ...x-cameras.html

Mike Cash · 06-25-2011, 02:24 PM

Thanks!

**StigVidar** · 07-08-2011, 09:19 AM

Have anyone got this, yet? Or heard anything about delivery?

solar1 · 07-11-2011, 12:34 PM

Friday, 8 July 2011 19:36 GMT
Japanese website DCWatch has published a test of the star tracking feature of Pentax's O-GPS module. The Astro Tracer mode uses the GPS coordinates to calculate the camera's movement relative to the stars, then utilizes the camera's image stabilization system to shift the sensor to track that movement. The report, which is a little tricky to follow in its Google-translated form, includes several example images, showing the system's effectiveness. (From DCWatch)

Google Translate

A little tricky to follow? I couldn't make much of the translation.

Mike Cash · 07-12-2011, 05:35 PM

The original was written in nice non-technical terms and easy to read. Why bother with crappy machine translation? Just invest a few years of your life and learn to read Japanese.

twitch · 07-12-2011, 05:50 PM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

The original was written in nice non-technical terms and easy to read. Why bother with crappy machine translation? Just invest a few years of your life and learn to read Japanese.

Thanks but I think I'll pass on that. I notice you live in Japan, can you give just the gist of their review? Did it work as advertised? Did it have any quirks/issues?

Mike Cash · 07-12-2011, 10:44 PM

The guy got aggravated with the calibration process, but that was about it.

twitch · 07-12-2011, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

The guy got aggravated with the calibration process, but that was about it.

Calibration huh, doesn't sound that much fun, I hoped for Plug & Play

crf529 · 07-12-2011, 11:13 PM

From what I can tell in the article it seems that the calibration is somewhat akin to the iPhone gps interference method, whereby you swing it around like a right git. Is that the case?

adr1an · 07-13-2011, 12:02 AM

Originally posted by crf529

From what I can tell in the article it seems that the calibration is somewhat akin to the iPhone gps interference method, whereby you swing it around like a right git. Is that the case?

Thats for Digital Compass - not the GPS.... (different solid-state circuits entirely) GPS direction relies on movement, Digital Compasses are similar to Gyro's in operation.... and dont require directional movement...
Not to mention iPhone GPS has a Circle of Error of about 7-12m's and is only a 1hz refresh rate - they'd be big-ass, long-running circles to calibrate GPS

Thats perhaps what requires calibration in this sense - does this device come with a digital compass - or is it using only the gps for directional information ? I'd hazard a guess it does include a compass, as they are cheap as chips these days (as are gyros thanks to iphones, wii's, etc...

) and so it can tell precise directional information when stationary for the astro-stuff ... GPS purely gives you a lat/long and altitude based on triangulation using encoded time pulses sent from known locations (the satellites) - and from that can also extrapolate speed, direction, etc

O-GPS1 probably even has another 3-axis gyro in it too - logically so that it knows to tilt the SR up or down or sideways etc relative to the camera position and lens tilt.....making the whole thing potentially a dirt cheap IMU with what would logically seem a fairly high refresh rate (order of prob 5-7Hz at least... if not 10Hz..... hmmmm...... has me thinkin now...)
The rest is then simply plotting the location against almanacs pre-stored in the firmware and appropriately moving the SR to compensate... it doesn't even have to know 'what' your tracking but just rather where you are looking in the hemisphere and at what azimuth etc... then determine what track rate etc accordingly based on Focal Length... think of it as a complicated Exposure Table...

All of this adds up to why the calibration dance is necessary for the compass/gyro .... (and my thinking ran away with me...)

crf529 · 07-13-2011, 06:06 AM

Guh I feel like an idiot, brain fail day. Not only is it GPS but thinking about it for less than a second now, being so it won't even receive both L1 and L2 so that level of co-ordinate accuracy is....uhhhh....yeah.....big circles lol.

Mike Cash · 07-13-2011, 12:47 PM

It has to be turned 180 degrees or more through all three axes until the unit is satisfied and gives an OK. The guy said he had to stand there rotating the camera/unit combo practically until his wrist hurt. Precisely what he was calibrating wasn't so much the point; it was the aggravation of it.

06-25-2011, 02:17 AM	#1
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	O-gps1 Has the new hotshoe mount GPS unit been discussed yet?

