Canon Connect app GPS update rate?

[vantage]

Hi All,

Does anyone know the Canon Connect app GPS update rate? In other words, how often does it update the camera with the location your shooting from? I'm already aware that general GPS receivers update position once/second. I recently did a walking tour in wide open spaces ( so no obstructions), took 14 photos in different locations and the location of all the photographs was exactly the same.

Camera: R5 running firmware version 2.0.0 

R5 showed Bluetooth and GPS active

Canon Connect app version 3.2.0.20, build 1391,app shows Status: Sending location info to camera, GPS via mobile: Available, Location information: Can be used

TIA

[Mogster2k]

Power cycling does work but it’s a drag having to remember to power cycle each time you want to update location. I also don’t think that should be necessary. It does mean you can’t have the camera ready to go for a quick shot if you want that quick shot to have an accurate location. There has been no answer from Canon as to how this feature is supposed to operate, so we are none the wiser.

With my R6ii and iPhone 15 I don’t find battery connected life a problem. If I intend to take a lot of shots I take an extra battery or the add on grip. I’d still prefer a integral GPS in the camera.

[jrhoffman75]

Although not specifically stated, I believe the app is intended to be a remote control device with the ability to GPS tag, not a GPS tracker for camera use. I have verified that if the app is used to record images the GPS is always updated. 

[Powerkey]

I decided to continue testing this as my previous solution was not working consistently. The app has had an update and the camera got a firmware update, so I was hoping something changed.

In doing so, I think I stumbled on to a possible fix. I deleted the bluetooth connection from my phone and camera and re-paired them. The BT connection has been the same one since I got the camera years ago. So I thought this might help.

The last couple of outings the GPS tagging seems to be working.

Vantage: I am not certain, but during my testing, the camera was getting an updated location every second while I was driving down the road. When on foot, it updates much less. So, I expect that it updates based on a distance and not a time. I have no idea what that is, though.

[vantage]

@Powerkey

You have to move a minimum distance to change second of latitude or longitude.

From

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-much-distance-does-a-degree-minute-and-second-cover-your-maps

A degree, minute, or second of latitude remains fairly constant from the equator to the poles; however a degree, minute, or second of longitude can vary greatly as one approaches the poles and the meridians converge.

At 38 degrees North latitude (which passes through Stockton California and Charlottesville Virginia):

• One degree of latitude equals approximately 364,000 feet (69 miles), one minute equals 6,068 feet (1.15 miles), and one-second equals 101 feet. 
• One-degree of longitude equals 288,200 feet (54.6 miles), one minute equals 4,800 feet (0.91 mile), and one second equals 80 feet.

[jrhoffman75]

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@Powerkey wrote:

I decided to continue testing this as my previous solution was not working consistently. The app has had an update and the camera got a firmware update, so I was hoping something changed.

In doing so, I think I stumbled on to a possible fix. I deleted the bluetooth connection from my phone and camera and re-paired them. The BT connection has been the same one since I got the camera years ago. So I thought this might help.

The last couple of outings the GPS tagging seems to be working.

Vantage: I am not certain, but during my testing, the camera was getting an updated location every second while I was driving down the road. When on foot, it updates much less. So, I expect that it updates based on a distance and not a time. I have no idea what that is, though.

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Correct, but you can determine if the data is being updated by checking the time. Even if you haven't moved the GPS time should be tracking camera time. See my posts here:

https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-DSLR-Mirrorless-Cameras/EOS-R6-Mark-II-amp-Canon-Camera-Conne...

[Mogster2k]

There are long threads over at DP Review forum about this same issue with the new R5ii.  In one of those threads someone had brought up this issue at a trade show with a Canon rep, also asking why internal GPS insn’t included with Canon’s enthusiast cameras. They also asked if Canon is trying to force people to buy the GP-E2 GPS accessory. The rep’s response suggested that Canon are aware of the issue and also that the GPS GP-E2 add on accessory is being withdrawn. I wonder if we’ll see internal GPS being included in more Canon offerings in future? 

[vantage]

Off the top of my head I can think of five Canon cameras available that have built-in GPS receivers. Prices range from $294.00 US (used)  to $6,799.00 US (new).

[salman1122]

“The Canon Connect app doesn’t update GPS to the R5 every second — it usually sends location data at longer intervals to save battery. This often results in multiple images getting the same coordinates. To fix it, enable ‘Send Location Continuously,’ keep the app open in the foreground, and disable battery optimization for Canon Connect on your phone. After that, the GPS updates more frequently and each photo gets accurate location info.”

[Mogster2k]

I think most of the IPhone users in this thread have location set to “always” and background app refresh set. These settings make no difference.

My R6ii pulls location from the phone at power up then never again. It isn’t a time or movement issue, the camera never requests location again and so never updates it. The GPS timestamp also remains the same while camera timestamp updates as normal. Only power cycling the camera makes the GPS position update. I’ll add the caveat “mostly” as occasionally location does seem to update but this seems random and I’m unable to work out what triggers it.

[jrhoffman75]

I posted this previously, but I think that the intended use for this app is a remote shutter release. I verified through testing that the current GPS data is appended to the image each time the shutter button in the app is “pressed “ It is not intended to be a data logger.