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Built-in GPS in Nikon D5300

Nikon finally did it! They added built-in GPS to the D5300 they announced today. Also Wi-Fi. So, the first Nikon DSLR with integrated GPS is an entry-level DSLR, just as I expected. Lets see how long it will take for this feature to find its way into the Pro DSLRs. Considering the D610 that was announced just a few days ago does not have GPS yet, I’d bet it will still take a while. First we’ll have to see how well the geotagging works, what its effect on battery life will be, and how many customers this new feature will win over…

Until then, of course we’ll still have the next best thing to built-in GPS (if not an even better thing!), for all other more or less current Nikon DSLRs, from the D3100 all the way up to the D4, our great wireless (Bluetooth) direct geotagging solution that does not add any bulk to the camera: the Unleashed!

D5300 Top - GPS
The Antenna seems to be placed to the right of the mode dial on the top of the camera – a better choice, slightly further from the internal flash!

The D5300 uses A-GPS (Assisted GPS), and Nikon provides current A-GPS files on their website: http://nikonimglib.com/agps2/. You can download A-GPS data for 28 days, but can only load 7 days at a time into the camera, so you’ll have to reload it every 7 days. It also allows tracking/logging, with an interval of 15, 30 or 60 seconds, for up to 24 hours (12h and 6h also selectable). The track-logs are stored on the SD card, but I do not yet know in what format Nikon will store it. We’ll find out soon enough. I’m looking forward to the first reviews! See details about the GPS feature here. One thing I’m particularily interested in, is whether it’s possible to optionally use an external GPS solution such as our Unleashed instead of the built-in one, the Specifications on the Nikon imaging website do list “GPS units: GP-1/GP-1A (available separately)” under “Accessory Terminal”, so it does look like it’ll be possible!

Read more on the D5300 on nikon.com or dpreview.com.

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Nikon D610 – no built-in GPS, Unleashed Dx000 compatible

Nikon announces the D610 as the successor of the D600, but only with minor updates. Many had hoped for built-in GPS and wifi, but again, Nikon did not add this. Instead they gave the D610 a new shutter mechanism, probably to put an end to the oil spot problem of the D600, but at the same time offering slightly increased frame rate (6 as opposed to 5.5fps) and a new quiet continuous shooting option. Read the details on nikon.com or dpreview.com.

Nikon D610

The good news is that our Unleashed Dx000 will still be compatible with the D610, just as it was with the D600. As such, it will also be necessary to completely remove the rubber flap covering the GPS Port, to allow the Unleashed Dx000 to fit properly. We describe a almost entirely reversible way to do so here.

Order your Unleashed Dx000 in our online-shop today!

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Coolpix A – will the Unleashed Dx000 fit?

So, just a few days after the D7100, Nikon announced the new Coolpix A – a high-end compact camera, with a DX format Sensor, and a fixed 18.5mm/2.8 prime lens (28mm equivalent). Read the details about this camera at the source or dpreview.

Nikon Coolpix A GPS port
Image by dpreview

It does not have GPS built in, but instead features the same GPS port that all of Nikons consumer DSLRs have, which is compatible with Nikon’s GP-1, but of course also our Unleashed Dx000. I have not yet had the chance to hold the camera in my hands so I cannot confirm it for sure, but it looks like the Unleashed will just fit under the eyelet for the strap. However, it seems the rubber cover will have to be removed for the Unleashed Dx000 to fit properly, just like with the D600.

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Nikon D7100 – add GPS with our Unleashed Dx000

Today, Nikon announced the new D7100. A successor to the popular D7000, now 2.5 years old.

Nikon D7100

Some also rumor it to be the merged successor of the D7000 and D300s, and the updated specs do seem to lend these rumors some credibility. One example is that the D7100’s AF module has been updated to the Multi-Cam 3500DX with 51 AF points (15 cross type), which is the same as the as the D300s. However, it even comes with updated Algorithms, and just like the D4, D800 and D600, Nikon specifies it to be able to focus in low light, down to -2EV. The center point is functional at f/8, an advantage especially for the use of teleconverters combined with telephoto lenses. Of course that’s not all thats new, some important updates are the 24Megapixel Sensor without optical low pass filter, ISO range of 100-6400 (or Lo-1:50 to Hi-2: 25600), increased speed, 1080/30p video recording, dedicated movie record button, 1.3x crop mode, ca 100% frame coverage viewfinder, and much more, which you can read about in detail on nikon.com, dpreview or engadget.

The most interesting news is of course, that the D7100 is compatible with our Unleashed Dx000, as the connector and its position at the bottom right of the left side of the camera remains mostly unchanged from the D7000. Nikon has still not built in GPS into any of their DSLRs!