06-25-2011, 03:58 AM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	A little bit here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/official-pentax-news/146161-pentax-announ...x-cameras.html Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

07-11-2011, 12:34 PM	#5
solar1 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Calif Posts: 565	DPR posted that DC Watch tested O-GPS Friday, 8 July 2011 19:36 GMT Japanese website DCWatch has published a test of the star tracking feature of Pentax's O-GPS module. The Astro Tracer mode uses the GPS coordinates to calculate the camera's movement relative to the stars, then utilizes the camera's image stabilization system to shift the sensor to track that movement. The report, which is a little tricky to follow in its Google-translated form, includes several example images, showing the system's effectiveness. (From DCWatch) Google Translate A little tricky to follow? I couldn't make much of the translation.

07-13-2011, 12:02 AM	#11
adr1an Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 739	Originally posted by crf529 From what I can tell in the article it seems that the calibration is somewhat akin to the iPhone gps interference method, whereby you swing it around like a right git. Is that the case? Thats for Digital Compass - not the GPS.... (different solid-state circuits entirely) GPS direction relies on movement, Digital Compasses are similar to Gyro's in operation.... and dont require directional movement... Not to mention iPhone GPS has a Circle of Error of about 7-12m's and is only a 1hz refresh rate - they'd be big-ass, long-running circles to calibrate GPS Thats perhaps what requires calibration in this sense - does this device come with a digital compass - or is it using only the gps for directional information ? I'd hazard a guess it does include a compass, as they are cheap as chips these days (as are gyros thanks to iphones, wii's, etc... ) and so it can tell precise directional information when stationary for the astro-stuff ... GPS purely gives you a lat/long and altitude based on triangulation using encoded time pulses sent from known locations (the satellites) - and from that can also extrapolate speed, direction, etc O-GPS1 probably even has another 3-axis gyro in it too - logically so that it knows to tilt the SR up or down or sideways etc relative to the camera position and lens tilt.....making the whole thing potentially a dirt cheap IMU with what would logically seem a fairly high refresh rate (order of prob 5-7Hz at least... if not 10Hz..... hmmmm...... has me thinkin now...) The rest is then simply plotting the location against almanacs pre-stored in the firmware and appropriately moving the SR to compensate... it doesn't even have to know 'what' your tracking but just rather where you are looking in the hemisphere and at what azimuth etc... then determine what track rate etc accordingly based on Focal Length... think of it as a complicated Exposure Table... All of this adds up to why the calibration dance is necessary for the compass/gyro .... (and my thinking ran away with me...) Last edited by adr1an; 07-13-2011 at 12:48 AM.

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06-25-2011, 02:24 PM	#3
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950 Original Poster	Thanks!

07-08-2011, 09:19 AM	#4
StigVidar Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 705	Have anyone got this, yet? Or heard anything about delivery?

07-12-2011, 05:35 PM	#6
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950 Original Poster	The original was written in nice non-technical terms and easy to read. Why bother with crappy machine translation? Just invest a few years of your life and learn to read Japanese.

07-12-2011, 05:50 PM	#7
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Originally posted by Mike Cash The original was written in nice non-technical terms and easy to read. Why bother with crappy machine translation? Just invest a few years of your life and learn to read Japanese. Thanks but I think I'll pass on that. I notice you live in Japan, can you give just the gist of their review? Did it work as advertised? Did it have any quirks/issues?

07-12-2011, 10:44 PM	#8
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950 Original Poster	The guy got aggravated with the calibration process, but that was about it.

07-12-2011, 10:57 PM	#9
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Originally posted by Mike Cash The guy got aggravated with the calibration process, but that was about it. Calibration huh, doesn't sound that much fun, I hoped for Plug & Play

07-12-2011, 11:13 PM	#10
crf529 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 124	From what I can tell in the article it seems that the calibration is somewhat akin to the iPhone gps interference method, whereby you swing it around like a right git. Is that the case?

07-13-2011, 06:06 AM	#12
crf529 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 124	Guh I feel like an idiot, brain fail day. Not only is it GPS but thinking about it for less than a second now, being so it won't even receive both L1 and L2 so that level of co-ordinate accuracy is....uhhhh....yeah.....big circles lol.

07-13-2011, 12:47 PM	#13
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950 Original Poster	It has to be turned 180 degrees or more through all three axes until the unit is satisfied and gives an OK. The guy said he had to stand there rotating the camera/unit combo practically until his wrist hurt. Precisely what he was calibrating wasn't so much the point; it was the aggravation of it.