[Sgt_Strider]

Does anyone here know if the GPX log from Garmin 60CSX and 62s store compass compass direction information? If so, does anyone here know of any software that will not only geotag, but take the compass information and tag it to the image?

Thanks!

[chuck4564]

Sgt_Strider, on 14 November 2011 - 09:05 PM, said:

Does anyone here know if the GPX log from Garmin 60CSX and 62s store compass compass direction information? If so, does anyone here know of any software that will not only geotag, but take the compass information and tag it to the image?

Thanks!

My 60CSX has Time, Lat, Long, Elevation for each point. Each track has a name too. No compass info noted. With that said, the distance and direction information that I have seen in MapSource must be derived from the track point data.

[iGz]

Mine 62s saves this neither. If you need more detailed tracklog, you can set this in track manager menu. I have this set to Normal and seems to be enough for me.

[dfx]

Pictures taken with the camera models (550, 62c) will have that information in their geotags though

[Sgt_Strider]

iGz, on 15 November 2011 - 01:30 AM, said:

Mine 62s saves this neither. If you need more detailed tracklog, you can set this in track manager menu. I have this set to Normal and seems to be enough for me.

So you're saying that the 62s does have the capability to record the compass direction?

[Sgt_Strider]

dfx, on 15 November 2011 - 07:44 AM, said:

Pictures taken with the camera models (550, 62c) will have that information in their geotags though

Will the tracklog record the compass direction though?

[myotis]

What do you mean by compass direction? It will be pointing to magnetic north or true north depending on what your GPS is set to. If you are talking about the direction you are traveling in, it would not make sense for this to be in a track log. Its a very simple calculation of comparing one track point to the next. If you open any track in MapSource and select properties, MapSource preforms the simple calculation for each point and displays it.

[Sgt_Strider]

myotis, on 17 November 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

What do you mean by compass direction? It will be pointing to magnetic north or true north depending on what your GPS is set to. If you are talking about the direction you are traveling in, it would not make sense for this to be in a track log. Its a very simple calculation of comparing one track point to the next. If you open any track in MapSource and select properties, MapSource preforms the simple calculation for each point and displays it.

It makes absolute sense if I'm geotagging my photo. There are cameras that record the compass direction, which shows either north, east, south, or west in the photo provided that you have the right program. I just want to know if the compass direction is recorded or not and like I just explained, that's why it's so important to me.

[myotis]

Even assuming a GPS with an electronic compass would record the direction the compass is poiniting for each point of the track, how would that help you? How would your GPS know which way your camera was pointing? Even if you would point your GPS in the direction the camera is pointing, its extremly unlikely there would be a track point recorded right when you take a picture. When you stop to take a picture, your GPS will likely detect you are not moving and stop recording track points.

[mpilchfamily]

myotis, on 18 November 2011 - 06:08 AM, said:

Even assuming a GPS with an electronic compass would record the direction the compass is poiniting for each point of the track, how would that help you? How would your GPS know which way your camera was pointing? Even if you would point your GPS in the direction the camera is pointing, its extremly unlikely there would be a track point recorded right when you take a picture. When you stop to take a picture, your GPS will likely detect you are not moving and stop recording track points.

He wants to geotag his photos. So when he takes a picture of something he wants to mark his position and the direction he is facing on his GPSr so he can add it to the photo later. Not that any GPSr with an electronic compass will record the direction your facing when you mark a point.

If the OP wants to Geotag photos he may want to invest in a camera that has that feature. If you want to use the track log just be sure to walk in the direction your taking the picture or directly the opposite direction you took the picture so you have a record of the direction the picture was taken in the track log. Its taking some extra steps but it gives you that data.

[seldom_sn]

mpilchfamily said what I was about to say, while I was writing it. No point in repeating it, but I can't see how to delete the message.

This post has been edited by seldom_sn: 18 November 2011 - 06:53 AM

[myotis]

mpilchfamily, on 18 November 2011 - 06:44 AM, said:

myotis, on 18 November 2011 - 06:08 AM, said:

Even assuming a GPS with an electronic compass would record the direction the compass is poiniting for each point of the track, how would that help you? How would your GPS know which way your camera was pointing? Even if you would point your GPS in the direction the camera is pointing, its extremly unlikely there would be a track point recorded right when you take a picture. When you stop to take a picture, your GPS will likely detect you are not moving and stop recording track points.

