Info about no GPS on compact cameras

[Macintosh1984]

Hi!

I didn't understand how geotagging works in the new Sony, Panasonic and Canon compact cameras that don't have internal GPS.

The cameras connect in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. on the smartphone with the Sony, Panasonic or Canon app, but I didn't understand if the work is in the background or whenever I have to take a picture I have to fiddle on the phone and then finally I can take the picture, therefore losing so much time..

I ask this because I would like to have a new compact camera with superzoom for travel, replacing my Sony DSC-HX5V.

Any good recommendations?

 

[mpfuchs]

The manual should show the exact way of setting this up for each camera. If setup right, it should log in the background.

Having said that, I've always had issues doing it with the app directly on the camera.
That's why I've made a habit of using a separate GPS logger app on my phone that basically reports my hike or walk from start to finish. When I load the photos to Lightroom, I can map the photos onto the GPS track. Side benefit, you also get distances of your walks, etc...

You just have to make sure your timestamp on the camera matches the phone. (timezone travel)

 

[robgendreau]

Most cameras I've used without GPS but with wifi require that a peer-to-peer wifi connection be created between camera and smartphone. You turn on wifi on the camera, then use your smartphone to connect to that wifi network. Then, assuming you've been using the camera manufacturer's app to track, there's usually a sync function which will send the GPS coordinates to the images on the camera. None of my cameras has ever connected automatically, but I don't have BT on them.

And hard to say what to recommend, as there are a lot of choices and we don't know your needs, budget, etc.