Garmin GPS Oregon 450

[Andrew]

Hi all,

I am contemplating a new purchase. Anyone own one of have an opinion on an alternative?

Also are the maps that Garmin sell better than free ones like say Shonky maps?

Cheers,

Andrew

[JohnM]

Got a 550, because I wanted the camera functionality. Otherwise they're pretty much the same I think.

Happy with it. Touch screen works well, pretty easy to read unless in full sun, battery life not bad (but I just turn it on when I want to double check, and to tag spots I like with images for future refence. It's taken a fair drenching a couple of times and no problems. Satellite pickup seems quick and accurate.

But I didn't bother with garmin maps, I went straight to OzTopo. Can highly recommend them.

[Andrew]

Hi John,

Why did you go for the camera model?
Are the photos good enough to use instead of a seperate camera?
Do you think that OZTopo maps are much better than the Garmin ones?
I am thinking not to get maps bundled (45oT or 550T) as then don't get a set of maps for the laptop.
Where did you buy yours from and for how much dd it cost?

Thanks for responding,

Andrew

[JohnM]

Re the camera, I don't like carrying a camera, so used to rely on my iPhone. Trouble is, by the time you retrieve it from your pack, take it out of the ziplock bag, start it up, wait for it to be functional, a minute or more is gone. In the end, I just never bothered anymore.

I'm already carrying a GPS on my shoulder strap, so bein able to use it as a camera means I actually use it. Its fine for snaps, like a camera-phone. Obviously the photographers amongst us would shudder.

Also, I use it sometimes to mark spots. For example, if you're doing a food drop, you can take a photo of the spot and when you download the image later you get the image along with a grid ref and a map marker. I imagine this would be handy for marking fishing spots and the like.

Hardly an essential feature, but I like it.

I've had a play with garmin maps and I reckon OzTopo is waaaaay better. Really good detail, very pleased with them.

The OzTopo cost $200 (subsequent updates cost you $100) and for that you get all of Australia mapped, every track, every road, evything. You get it on a USB for your computer, and on a sim for your GPS device. Buy online at OzTopo.com.au, they mail it out to ou a couple of days later.

I like planning walks on the computer now, and OzTopo makes it easy. I'm luck I have access to a quality colour printer at work, so it's pretty cool to print maps straight from it.

BUT if $$ are a bit tight, I'm sure garmin maps are fine.

I got the garmin from johnny Appleseed, as they're just around the corner from me, and prices seem pretty similar everywhere. From previous experience with garmin (running GPS watches) I wanted to buy locally, if anything goes wrong things are a lot easier that way.

[fitdingo]

Thanks for the comparison of Garmin and OzTopo maps JohnM, it has answered a lot of questions for me as well.
Cheers