Promote Systems GPS Receiver GPS-N-90 for Nikon D90, D3100, D5000, D5100 and D7000 Cameras

by Promote Systems

Product Details

• Item Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B002BV2F90
• Item model number: GPS-N-90
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 2, 2009

Product Description

Go where photography is headed with the Promote GPS! Now photographers can harness GPS technology to pinpoint the precise location from which a photograph is taken. Called "geotagging", this new technology embeds geographic information into a photograph along with the time and date stamp. The Promote GPS Receiver features the SiRF Star III chip, which excels at acquiring and maintaining a GPS signal lock. The GPS unit consumes less than 55mA from the camera, making it one of the most power-efficient GPS receivers available for Nikon D90 and D5000 (only) DSLR cameras. It will automatically power up and down along with camera exposure meter, allowing for further saving of the camera batterypower.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Does what it's supposed to do, July 5, 2009

By 

A Texan (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Promote Systems GPS Receiver GPS-N-90 for Nikon D90, D3100, D5000, D5100 and D7000 Cameras (Electronics)

One of the reasons that I upgraded to the Nikon D90 was its support for GPS input for tagging photos in real time. However, like many, I was disappointed with Nikon's effort, the GP-1. I had read about a number of third party units, but the reviews of the other version of the Promote GPS unit caught my attention. This unit is essentially the same at the one for the D300 and other Nikons with its cable interface:Promote GPS Receiver for Nikon D300, D700, D3, D2X, D2Xs, D2Hs, D200 and Fuji S5 Pro cameras so you should check the reviews for that unit as well.

Since it uses the SiRF STAR III chipset, it does as expected and gets a pretty quick fix on the satelites and has proven quite accurate in my testing. Initial lock takes a few minutes (the GPS icon flashes on the top LCS panet). After the initial position has been found, "hot fix" only takes a second or two when you press the shutter half way to turn the meter on.

The unit is powered only when the meter on the camera is active and there is no option to have it draw power contantly and maintain the lock. While I'd like the option, it's not a deal killer. If you want to get automatic GPS tagging while indoors, you will need to change the function in your menu for the time before the camera meter turns off to something long, like 30 minutes. Then, you will need to get your position fix while outside. Once you are inside, the GPS will remember your last position and use to tag while you are inside.

The unit is fairly large. If you use it as designed - attached to the hot shoe, there is no using the built in flash on the D90. The flash cannot fully open to fire properly. So, if you want to use the on board or an external flash, you will need to remove the GPS unit from the hot shoe and clip it to your strap some how. Promote does not include any kind of additional clip to mount the unit on a strap.

But, it's considerably cheaper than the Nikon unit, gives fast and accurate GPS data, and the angled connector plugs securely into the side of the camera and sticks out of the side a minimum distance. Overall, I'm happy with the unit.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice GPS unit, February 16, 2010

By 

David Lewis (Sitka, AK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Promote Systems GPS Receiver GPS-N-90 for Nikon D90, D3100, D5000, D5100 and D7000 Cameras (Electronics)

It took some time for the first lock up but, then it locks up seconds after I turn it on outdoors. Indoors it may or may not lock up but, usually will if given a few minutes. My unit was packaged with a black plastic thing with no information on what it was or how to use it. Looking it over I found that it was a thing to put on our camera strap that would hold the GPS, leaving the hot shoe free. I have yet to see what degradation the GPS being mounted that way and possible sheilded body has on its operation.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grabs the location quickly, April 4, 2010

By 

kkrome25 "kkrome25" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Promote Systems GPS Receiver GPS-N-90 for Nikon D90, D3100, D5000, D5100 and D7000 Cameras (Electronics)

On my D90, it will take about 2 minutes to get its bearings. After that, when you turn on the camera again, it takes less than a minute. You can tell if it's grabbed onto the satellites by going into the GPS menu on your D90, where it will show you the latitude, longitude and elevation. Truly amazing.