D7100 GPS terminal

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Christmas 2012

Happy Holidays from foolography!

As every year we want to give you a gift this Christmas season. This year we will offer worldwide free shipping when you order your new gadgets through our website. On top of that we will give you a free wired remote release with each Unleashed that is ordered.

So do not let this opportunity pass and visit our online shop. This promotion is only valid from 15th December 2012 through 15th January 2013.

wired remote release
a remote release like the one you’ll get!

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CES 2013

The new year is dawning, and with it comes CES and PMA@CES.

PMA@CES

From January 8 to 11 the 2013 International CES will bring you the very newest in Consumer Electronics and along with 3000 other exhibitors, we will be there! We would love to welcome you at our booth: LVH – 46035 (part of the German Pavilion)! Click here for floor plan.

foolography at CES in the LVH Exhibits
foolography at CES in the LVH Exhibits

This year, we’re bringing a new Unleashed Barcode Edition – finally one that will be available in the US and Canada as well! The current Unleashed Barcode Edition will also be extended by several new features, including a world first: direct wireless RFID scanning for Nikon DSLRs!

Stay tuned for details, or come see it in action at our booth at CES. We look forward to seeing you!

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Nikon D5200 – Unleashed Dx000 compatible

So, last week, Nikon announced another great consumer DSLR, the D5200. Nikon updated their only DSLR model with a swivelling Display to specifications close to the D7000, while remaining physically almost identical to the predecessor: the D5100.

Nikon D5200 GPS Port

Read all the details on dpreview or engadget.

The Nikon D5200 is compatible with our Unleashed Dx000, Nikon really seems to be sticking with this port for GPS support in their consumer DSLR lineup, and is showing no signs of integrating GPS into their DSLRs just yet.

D5200 Ports
Unleashed Dx000 position on D5200 Image by dpreview

Again, just like with the D600, the Rubber cover needs to be either removed or a have rectangular hole cut into for the Unleashed to fit on properly, but most our customers do this anyway, so that the rubber cover is not flapping about all the time. See our D600 post for details on a nearly entirely reversible method for removing the flap.

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Nikon D600 announced

Today, Nikon announced another full-frame DSLR, the D600. Read the reviews on dpreview, engadget or elsewhere.

Nikon D600

Of course Nikon added GPS support, again it’s not integrated, but via an external Module, such as their GP-1 and of course our Unleashed. According to Nikon, the D600 fits in right below the D800 and is just as much a Pro DSLR as the latter. Rumor had it, that this was going to be the first consumer DSLR with an Fx sensor, and there was much evidence to back this. One example is that the D600 does not have the “pro” 10-pin port on the front of the camera, which would have fit our Unleashed D200+. Instead, it is equipped with the port found on all the consumer DSLRs, on the side of the camera, making our Unleashed Dx000 compatible with the D600.

Nikon D600 GPS Port

D600 Ports (photo by dpreview)

In a couple of days, we’ll be at photokina, and will try the D600 with our Unleashed, just to verify it works, and get you some pics of how it looks.

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Photokina 2012

Preparations for the worlds biggest photography trade fair are keeping us busy – just a little under 3 weeks left and a lot left to do!

Photokina starts on September 18th, and is open for 6 days – until the 23rd of September. Of course, we’ll be there in Cologne – our Booth is in Hall 5.1, Booth F006:

photokina2012-hallplan-foolography

We’d love to see you there, show you our products, and answer any questions you might have.

We might just have something up our sleeve, that you wouldn’t want to miss. ;-)

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D800 and Unleashed D200+

As promised, I checked the possibility of modifying the Unleashed D200+ to make it fit the D800:

Unleashed D200+ on Nikon D800

It is possible to get it to work, but you have to remove A LOT of the casing, and actually you would even need to remove some of the PCB (see how it sticks out of the cut case), which will quickly cause great problems if you overdo this.

D800 mod for Unleashed D200+
(yes, that extra cut out is for the new “3D” white dot)

While some brave souls will attempt to do this and will probably manage, This is not a solution I will recommend to our customers.

Forum thread showing the modification

We’re working hard on a successor to the Unleashed D200+, and are redesigning it to make sure it fits the D800 properly. We will make existing customers some sort of an upgrade offer, be it trade in, or just a loyalty rebate of some sort, we still need to work out the details on that. So don’t hesitate to get the Unleashed D200+ for your current camera, while you’re saving up for that D800 – you’ll be able to upgrade the Unleashed as soon as we have the new version ready.

Sorry… I wish I had better news than this.