First GPS-ready Digital Camera

Ricoh Corporation (CA, USA) has launched the Pro G3, a high-resolution digital camera that embeds captured images with GPS coordinate information received from either its on-board GPS unit or from external GPS devices.
Once these captured 'geo-images' are transferred to a PC they are automatically converted to shape files or merged into geo-databases for instant integration into GIS. In addition to storing GPS data in the image, the camera also utilises a user-configurable data dictionary for tagging pictures with workflow-related information. These attributes are easily accessible from the GIS layer table for automated database integration. The robust camera features a 3.34 mega-pixel sensor, a 3-times optical zoom with the ability to mount accessory lenses, video and sound capture capabilities and direct connectivity into IP networks via wired or wireless LAN. It uses a CompactFlash slot to accept WAAS-enabled GPS cards. For applications that require greater precision, the camera is capable of receiving NMEA data streams from external GPS devices via BlueTooth.