Garmin Colorado 400t

DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
edited March 13, 2008 in Accessories
I just bought the Garmin Colorado 400t. Short story: I love it.

20080308-8da9nwjayddh52y73s6xn85h4a.jpg

I traded up from the Garmin eTrex Vista Cx. It's a huge leap.

Random notes:
  • It comes pre-loaded with US Topo maps.
  • It has a beautiful display that shades the contours of the land.
  • Great reception, it gets a signal in my house, which the eTrex didn't.
  • You can make screengrabs!
  • Well-built.
  • Overkill if all you want to do is log tracks to geolocate your photos.
  • Today I'm going to go geocaching for the first time. The integration with geocaching is awesome.

You can read a full review here. They're reviewing an early pre-release version, I think. The firmware is being updated at a pretty good clip these days, as it's a new product and they're still working out the kinks. But the review is a good one. Better than I can do! :deal

The unit lists for $639 :huh Most places sell it for $599, and I got it for just a hair over $500.

Here's a screengrab while I was in my office building. I have a "?" because I'm in a huge building with no GPS reception.

263273092_UgrZn-XL.jpg


Zooming into nearby Griffith Park.

263273094_y5No3-XL.jpg


My home. Look at all those geocaches just waiting for me!!!! :D

263273096_MneNX-XL.jpg


Oh, and it's got 3D view.

263273087_YSzov-XL.jpg
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Comments

  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,939 moderator
    edited March 8, 2008
    Wow. Talk about Cadillac GPS units, this one is very nice.

    The screen grab feature is pretty cool too!
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2008
    'doh!!!!

    I almost forgot. You can load JPGs on the unit and view them, even zoom in.

    Here's a screengrab of a JPG I uploaded to the Garmin.

    263278622_zWcYP-XL.jpg
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  • ChrisJChrisJ Registered Users Posts: 2,164 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2008
    Wow, that looks really cool. Maybe *next* year... still plodding along with my eTrex Legend.

    After you've done several "normal" caches, there are some really fun multi-stage and/or puzzle caches.
    Chris
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2008
    ChrisJ wrote:
    Wow, that looks really cool. Maybe *next* year... still plodding along with my eTrex Legend.

    After you've done several "normal" caches, there are some really fun multi-stage and/or puzzle caches.


    The paperless caching is awesome!

    263401167_MzVqE-XL.jpg
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  • StanStan Registered Users Posts: 1,077 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2008
    This looks great. I downloaded this last night to use with my garmin legend. I'm going skiing tomorrow but not taking a camera (the weather in the Alps is going to be really bad). The software syncs the camera nad the garmin clocks to give a location of the shot and then writes it in the exif.

    I need one with European mapping though. I will look more closely on my return. but this is really neat :D

    Stan
    Stan.smugmug.com
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2008
    it must be good
    Whoah:

    20080308-ncc9cmsuie8yiniknw6qp6uhjm.jpg

    Not sure Dgrin can handle this magnitude of change :D
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  • StanStan Registered Users Posts: 1,077 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2008
    schmoo wrote:
    Whoah:

    20080308-ncc9cmsuie8yiniknw6qp6uhjm.jpg

    Not sure Dgrin can handle this magnitude of change :D

    Shh!!! dont tell the muggles, they will only trash the Cache
    Stan
    Stan.smugmug.com
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2008
    schmoo wrote:
    Whoah:

    20080308-ncc9cmsuie8yiniknw6qp6uhjm.jpg

    Not sure Dgrin can handle this magnitude of change :D


    I know, huh? How long have I been unsweetened? I forget, all I know is that Andy christened me that, and I just thought I'd play along to make him feel good. ne_nau.gif
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2008
    Stan wrote:
    This looks great. I downloaded this last night to use with my garmin legend. I'm going skiing tomorrow but not taking a camera (the weather in the Alps is going to be really bad). The software syncs the camera nad the garmin clocks to give a location of the shot and then writes it in the exif.

    I need one with European mapping though. I will look more closely on my return. but this is really neat :D

    Stan


    I use GPSPhotoLinker for the same thing on a Mac. Those apps are great!
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  • ChrisJChrisJ Registered Users Posts: 2,164 Major grins
    edited March 9, 2008
    DavidTO wrote:
    The paperless caching is awesome!
    That is really cool. No more printouts to take with you!
    Chris
  • ivarivar Registered Users Posts: 8,395 Major grins
    edited March 9, 2008
    Did you go caching today? how was it? ear.gif
    Ivar
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 9, 2008
    ivar wrote:
    Did you go caching today? how was it? ear.gif


    It was awesome. We took a tough hike with about 700ft elevation gain, to a spot with a beautiful view (quickie snapped off with my G9, just a snapshot, OK?):

    263763637_RXKz9-XL.jpg

    We got all the way up there, and COULD NOT FIND THE DANG CACHE! We searched for about an hour. This was my 6th cache (did 5 with the kids yesterday), and my first "DNF" (Did Not Find). I was sorely disappointed. But the view is the thing. This is a spot I would never have gotten to on my own. And it's really nice. I'll go back up, and I'll find that dang cache!
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  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited March 9, 2008
    SO, how is this gadget going to work in Scotland?

