With nature and outdoor photography in mind, EOS 7D Mark II is designed to feature a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) function, which users can geotag images and videos with ease. This is a convenience feature to facilitate images organization by shooting location and also provide more completed information for future reviews. The GPS antenna of EOS 7D Mark II is located under the cover in front of the hotshoe. Apart from the United States' GPS satellite system, the Russia's GLONASS and Japan's Quasi-zenith Satellite System MICHIBIKI are also supported for the first time. These can provide users with improved positioning precision, fewer locations that cannot be positioned, a higher percentage of being able to record elevation (four or more acquired satellites are necessary) and higher percentage of being able to synchronize time (five or more acquired satellites are necessary) .

In addition to GPS, EOS 7D Mark II is the first EOS Digital SLR camera featuring a built-in electronic compass. Shooting direction is calculated with triaxial geomagnetic sensor and triaxial acceleration sensor inside the camera and appended to EXIF of images.

Geotagging Images and Videos*

Once activated, the integrated GPS of EOS 7D Mark II takes around 30-60 seconds to acquire signals from GPS satellites. Once the <GPS> icon on the top LCD panel is constantly displayed, the following geotag information will be add to images and videos* taken automatically:

Enabling Electronic Compass

After enabling the digital compass, camera shooting direction can be amended to images' EXIF in addition to geotag information. When reviewing images with geotag information and shooting direction in Map Utility, the shooting direction will be displayed on the map.

Auto Time Setting with internal GPS

Apart from replying on your watch or clock to set the camera's internal clock, EOS 7D Mark II users can synchronize the camera's clock to UTC standard time using GPS, with margin of error within +/1 second. You can also set the camera to update time automatically each time GPS signal is received.

Tips of Use

1. When <GPS> icon on camera's top LCD panel blinks, signal is not yet acquired. When <GPS> icon is constantly displayed, signal has been acquired; images and videos* will be geotagged. 2. The accuracy rating of EOS 7D Mark II's integrated GPS receiver is within 30m. To acquire GPS signals, bring the camera outdoors where the sky is unobstructed and face the top of the camera upwards. 3. GPS' accuracy is dependent to Position Update Interval. Although a shorter position update intervals will make GPS more accurate, it will reduce the number of possible shots. 4. When <3D> is displayed in Satellite reception, elevation can be recorded. However, elevation cannot be recorded when <2D> is displayed. 5. The digital compass detects direction using geomagnetism, thus it can be used indoor. 6. The digital compass's margin of error can be as many as about +/- 30 degree (similar to that of digital compass in smartphone), use of digital compass for navigation purpose is not recommended. 7. At high altitudes, near strong magnetic fields, in steel-structured buildings or underground, the digital compass may not able to detect the shooting direction correctly even after calibration. 8. The GPS will synchronize the camera time with UTC, you should set the time zone base on your location before doing [Auto time setting] in order to get the correct time. 9. When [Auto time Setting] is set to [Auto update], GPS icon will appear in [Date/Time/Zone]. You cannot set the [Data/Time] manually. 10. The internal GPS of EOS 7D Mark II must receive signals from 5 GPS satellites to set time. In location with less optimal GPS reception, GPS time setting or auto update may not be available. 11. When [GPS] is enabled, the camera will continue to receive GPS signals at regular intervals even after the power is turned off. The battery will thereby drain faster and the number of possible shots will decrease. If you will not use GPS, setting [GPS] to [Disable] is recommended.

* When you shoot a movie, only the GPS information at the time when shooting begins is recorded. Note that signal reception conditions are not recorded.