Bluetooth GPS capability for Nikon DSLRs

At PMA a year or so ago I noticed a booth that offered Bluetooth GPS capability for Nikon digital cameras.

Since PMA has not been able to keep key exhibitors, I no longer attend, but I will see Foolography at Photokina. PMA first lost Epson, then lost Canon, then moved to Anaheim: three strikes and you are out.

GPS capability essential to botany and zoology

FLAAR does ethnobotanical and ethnozoological research in Guatemala. Most of our studies are in remote areas of the rain forest. When we locate a nest or other zoological item of interest, sometimes it is useful to know the precise coordinates so we can tell other zoologists where to come to see the nest.

But for botany geotagging is even more important. We look for specific tree species (such as Ceiba pentandra) that were either worshipped by the ancient Maya or sacred flowers. Out in the jungle there is no easy way to know where you are, or how to return to this tree another year. What if you find an important tree and need to return another month when it is flowering or fruiting? It helps to know the coordinates of the tree.

GPS capability essential during field work in geology

As an archaeologist I have discovered many exotic minerals in royal burials. The Tomb of the Jade Jaguar contained jadeite, iron pyrite, obsidian , cinnabar, and other geological materials.

Although sources of jadeite are known (all the jade companies in Antigua know the locations), the location of iron pyrite and cinnabar are not known to archaeologists and not even to the geologists who know Guatemala well. Obsidian is easy to find and all these sources are well known, but if anyone finds iron pyrite and cinnabar, it would be helpful to document the location with geotagging on the camera.

GPS capability is useful for archaeologists

During the 1970's through 1990's I dedicated years to creating a photographic archive of Puuc, Chenes, and Rio Bec temples, palaces, and ballcourts of Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo. It would have been helpful if geotagging had been available to put into the metadata in those years. But of course we were using Leica, Nikon, Hasselblad, and 4x5 Linhof cameras, with film: nothing digital in those years.

But still today other archaeologists are out exploring the Maya area, and it would be helpful for them to realize that GPS capability is now available from foolography.

You can find foolography at Photokina every two years, or on the Internet

You can meet Oliver Perialis or Sophia Perialis of foolography at Photokina expo, or on the Internet, You can also check to see if they are still at PMA.

First posted June 18, 2010.