But data logger can work on more digital cameras and the battery can last much longer than those gps working on DSLRs.

The problem we’ve always had with hotshoe GPS device attachments for our Nikon D300 is that our travel circumstances can be rough, so the possibility of it breaking off is almost certain. I suspect a lot of other travel photographers are in a similar position and waiting for built-in geotagging capability.

The other value of an external GPS geotagging device is that the GPS files can be used for actually tracking one’s route, not just geotagging the photos.

Regarding charging the batteries, it’s worth it to research and find a battery charger that can charge three batteries (or four) at a time. Might be a bit bulkier, but our headlamps also use three AAA batteries so we get good use out of this charger.

As for syncing the data with your photos, I find it easier to do it as we go (e.g., every night during big photo times) so as to not get overwhelmed by the data and get behind. It’s not a problem at all to sync RAW photos – PhotoLinker and HoudahGeo (Mac software) both work with RAW images without any problems. I’ll be writing a review of this geotagging software soon.

I am however impressed that you use it day-in day-out. In the beginning I would take it everywhere, but now I mostly use it to create tracks of the journeys I take rather than everyday when I’m taking photos around cities. The batteries of the AMOD are both a good point (AAA readily available) and bad (I have a small charger that only charges two batteries at a time).

I haven’t started syncing then to my photos – I thought I would sit down and do it once I’m finished travelling as it is a little more difficult with RAW photos.

@Kyle: The new Panasonic Lumix cameras have a GPS function so that you can automatically geotag your photos. I believe some of the high end professional DSLR cameras are starting to come out with this geotagging functionality as well. Can’t wait until it is also incorporated down the line into camera models we can afford.

I’d definitely shy away from devices with clunky, proprietary software to pull the data off the device. It just gets old.

Let us know if you find other suggestions.

I was very much turned off by the 3 AAA batteries the AGL3080, particularly when I read about the problems some folks were having using rechargeables:
“I have had this gps logger for 4 months now. It has the worst battery life of any device ever. It uses 3 AAA batteries and regardless of the logging setting (it has various levels of detail) it will gobble up the 3 batteries in 2 days. So, before buying this monster I thought, no problem, I will use rechargeable batteries, right? Wrong, It will not accept the rechargeable batteries. Many of the rechargeable batteries will not fully charge to the level of a new packaged non-rechargeable battery. Therefore, the AGL3080 complaints with a yellow blinking light (battery) and refuses to operate.”

…and then I read about how if your batteries fail (or you remove them) before you shut the device off your entire logged session is corrupted and lost. …and of course the joys of trying to recharge an odd number of batteries, when most chargers work in pairs. Not fun.

So, I was then looking at the Qstarz BT-Q1000XT, which looks like it’s getting great reviews on many aspects such as battery life (as they use a generic and easy to find Nokia cell phone battery — we’re talking days of logging without the need for a recharge), but have also been reading some pretty crummy stuff about the company software you’re forced to install the pull the data off the device. Bleh.

Anyone have any other suggestions??