Considering adding a GPS to my D200 and D300; however, after looking at the options, I’m wondering if anyone else is using one of the three small units that are designed specifically for a camera. (I did a search and found nothing on GPS.)
The three units I am looking at are:
Solemeta GP-GPS NI with a remote control ($288.00 includes shipping) SiRF III Chip, WAAS
Dawn Technologies N3 di-GPS Mini with remote control ($300.00 includes shipping) SiRF III Chip, WAAS
Custom Idea GeoPic II with remote control ($400.00 does NOT include shipping SiRF III Chip, no mention of WAAS
I understand I can get a cord and use my Garmin 60 Csx; however, it is a lot larger than I want to have with me at all times I am photographing. Besides, when I am actually using the Garmin, it is sometimes on the Hummer Dashboard, or I am actively looking at it while hiking. I also do not want a tracker type where I have to match the time stamp on the EXIF file to a UTC time stamp on the GPS Tracker’s track record via a software program.
Therefore, it looks like one of these three is the answer; at least right now.
The Solemeta and the Dawn Technologies units appear to be almost identical (Solemeta offers a built in rechargeable battery), the GeoPic II does offer a few more small settings, but not sure if they are worth 100 bucks.

So, anyone have any first-hand knowledge about either or all of these devices? Per reviews on the Internet, they all appear to do what they are supposed to do, appear to be well made.

Doug-
I don't have any answers for you. But friends have been asking me a lot of GPS-related questions about camera recently. I also have the Garmin 60 CSX and some software I can sinc GPS to photos via timestamp. But I haven't actually tried it. And if that was something I really wanted to do, it would be nice if it was automatically synched.

So what do you want to do with the GPS data? Do you just want the GPS coordinates to go with your photos or are you doing some thing more specific? And if you've decided on a unit to go with your camera, let us know what it is. I guess you'll have to educate us on this subject :-)

Good to see you here. I'd like to see some recent photos...

I wanted the coordinates, as well as the altitude to be automatically placed on the EXIF file by the camera. So, I needed to connect a GPS directly to the D200 and D300. Connecting my Garmin was not an option as explained previously, as well as just the idea of having a long cord hanging from the camera to the GPS.
I looked at bluetooth, and even though they are a great idea; there was some talk on the net of these small devices falling off the camera when brushing up against trees, or from the camera movement. It also required a separate bluetooth GPS unit to be in your pocket or attached to the strap.
So, I narrowed it down to a unit that will normally be attached to the top of the camera in the flash shoe and connected via a short cord. At times when the flash is needed, it can be attached to the camera strap. Most of my photos are outside and the flash is not really required.
That narrowed it down to the three I asked about in the original message.

Well, after a few weeks of research, I have decided to go with the new Solmeta when it is released; hopefully someday next week. After emailing back and forth between Dawn Tech and Solmeta, I was informed by a person at Solmeta that they will be revising their GP-GPS NI to another model, but with two added features.

One, it will now show the direction of the unit so you can see in which direction the shot was made. With this, the unit must be placed on the hot shoe to be accurate. If attached to the camera strap it might not be facing the same direction as the camera and it would be inaccurate. A feature I did not need, but it will be an added bonus.

Two, it will display the last GPS coordinates for a shot if it loses satellite coverage. What this does is add a feature that was previously on the GeoPicII. With the GeoPicII, you could hit one of the buttons, when going into a building, so that the photos taken inside at least displayed the last coordinates available in the photo, to give you a general ideal where the photo was taken. Problem with this feature is you have to remember to hit a button. If you don't hit the button, and you lose satellite coverage, you will have not coordinates on the Exif file.

With the Solmeta, it is automatic and from my point-of-view, it is a better idea. You don't have to remember to hit a button, and in some buildings, you can still obtain satellite signals, so you will be able to get the coordinates inside the building and if you do lose coverage, it will automatically insert the last coordinates obtained.

From the internet, all I could find out was that all three units had excellent reviews. All three companies shipped quickly, and did not screw you on the shipping as many internet companies do with a purchase. So, it was pretty much a draw with either the unit from Dawn Tech or the unit from Solmeta. (I had ruled out the GeoPicII due to the costs. With the devaluation of the USD vs. the Euro, the cost on the GeoPicII was the highest of the three.)

So, when Solmeta told me about the new feature, that did it, and my mind was made up.

I'll let you know when I order it, and I'll keep you posted with how it works.

Thanks for the update! I am very curious about it. And it sounds like the added features are pretty well thought-out and worthwhile. I like that it will show the direction the picture was taken.

Looking forward to your report!

A few weeks ago, I made the jump and purchased from Solmeta a new model, N2, that they just released. The N2 is primarily the same as the N1, except it has a built in compass so that on a D300 (and a D3), you will obtain the direction of the shot from the geographical location. (So long as the N2 is mounted correctly to the camera with the front pointing toward the front.:D )
It also has a feature that if you loose GPS signals, due to entering a building, canyon, etc., it will embed the last location into the file. A similar feature was offered on the Geo Pic II but it was manual; with the Solmeta N2, it is automatic.
It has its own built in battery that is good for about 8 hours (they say, I have not tested that), but if required, you can switch the unit to use the camera's battery(ies).
I have played with it and it appears to be pretty darn accurate, and using the free software that came with the unit, you can click on the photo and jump into Google Earth, and go right to within a few feet of where the photo was taken.
I'll do some serious testing in a few weeks, and really serious testing in Capital Reef, Canyonlands and Arches in two months.