9 Reasons the Garmin Oregon 450 GPS Is the Best Trail Buddy for Nature, Landscape and Many Other Photographers

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garmin_450_2 image GPS capabilities are virtually essential for many digital photographers, especially those that travel into the backcountry or along wild shorelines in search of superior nature and landscape images. Although many DSLR and most action/sports cameras have built-in GPS units, a separate, handheld GPS device, such as the Garmin Oregon 450, may be a better option if you’re a serious outdoors photographer.

Read real customer reviews of the Oregon 450 GPS here.

1. The Oregon 450 GPS comes with a tri-axial electronic compass; the benefit of which is that the unit doesn’t have to be in a level position whenever you’re seeking navigational information. Having an electronic compass benefits you even more. A basic GPS does not recognize the direction you’re facing, so it’s limited to showing you which direction you should travel. An electronic compass recognizes your direction, which makes it easier to pre-determine waypoints and orient yourself on paper maps.

2. It’s common for GPS devices to include a barometric altimeter whenever the device is also equipped with an electronic compass, and such is the case with the Garmin Oregon 450. The barometric altimeter serves two purposes: an accurate measurement of your elevation (the altimeter part) and weather indications (the barometric part). If the barometer is falling, then it’s likely to mean inclement weather. If your shooting goal for the day is late-afternoon sunsets, then it may be time to head home before you’re soaked to the skin. A prime example of the benefit of a feature-rich GPS unit.

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3. Because the Garmin Oregon 450 is feature-rich, it must have an extensive menu of options. Fortunately, Garmin has designed the Oregon 450 with a very intuitive, and touch screen, menu system. Although the main menu does require five different screens, you can easily customize which selections you want to see, quickly reducing the number of screens to view.

4. With the Oregon 450’s menu system, you can also create various use profiles just as easily and quickly. You can then customize the main menu that first appears according to your use profiles. For nature and landscape photographers, sun and shade profiles are two that will be particularly helpful. The sun profile alerts the screen to be more visible when you’re standing under a bright sun. If you’re in a backcountry area that appears as a green background on the map, then you can use the Profile feature to remove it, giving a better view of the area.

5. Of additional benefit to nature-seeking photographers are the Garmin Oregon 450’s exceptional route, track and waypoint management capabilities. For example, you can hide or reveal tracks on a map and apply an identifying color. Track navigation is loaded with benefits. One of the best is showing you the distance of the trail as a walking measurement, not “as the crow flies.”

6. The Oregon 450 includes a microSD^™ card slot, so you can add TOPO U.S. 24K maps, which provide you with vital information when you’re deep in the outdoors.

7. The Oregon 450 GPS is also compatible with the Garmin Custom Maps capability. Whether you have a paper map of a national forest or an electronic map of a seashore, you can convert them to downloads and add them to your 450.

8. Another handy technology is Garmin’s Birdseye Satellite Imagery. Now you can add high-resolution satellite pictures, so you have a more complete view of your location. (Requires 1-year subscription)

9. The Garmin Oregon 450 GPS is available from a number of retailers for approximately $270 to $350. Definitely a value purchase if you trek into the wilderness for your digital photography adventures.

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