He wants to geotag his photos. So when he takes a picture of something he wants to mark his position and the direction he is facing on his GPSr so he can add it to the photo later. Not that any GPSr with an electronic compass will record the direction your facing when you mark a point.

If the OP wants to Geotag photos he may want to invest in a camera that has that feature. If you want to use the track log just be sure to walk in the direction your taking the picture or directly the opposite direction you took the picture so you have a record of the direction the picture was taken in the track log. Its taking some extra steps but it gives you that data.

Would not it be easier to mark a waypoint and put the direction in the name or comment? Additionally, I don't think walking in the direction is a practical solution. What if you walk off a cliff? Sometimes I will take a quick shot, but more often I stand there and compose a shot. What if you take multiple pictures in diffeent directions in the same spot? IMHO, if you want the direction of the picture, you really need to get a camera that will record this. While you can use your GPS to add the location to a picture (as long as the camera's clock is accurate), even if a track would record the direction, I don't think this is a practicle soultion and more often than not, you would get bad data.

[39_Steps]

I thought I read (somewhere, someplace, a few years back) that one of the first uses of *.loc files was for the very purpose of determining compass directions for photography. If not, may I suggest creating two (2), not one(1) waypoint with the projected one in the proper compass direction for later matching with photos. I realize that not all gps units have the capability of projecting waypoints, but some do. Nearly all units do have a comment field that could be useful for manual typing of info.

[Grasscatcher]

Sgt_Strider, on 14 November 2011 - 09:05 PM, said:

Does anyone here know if the GPX log from Garmin 60CSX and 62s store compass compass direction information? If so, does anyone here know of any software that will not only geotag, but take the compass information and tag it to the image?

Thanks!

Not for the 60 or 62....however....

I take pics with an Oregon 550 (gps with camera)which automatically geotags the pics and then use Expert GPS (by Topografix). It places the pics on the track (position wise) where they were taken and then (using another feature in the software) shows a line "from" the pic icon on the track in the direction the pic was taken.(toward the subject)

That's what you wanted isn't it?

You can also "move" the pic (lets say a pic of a far away mtn....to the map location of the mtn) and then the software will show a line on the map back to the location the pic was taken (and a camera icon placed there).

I don't know if it will do the same for "non" gps taken pics or not, but if you wanted to take the "Main High Qual" pic with another camera you could duplicate it with the GPS camera to achieve what you want.
The software will also geotag pics based on "Time" if the Camera and GPS are sync'd .

Of course there are probably some Experts here that say it can't be done, but they need to remember that I'm just a senile "Ole Fart" that doesn't know that it can't be done....so I just do it anyway....

[dfx]

myotis, on 18 November 2011 - 06:08 AM, said:

Even if you would point your GPS in the direction the camera is pointing, its extremly unlikely there would be a track point recorded right when you take a picture.

It would if the GPS recorded a track point (with compass heading) each and every second.

mpilchfamily, on 18 November 2011 - 06:44 AM, said:

So when he takes a picture of something he wants to mark his position and the direction he is facing on his GPSr so he can add it to the photo later. Not that any GPSr with an electronic compass will record the direction your facing when you mark a point.

They do when you take a picture with them though.

This post has been edited by dfx: 18 November 2011 - 11:31 AM

[myotis]

Grasscatcher, on 18 November 2011 - 10:56 AM, said:

I take pics with an Oregon 550 (gps with camera)which automatically geotags the pics and then use Expert GPS (by Topografix). It places the pics on the track (position wise) where they were taken and then (using another feature in the software) shows a line "from" the pic icon on the track in the direction the pic was taken.(toward the subject)

