topic Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

derek_bartram — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 22:45:13 GMT

Hi,

I'm trying to get GPS traces off a Canon 5D Mk IV...

The camera has been set in mode 2, and images are showing as having geo-tagged locations.

I went into the GPS options menu and directed the camera to transfer the traces to the CF card - this took a minute or so.

I plugged the camera into a PC, but other than the images being on the card as before, I can't find any new files, let alone the expect *.log files.

Any idea where the log files should appear on the card? And why they don't appear to be there!?!

Thanks.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

derek_bartram — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 23:28:41 GMT

Ok, some progress...

The files are located in MISC > GPS... however, if you connect the camera to the PC using the cable, then that folder isn't shown (it's not hidden either, it's simply not there); the only way to access the folder appears to be remove the memory card and use a card reader.

Does anyone know how to get the GPS files off the camera using just the USB cable and camera?

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

RobertTheFat — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 23:54:53 GMT

@derek_bartram wrote:
Ok, some progress...

The files are located in MISC > GPS... however, if you connect the camera to the PC using the cable, then that folder isn't shown (it's not hidden either, it's simply not there); the only way to access the folder appears to be remove the memory card and use a card reader.

Does anyone know how to get the GPS files off the camera using just the USB cable and camera?

What software are you using to look at the camera? If the files are there but you're not seeing them, it has to be the software that's in the way. The closer you can get to the operating system, the better your chances probably are. That's what you're doing when you use a card reader.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

Waddizzle — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 02:48:44 GMT

I cannot speak for a 5D Mark IV, but the 6D requires that the GPS be enabled when you download the RAW files from the camera, if you want to transfer the complete GPS data. The 5D4 could be the same way.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

derek_bartram — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 20:13:47 GMT

Thanks Robert.

I'm using Windows Explorer when viewing via-cable and via-cardreader... it looks like the camera doesn't present the folder to Windows when plugged in.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

derek_bartram — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 20:16:04 GMT

Thanks Waddizzle,

I permenantly leave mine in mode-2, so GPS was on (and indeed locked to location) as well. I've seen a couple of sources also suggesting GPS has to be 'on' for the Mk IV, but that's not it. A quick test suggests that the 'on' requirement only applies to when you transfer the locations from the camera to the memory card in the first place - for copying the log files off, the GPS shouldn't matter (in theory).

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

Waddizzle — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 21:55:48 GMT

In theory, it does not hurt to try it, either. Having GPS turned on during file transfers seems to be how Canon DSLRs seem to work. .

I am not sure if the GPS is turned on or not when using Mode 2 during file transfers. I haven’t tested that with my. 6D Mark II, yet. I rarely use the GPS, actually. It is not like I am out in wild, taking photographs.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

derek_bartram — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 01:28:01 GMT

Mode 2 is GPS by definition - it's GPS tracking while camera switch to powered.

Mode 1 is GPS on always (even when camera switched to off).

Not tried copying GPS tracks to memory card while GPS is off, but that's not the issue. You can't see the GPS folder with camera plugged in via USB in any combination of GPS on/off (so it appears).

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

RobertTheFat — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 01:55:54 GMT

@derek_bartram wrote:
Mode 2 is GPS by definition - it's GPS tracking while camera switch to powered.
Mode 1 is GPS on always (even when camera switched to off).

Not tried copying GPS tracks to memory card while GPS is off, but that's not the issue. You can't see the GPS folder with camera plugged in via USB in any combination of GPS on/off (so it appears).

Can you see the GPS folder if you use EOS Utility instead of Windows Explorer to look for it? You said you can see it on the card if you use a card reader, right?

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

Waddizzle — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 02:56:17 GMT

@derek_bartram wrote:
Mode 2 is GPS by definition - it's GPS tracking while camera switch to powered.
Mode 1 is GPS on always (even when camera switched to off).

Not tried copying GPS tracks to memory card while GPS is off, but that's not the issue. You can't see the GPS folder with camera plugged in via USB in any combination of GPS on/off (so it appears).

You’re not supposed to “see” the files in the camera. The camera is not a thumb drive. It is a controller, and you can see into its’ memory.

You’re supposed to download the images with GPS data using the EOS Utility, and the GPS data comes across with the images. From there, the Map Utility takes over the GPS field.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

derek_bartram — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 13:49:25 GMT

Can't see the GPS folder in EOS utility either.

If the camera files shouldn't be accessed via Windows Explorer, then why the hell is it mounted as a mass storage device - that's just poor design.

