QI have to take digital photos for work. The photos need to be labeled with latitude and longitude. This is very simple, thanks to GPS. Life would be easier if my digital camera included GPS. But I haven't found any cameras that suit my needs. The camera needs to be very rugged. It should also withstand all types of weather and temperature. Can you recommend a camera?

The process of adding GPS data to photos is called geotagging. And it is one of the hottest trends to hit photography in a while. Photographers want to post their photographs on maps for easy viewing.

Camera and GPS manufacturers are introducing gadgets combining the two. However, these gadgets are still scarce, particularly in consumer products. You've also added another difficult criterion. You want a rugged camera. That is hard enough to find in itself!

I would begin by speaking with other people in your industry. They may know of a camera that suits your needs. Also look for companies that make products aimed at your business.

For example, Surveylab makes an "integrated GPS data capture service." It contains both a camera and GPS chip. It also looks like it is rugged. Pricing was not available on Surveylab's site.

You'll find GPS units with built-in cameras. Magellan and Mio make them. However, with low resolutions, the cameras are more of an afterthought. And the units are not very rugged.

Camera manufacturers are moving slower than GPS manufacturers. We're still a ways off from

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a camera with true geotagging abilities.

Last year, Ricoh introduced the 500SE, a GPS-ready camera. The eight-megapixel camera is rugged. However, you must purchase a separate GPS unit. I have not seen the camera in stores. You can find one on eBay for about $950.

GE plans to launch the E1050 this summer. At $250, it has a 10-megapixel sensor and a GPS chip. The compact camera does not look particularly rugged. Also, the GPS data is not married to the photos until you run software on your computer.

Rather than settle for a mediocre camera, I would use a different method of geotagging photos. You have several options. I'll start with the most rudimentary.

When you're in the field, take a photo of your GPS display before you start taking photographs. When you get to a computer, match the photos with the GPS coordinates.

If you need the coordinates in a photo's EXIF data, you can edit the EXIF data with a program like IrfanView. This free program is available on my site. To learn more about EXIF data, read my tip.

You could also buy a gadget like the Sony GPS-CS2KASP ($150). It simply records GPS coordinates, along with date and time.

Included software matches the photos and coordinates using time information. The software also displays the photos on a map. All of this is done on your computer. GiSTEQ, USGlobalSat and Amod make similar gadgets.

If your current GPS unit creates a data track, you don't need one of these gadgets. You can find software that will match the data track to timestamps on your photographs. For example, there's PixGPS ($20) or RoboGEO ($70).

Maybe you don't want to mess with software or editing EXIF data. In that case, Solmeta makes a GPS unit that attaches to the camera via a cord. The small unit sits in the camera's hot shoe. The GPS data is inserted automatically into the EXIF data when a picture is taken.

Solmeta currently makes the DP-GPS N1 ($250). Unfortunately, it only works with high-end Nikon SLRs. It also works with the Fujifilm S5 Pro.

You should start to see similar products from other manufacturers like Jobo. The gadgets are aimed at people who use high-end Nikon SLRs. There are few, if any, similar products for Canon owners.

You will also find cables that connect high-end SLRs with GPS units. The GPS information is embedded automatically in the picture.

I'm not a big fan of tethering a GPS unit to a camera. Tethering is awkward and bulky. And you could damage the GPS unit or the camera.

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WestStar TalkRadio Network.
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