I've got the OR 550T too. I just tried taking a picture with the electronic compass on. When you check the picture properties, it does not show a bearing. I opened the picture in ExpertGPS, and for bearing, it shows N/A. I can see how ExpertGPS (or another program) could use the track to determine which direction I was traveling when I took the picture, but I simply do not see how it is possible for any program to determine from the track which way the camera was facing when I took the picture. If I am going down a trail, stop, turn to my right and take a picture, my direction of travel would not be the direction my camera was facing when I took the shot. Now I agree if you then showed Expert GPS what the picture was off, it could then calculate the way the camera was facing. But I simply do not see any way this can work without the camera having a electronic compass that records the direction on the picture. I don't understand why the 550T does not record this. That would be a good feature request.

dfx, good point on the one second-but unfortunately the GPSs don't record bearing on the track/

[Sgt_Strider]

Grasscatcher, on 18 November 2011 - 10:56 AM, said:

Sgt_Strider, on 14 November 2011 - 09:05 PM, said:

Does anyone here know if the GPX log from Garmin 60CSX and 62s store compass compass direction information? If so, does anyone here know of any software that will not only geotag, but take the compass information and tag it to the image?

Thanks!

Not for the 60 or 62....however....

I take pics with an Oregon 550 (gps with camera)which automatically geotags the pics and then use Expert GPS (by Topografix). It places the pics on the track (position wise) where they were taken and then (using another feature in the software) shows a line "from" the pic icon on the track in the direction the pic was taken.(toward the subject)

That's what you wanted isn't it?

You can also "move" the pic (lets say a pic of a far away mtn....to the map location of the mtn) and then the software will show a line on the map back to the location the pic was taken (and a camera icon placed there).

I don't know if it will do the same for "non" gps taken pics or not, but if you wanted to take the "Main High Qual" pic with another camera you could duplicate it with the GPS camera to achieve what you want.
The software will also geotag pics based on "Time" if the Camera and GPS are sync'd .

Of course there are probably some Experts here that say it can't be done, but they need to remember that I'm just a senile "Ole Fart" that doesn't know that it can't be done....so I just do it anyway....

Yes, that's exactly what I want. So even the Oregon 550 doesn't record the compass data in the track log? Weird, given that it has a camera on the GPS unit!

[myotis]

Its weird the 550T does not record the direction the camera is facing when the picture was taken. But it seems to me it would be a waste of battery power to record the way your compass is facing for each track point. Your direction of travel is useful information but that is a simple calculation so there is no need for it. I just don't see how knowing which way your GPS was pointing at each track point is useful information. If my GPS is twirling around, the track would show twirling around. If I was carring my GPS with the face next to me, it would show I am going backwards. If I am holding my GPS at an angle, it would show the angle, not the way I am going. If I am in my car and have it pointing sideways it will show sideways. So wjy would I want to waste battery power to record this information? If you have a 2D compass like the 60csx, and you don't keep it flat, it gives you bad data. Recording the direction on a picture or waypoint makes since, but I say no to recording it on a track.

[Grasscatcher]

Well, put this in the mix and ponder on it jest fer grins......

A friend took me flying the other day and I took a bunch of pics with my 550. When I check, the pics that I took out of the right side have a line pointing from the track to the right and the pics that I took out the left side have a line from the track to the left and ones taken straight ahead the line points along the track line.

Go figure........

Better yet, go onto the Topografix forum and ask Dan Foster, the developer, how it's done......

[myotis]

Since it seems impossible to determine the way the camera was facing from a track log, I decided to try what you said in ExpertGPS. I walked a very short disatance and took a couple of pictures. One in the direction I was traveling and the other a different direction. I got my track and pictures in ExpertGPS, But I cannot figure out how to get ExpertGPS to draw the lines. I used recive from GPS to get the track and then used add photos. How do get ExpertGPS to show the direction? I'm using the latest version with the GIS pack. I'm getting ready to go ride my bike so I will do some more test on my bike and see if it will display correctly. This just seems impossible unless the 550T is recording the direction on the picture.

[Grasscatcher]

myotis, on 19 November 2011 - 10:29 AM, said:

Since it seems impossible to determine the way the camera was facing from a track log, I decided to try what you said in ExpertGPS. I walked a very short disatance and took a couple of pictures. One in the direction I was traveling and the other a different direction. I got my track and pictures in ExpertGPS, But I cannot figure out how to get ExpertGPS to draw the lines. I used recive from GPS to get the track and then used add photos. How do get ExpertGPS to show the direction? I'm using the latest version with the GIS pack. I'm getting ready to go ride my bike so I will do some more test on my bike and see if it will display correctly. This just seems impossible unless the 550T is recording the direction on the picture.

