Comments on: Solmeta N2 GPS for Nikon DSLR’s Review

By: seb

seb — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:24:30 +0000

Hi Boris,

with you I know about 3 or 4 People with broken socket (camera side) on D90. This all happended with Nikon GP-1/Phottix/Columbus with *straight* connectors plugs.

We are selling Solmeta and Dawntech Geotaggers. I never heard about broken camera sockets from from any of our several hundred customers using Dawntech/Solmeta Geotaggers using *L-connectors*!

Have a look at the pics on http://www.gps-camera.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72 and you will understand. Just think about the “lever priciples” you learnt about in school.
(Select your language in the upper right corner to translate text)

So, the main point is that Solmeta and Dawntech produce different cables in lenght and with 180° rotated *L-plugs* for D90 or D5000 and not one connector cable for D90 and D5000 with a *straight plug*!

The absolutetly stupid thing is, that Nikon rotated the GPS socket for D90 and D5000 by 180°!

I do know about some few cases of broken sockets on Solmeta units – as Terry reports. The good news is: Solmeta did reeinforce the socket since April 2010.

By: Boris

Boris — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:51:10 +0000

Hi Terry,
just found your site while doing some research about Nikon and GPS Units. I bought a GPS for my D90 a few weeks ago. The GPS unit works great (Columbus) but now after I used it 3 times with the camera, the GPS port of the D90 broke and the GPS didn’t get power anymore, except when I hold the cable very still to one side where it goes into the port. Seems to be a loose cable inside. Did you ever hear about this problem? I just ran out of warranty for my D90 and could really use some help or advice what to do now. I don’t want to buy a new body just because the GPS port doesn’t work anymore..Appreciate your help! Thx

By: terrywhite

terrywhite — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:14:11 +0000

They seem good about support. I’d give them a shout and get a replacement cable or find out what they think the problem might be. Make sure you are putting the cable in the D5000 right side up. It will go in upside down and of course not work

By: Eric Wheeler

Eric Wheeler — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:14:37 +0000

Hey Terry, I have a D5000 and also bought the N2 from Solmeta. For some reason I cannot get it to recognize the GPS. I even tried using my professor’s geotagger just to see if it was my camera. His showed up on my camera. So then I took my N2 to my father-in-law and used the other cable for a D300 and it worked just fine on his. So at that point I figured it was just the cable, so I had them send me a new cable. Just got it today and still no GPS icon on my camera. Is there some sort of firmware for this that I need to download to my camera? Any help would be appreciated.

By: terrywhite

terrywhite — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:30:27 +0000

I’ll take another look once my replacement arrives.

By: Sam

Sam — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:27:34 +0000

Hey Terry,

Thanks for the info. I’m having a hard time finding reviews/reports about the heading-accuracy on current geo-tagging products. I know this N2 review got sidelined by the cable problem, but do you have any info/opinions on how accurate the compass readings were?

Or maybe a recommendation for the best compass out there?

Thanks a bunch

By: terrywhite

terrywhite — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:16:35 +0000

Thanks James, but I’d only review if they send me one. I have no intentions of buying any more camera GPS units as I’m all set.

By: James

James — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:02:52 +0000

Hi Terry,

I’m interested in purchasing a product called “easytagger”. I was wondering if you could perhaps review it and provide your feedback.

I’m after something with logging capabilities for my D90 (which means I can’t use the di-GPS; and the Solmeta Pro is much more expensive).

Since you’ve tried these other GPS’ I thought you’d be best placed to compare it to the rest of the field.

Kind Regards

By: danny

danny — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:34:31 +0000

Nice one! Greetings from Hamburg

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:23:00 +0000

Terry, that is the same response that I got from them. I do agree with you that they should either send both cables or make it a lot clearer that you need to specify the D90 or D5000. I am impressed with their customer service and responsiveness to my questions.

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:02:40 +0000

Forgot to add. I have the D90 and the GPS connection is lower on the camera side then the D5000. Without actually having the cable, it would appear that it would be even more of a problem on the D90 and cause more stress..

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:46:02 +0000

Terry, thanks for the review. I hope you get another chance with it when they send you the replacement unit. It would be great to see a side by side comparison of the two units. (Acquisition time, accuracy…). I think I will write them and see if they plan on changing the cord connector as you suggest. Their enclosed software seems to have a Windows bias but I suspect you would not use them anyway.

By: terrywhite

terrywhite — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:30:14 +0000

I get the feeling that they would have done it for anyone.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:54:55 +0000

Nice review! I would have liked to have seen how Solmeta would have handled your RMA without knowing who you are.

By: terrywhite

terrywhite — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:31:14 +0000

Thanks!