I don't use EOS Utility to copy files as it has a serious flaw which hides file copying errors, which means you can (and I have) lost files. It's a poorly coded piece of software, that despite several bug reports, Canon has still failed to fix.

*Found another file copy bug with my camera - second new Canon in a row, which can't be trusted.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

Waddizzle — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 23:57:04 GMT

@derek_bartram wrote:
Can't see the GPS folder in EOS utility either.

If the camera files shouldn't be accessed via Windows Explorer, then why the hell is it mounted as a mass storage device - that's just poor design.

I don't use EOS Utility to copy files as it has a serious flaw which hides file copying errors, which means you can (and I have) lost files. It's a poorly coded piece of software, that despite several bug reports, Canon has still failed to fix.

*Found another file copy bug with my camera - second new Canon in a row, which can't be trusted.

I have already answered that question. The camera is not a storage device, it is fundamentally a type of controller. Windows Explorer allows you to look at memory inside of the camera, but you cannot read or write to it, because memory access is denied.

If you still think the camera is a mass storage device, then i suggest you look at the camera in “Devices”, under Control Panel. The camera will not listed as a storage device, because it is NOT a storage device.

I suggest that you contact Canon Support, for the best advice.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

derek_bartram — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:42:25 GMT

Looks like you're slighty right and slighty wrong.

It's a PTP device, a Picture Transfer Protocol defined device... not exactly a controller, but not a mass storage device as such either... however the underlying device, i.e. the memory card, clearly is a mass storage device (from the camera's perspective).

Windows Explorer most certainly does let you read files from the device - it's not access denied at all,. You can't write though as you suggest. Do you actually have a Mk4, surely you would know that?

However, there's nothing obvious in the PTP specification that suggests non-images can't be transferred; afterall, a Canon RAW file is essentially arbitary data and that transfers just fine. PTP is comms protocol only.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

Waddizzle — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 03:29:38 GMT

@derek_bartram wrote:
Looks like you're slighty right and slighty wrong.

It's a PTP device, a Picture Transfer Protocol defined device... not exactly a controller, but not a mass storage device as such either... however the underlying device, i.e. the memory card, clearly is a mass storage device (from the camera's perspective).

Windows Explorer most certainly does let you read files from the device - it's not access denied at all,. You can't write though as you suggest. Do you actually have a Mk4, surely you would know that?

However, there's nothing obvious in the PTP specification that suggests non-images can't be transferred; afterall, a Canon RAW file is essentially arbitary data and that transfers just fine. PTP is comms protocol only.

Nope, I do not own a 5D4. Don't need to. Do you own another camera? They all behave the same way.

Like I said, Contact Canon Support.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

derek_bartram — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 17:03:46 GMT

I've had 4 Canon cameras... they definately don't all work the same.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

Waddizzle — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 23:11:48 GMT

@derek_bartram wrote:
I've had 4 Canon cameras... they definately don't all work the same.

Yes, they do, when it comes to built-in GPS.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

TCampbell — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 00:59:29 GMT

I do own a Canon 5D IV as well as a 5D III with the GP-E2 receiver unit (that plugs into the hot-shoe).

Though I don’t usually use the GPS “bread crumbs” feature to log my movement (I normally just use it to geo-tag photos — that doesn’t require the use of the logging feature), if you do want to import the logs via USB (instead of copying the file from the memory card) then I seem to recall that I have to use the Canon “Map Utility” that comes with the camera.

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

derek_bartram — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 18:32:59 GMT

Thanks Tim.

I've previously had the GP-E2, and indeed that picks up only using the Map Utility (as far as I could see).

The 5D IV doesn't appear to directly work with map utility for me - it could be I'm doing something wrong, but can't see what. I get a prompt to use EOS Utility, but any combination of running before/after/with still doesn't allow direct access.

Would you mind trying to plug in your MkIV with USB and seeing what your Map Utility does please?

Re: Transfer GPS Trace to Memory Card

Waddizzle — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 00:01:37 GMT

@derek_bartram wrote:
Thanks Tim.

I've previously had the GP-E2, and indeed that picks up only using the Map Utility (as far as I could see).

The 5D IV doesn't appear to directly work with map utility for me - it could be I'm doing something wrong, but can't see what. I get a prompt to use EOS Utility, but any combination of running before/after/with still doesn't allow direct access.

Would you mind trying to plug in your MkIV with USB and seeing what your Map Utility does please?

Is the GPS fully tuned on? Have the photos been previously downloaded?