Pentax O-GPS1 GPS Unit

Feature Overview

The O-GPS1 has a number of features, some of these are not so much features in the GPS unit but features in the camera's firmware that are only active WHEN the GPS unit is attached and operational.

It must be noted that the firmware of the camera should be updated to the latest version. If the firmware isn't new enough then none of the GPS functions will appear even with the unit attached and powered up.

Construction

The O-GPS1 is built well, it feels quite 'solid' and the two main controls (power button and hot shoe locking lever) The unit is built to be weather resistant. Both the hotshoe connection and the battery door have weather sealing capabilities along with the power button.

Position Information

Geotagging information can be sent to the camera to be stored in the images. Information sent is Latitude, Longitude, Elevation and Direction information is sent to the camera although not stored in the EXIF section of the image.

Time Information

The exact time can be sent to the camera to update its internal clock. The time is received from the GPS satellites.

Electronic Compass

Not so much a feature of the GPS as a function of the camera firmware, however, the GPS unit activates this function by providing direction and position information.

Simple Navigation

Again, built into the camera firmware but based on the information provided by the GPS, this function facilitates a simple navigation function that allows you to load a destination from an SD card and navigate to that destination using the electronic compass function.

Astrotracer

This function controls the camera's image sensor by adjusting it in minute increments to allow for the earth's movement. This allows photos of up to 5 minutes to be taken at night without having star trails appear.

Basically, this turns the camera's sensor chip into the equivalent of a telescope equatorial mount although unlike a real mount which is unlimited in the amount of time it can adjust since the entire mount and telescope turns, the camera is limited to the amount of adjustment of the sensor and the time the object appears in the camera lens since the camera is stationary on it's mount.

The Astrotracer is not available on the Pentax K-01, 645Z, and 645D cameras.