    You will have to download new map data to it won't you?
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  • ivarivar Registered Users Posts: 8,395 Major grins
    edited March 9, 2008
    pathfinder wrote:
    SO, how is this gadget going to work in Scotland?

    You will have to download new map data to it won't you?
    A gps will work anywhere where it has adequate signal reception. The maps are just not detailed, or not present.
    Ivar
    www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    pathfinder wrote:
    SO, how is this gadget going to work in Scotland?

    You will have to download new map data to it won't you?


    Depends on what I want to do with it. At minimum, I'll use it to generate tracks so that I can geotag my images.
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    ChrisJ wrote:
    Wow, that looks really cool. Maybe *next* year... still plodding along with my eTrex Legend.

    After you've done several "normal" caches, there are some really fun multi-stage and/or puzzle caches.



    Chris, you have the same username on geocaching.com?
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  • stuffjunkiestuffjunkie Registered Users Posts: 156 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    Well, This is very timely post.thumb.gif I was in REI just yesterday looking ta GPS units. I was looking at the Vista Hcx and noticed the Colorado 300. I gather the 400t is similar to the 300 w/ built in topo maps. I'm sure I don't need the Colorado, although the screen shots look very cool! Thanks for sharing about the new toy.
  • ChrisJChrisJ Registered Users Posts: 2,164 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    DavidTO wrote:
    Chris, you have the same username on geocaching.com?
    Ahh, finally found it: Tortoise & Hare

    Haven't logged anything since January, 2005! I guess that's what babies do to you...
    Chris
  • cmasoncmason Registered Users Posts: 2,506 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    I must say, the reviews on REI.com and a few GPS webzines are not encouraging...sounds like this thing needs to go thru a few firmware updates first.
    Photos
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    cmason wrote:
    I must say, the reviews on REI.com and a few GPS webzines are not encouraging...sounds like this thing needs to go thru a few firmware updates first.


    Well, they have updated the firmware several times, so much of that is old news, but still it does have some ways to go, I guess. There are still complaints about it. But I don't notice any real problems with it. So far, it's excellent. I guess the predecessor, the 60cx, went through the same growing pains.

    I would never let the few problems stand in the way of buying this unit, however. It's very, very sweet, IMO.
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    cmason wrote:
    I must say, the reviews on REI.com and a few GPS webzines are not encouraging...sounds like this thing needs to go thru a few firmware updates first.


    Well, they have updated the firmware several times, so much of that is old news, but still it does have some ways to go, I guess. There are still complaints about it. But I don't notice any real problems with it. So far, it's excellent. I guess the predecessor, the 60cx, went through the same growing pains.

    I would never let the few problems stand in the way of buying this unit, however. It's very, very sweet, IMO.
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    ChrisJ wrote:
    Ahh, finally found it: Tortoise & Hare

    Haven't logged anything since January, 2005! I guess that's what babies do to you...


    You know, they do allow kids out of the house these days.... deal.gif
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  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,939 moderator
    edited March 10, 2008
    DavidTO wrote:
    You know, they do allow kids out of the house these days.... deal.gif
    I hear duct tape is the New new thing lol3.gif
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  • ChrisJChrisJ Registered Users Posts: 2,164 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    DavidTO wrote:
    You know, they do allow kids out of the house these days.... deal.gif
    No worries, there... yesterday we did three 1/2 mile bi/tricycle loops. It's just that the GPS tends to get left behind. But the oldest is just starting to get to the point where it might be fun again.
    Chris
  • ChrisJChrisJ Registered Users Posts: 2,164 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    ian408 wrote:
    I hear duct tape is the New new thing lol3.gif
    I've found super-glue works really well for that skin-to-skin contact.
    rolleyes1.gif
    Chris
  • jthomasjthomas Registered Users Posts: 454 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    Stan wrote:
    This looks great. I downloaded this last night to use with my garmin legend.

    This looks like pretty neat software. It doesn't mention this, but I guess you would need to synchronize the clocks on your camera and GPS.

    David, I'v been quite happy with my Garmin 60CSx, but that Colorado looks pretty neat.
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited March 10, 2008
    jthomas wrote:
    This looks like pretty neat software. It doesn't mention this, but I guess you would need to synchronize the clocks on your camera and GPS.

    David, I'v been quite happy with my Garmin 60CSx, but that Colorado looks pretty neat.


    The Mac equivalent I have of that software will batch adjust the time for you, to line them up.

    The 60CSx is indeed sweet. Rock solid.
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  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,939 moderator
    edited March 10, 2008
    ChrisJ wrote:
    I've found super-glue works really well for that skin-to-skin contact.
    rolleyes1.gif
    Oh. it's pretty effective. DAMHIK rolleyes1.gif
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  • StanStan Registered Users Posts: 1,077 Major grins
    edited March 13, 2008
    jthomas wrote:
    This looks like pretty neat software. It doesn't mention this, but I guess you would need to synchronize the clocks on your camera and GPS.

    David, I'v been quite happy with my Garmin 60CSx, but that Colorado looks pretty neat.

    The camera and Garmin times are auto sync-ed in this software too :D

    Stan
    Stan.smugmug.com
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