P-10 Pro POI Button, GPX Log File Format, and Geotagging Photos
Customer asked:
I have a Columbus P-10 Pro. I was reading the quick start guide and noticed that it states the POI button only works with CSV files. Is this correct?
I was planning to use GPX files for easier compatibility with the Adobe Lightroom Classic Map module, and I would prefer not to convert the files.
Yes, that is correct. The POI button is used to mark a point on the recorded track as a Point of Interest in the CSV file format. Since the GPX format does not support POI marking in the same way, this function only applies to CSV files.
Adobe Lightroom Classic uses a different method when importing GPX files. It does not require users to manually mark points of interest. Instead, Lightroom imports the continuous GPS track recorded during the photo shoot and matches the location data to each photo based on its timestamp.
You simply need to turn on the P-10 Pro when you start taking photos. There is no need to press the POI button on the device. The P-10 Pro will continuously record the track at a 1 Hz refresh rate.
After the trip, import both the GPX track file and the photos taken during that time into the Map view in Adobe Lightroom Classic. Then adjust the time zone and time offset as needed so Lightroom can correctly match the GPS track to the photo timestamps.
Just one more quick question, please! The unit’s default is CSV, but I have set it to GPX for use with Lightroom. I have now downloaded GPSBabel so I can convert with ease. Would it be best to go back to CSV (default) for any particular reason, such as battery draw? I do see that the files are smaller for CSV.
Thanks for your help,
The main advantage of CSV is that it supports the POI (Point of Interest) button. When you press the POI button, the P-10 inserts a marker into the CSV log file, which can be useful for field surveys or when you want to identify specific locations later. If you are primarily using the P-10 for geotagging photos in Lightroom, there is usually no need to use the POI function.
As for battery consumption, there is no noticeable difference between recording in GPX and CSV format. The choice is mainly a matter of convenience and workflow. GPX files tend to be larger because they contain additional metadata and XML tags, while CSV files are more compact and human-readable.
So, for your intended use with Lightroom, I’d simply leave the logger set to GPX and enjoy the simpler workflow. If you ever need to use the POI button for marking locations in the field, you can always switch back to CSV mode.