"Since it seems impossible...." doesn't make it so.......

Here's how, with the photos attached,..... on the map, with the select tool, doubleclick on a photo icon on the map,the photo will display. Go up to and click on "Photos" and a dropdown box will come up. Click on "View camera location". Now drag the photo out of the way and look at the little yellow line from the "selected yellow icon".

Once you do the first one, in EGPS have the "list" of photos displayed on the left. One will be lightly highlited, click on the next in the list and that photo will be displayed(and will move the map to that location, which will cover the highlighted icon)....drag the photo over and look underneath where it was.....etc,etc,etc on down the list.

This post has been edited by Grasscatcher: 19 November 2011 - 01:39 PM

[myotis]

It is impossible to determine the direction the GPS/camera is facing from the track log. What's going on is I was wrong - the 550T does record the direction the camera was facing in the photo's metadata. I was just right clicking and looking at the properties in Windows. While Windows shows lat, long, elevation, it does not show camera bearing. I looked at it with a metadata editor (geosetter) and the bearing is there.

After loading the track and pictures in ExpertGPS, I got the yellow lines pointing the correct way. Since it is impossible to get that info from the track, I knew then it had to be coming from the picture's metadata. I started again without loading the track in ExpertGPS and just loading pictures. They show the line correctly without loading a track.

I took some of the pictures moving on my bike. When you are moving on a bike, car, or plane, the GPS does not use the electronic compass. But it has to use the electronic compass to get the correct bearing. So I am glad to know it will always give the correct bearing even when moving fast. I guess when you turn on the camera, the electonic compass is activated no matter how fast you are going.

I also discovered ExpertGPS also shows the bearing. I stopped scrolling over on the properties when I got to Bearing and it said N/A. That also lead me to beleive the 550T was not recording the camera diirection. But if you keep scolling on the list of properties, you finally get to camera direction and its there.

I'm glad to know the 550T reacords your camera direction and you can see it in ExpertGPS.

[myotis]

I checked and BaseCamp will not show the direciton of travel. I wish it would

[Sgt_Strider]

myotis, on 19 November 2011 - 05:06 PM, said:

It is impossible to determine the direction the GPS/camera is facing from the track log. What's going on is I was wrong - the 550T does record the direction the camera was facing in the photo's metadata. I was just right clicking and looking at the properties in Windows. While Windows shows lat, long, elevation, it does not show camera bearing. I looked at it with a metadata editor (geosetter) and the bearing is there.

After loading the track and pictures in ExpertGPS, I got the yellow lines pointing the correct way. Since it is impossible to get that info from the track, I knew then it had to be coming from the picture's metadata. I started again without loading the track in ExpertGPS and just loading pictures. They show the line correctly without loading a track.

I took some of the pictures moving on my bike. When you are moving on a bike, car, or plane, the GPS does not use the electronic compass. But it has to use the electronic compass to get the correct bearing. So I am glad to know it will always give the correct bearing even when moving fast. I guess when you turn on the camera, the electonic compass is activated no matter how fast you are going.

I also discovered ExpertGPS also shows the bearing. I stopped scrolling over on the properties when I got to Bearing and it said N/A. That also lead me to beleive the 550T was not recording the camera diirection. But if you keep scolling on the list of properties, you finally get to camera direction and its there.

I'm glad to know the 550T reacords your camera direction and you can see it in ExpertGPS.

So I guess this is unique to the 550T then? I suppose ExpertGPS won't show the direction for the 60CSX and 62S?

[Grasscatcher]

The Oregon 550,550T both do what you want....

Probably the 62SC (the one with the camera) and I don't know about the Montana.....but probably so...

It's the gps w /camera with electronic compass. (combined with Expert GPS software)



Myotis, Did you ever figure out how to get the direction lines to show(in EGPS)?

Edited to add..
Ah ha...reading further I see that you did......

This post has been edited by Grasscatcher: 01 April 2012 - 06:03 AM