Canon EOS 5D Mark II and WFT-E4 GPS adapter

Canon produces a series of adapters, model WFT-Ex that provide a USB port for connecting a compatible GPS.  With the GPS connected, it will do in-device geocoding of the photos.  In the manual for the WFT-E2, it says

The [WFT-E2] transmitter can be used with Garmin GPSMAP or eTrex series or Magellan eXplorist series GPS devices that produce data in the format NMEA 0183 Ver. 2.0.1, as well as some devices that produce Garmin protocol data (as of February 2007).

I wasn't able to find a website for the WFT-E4 specifically yet, but the E2 site has been updated.

Compatible cameras:

• WFT-E2/E2A: EOS-1Ds Mark III, EOS-1D Mark III
• WFT-E3/E3A: EOS 50D, EOS 40D
  * The Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3/E3A firmware update is required before using the device with the EOS 50D.
• WFT-E4/E4A: EOS 5D Mark II

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/wft/wft-e2/

There is also a short video (Flash format) showing how to connect a GPS to the WFT-E2, including the appropriate menu settings.

Some links and info via DPreview - 5D II: Geo-tagging using GPS with WFT-E4?

Note the support is for GPS data over USB only, there is no Bluetooth support in the WFT-E series.

Some of the GPS loggers I have reviewed can provided NMEA 0183 over USB, although I don't know the exact versions of the NMEA they provide.  Of course, it doesn't have to be a GPS logger specifically, GPS receivers or full GPS display devices may also have USB data capability.  This capability is often called "GPS mouse" mode (because when a small GPS device is connected with a USB cable, it looks a lot like a mouse connected by cable to your computer).

GPS support is just part of what the WFT-E accessories provide, they also have support for networking  (WFT stands for Wireless File Transmitter) and for USB storage (you can have either GPS or storage over USB, not both at the same time).  The WFT-E devices are also quite expensive, they're targetted at professional photographers.  And keep in mind you still have to add the GPS itself; it's not included. 

The WFT-E4A isn't on Amazon.com yet.  The EOS 5D Mark II is available for order.  UPDATE 2009-01-06: The WFT-E4A is now available, but I should mention that for its roughly U$950 price, you could buy 8 or more GPS loggers (a very good GPS logger runs about U$125, and many are U$100 or less).  ENDUPDATE

UPDATE 2009-01-14: As I mentioned above, I have reviewed various GPS loggers, which do not require a WFT-E to use (they are standalone devices).  However, when selecting GPS logger software, be mindful that if you take photos in RAW, not all software will support geotagging RAW images.

Comments

[Leo Linag]

I have my Raw 5D Geotagging experience documented:
http://photoblog.leozc.com/2009/03/recently-ive-purchased-canon-5d-ii-this.html

[Will Guy]

A bit of an offhand question. Does the WFT-E4 use the internal battery to aid the battery in the camera or is it for the WFT device only?