Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Skippy&lambchops · Post by **Skippy&lambchops** » 17 March 09 5:32 pm

Looks like Garmin will introduce the 500 and 500T series Oregons soon

firesafe · Post by **firesafe** » 17 March 09 5:45 pm

A couple of articles on the 500

http://www.gpsreview.net/garmin-oregon-500-series/

http://blog.toptenreviews.com/?tag=oregon-500

howie_sf · Post by **howie_sf** » 04 July 09 11:13 am

Spoke to Garim Aus during the week and they expect to release the 550 in Aus in 2-3 months. They are waiting for the Aus maps to be produced.

Post by **CraigRat** » 04 July 09 11:30 am

So now the range of handhelds get murkier and murkier, with only minuscule differences between models.

When the Dakota goes live it is going to be almost impossible to recommend one unit over another to people.

A guy at work is buying a new handheld and we went over the whole range, and the infinitesimal differences between models made the decision so complicated he ALMOST got a Magellan!

murf · Post by **murf** » 04 July 09 1:02 pm

Thanks for mentioning the Dakota CR, I hadnt been keeping up and didnt realise it was on the way...

As far as decision making goes, I have to agree... It really is getting a bit like the 47 icecream flavours (what was the number again) argument.

At least Garmin provide a pretty cool comparison tool.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare.do? ... duct=30926

pirate 63 · Post by **pirate 63** » 10 August 09 9:35 pm

does anyone know is the 500 availalble here yet,and where?

howie_sf · Post by **howie_sf** » 10 August 09 10:05 pm

Sadly I'm a techo junkie and can't wait for the introduction

Guess there will be ab Oregon 300 on the second hand market in the near future

pjamesk · Post by **pjamesk** » 10 August 09 10:33 pm

pirate 63 wrote:does anyone know is the 500 availalble here yet,and where?

I rang Garmin again and there is no news on when it will be released.
Not even "unofficialy"
Garmin did say that I brought one from the US they would honour the warranty here even if they had to send it back to the US for repairs.

I checked our one distributer in the US to find out postage. they sent back an email saying $30 - $50. But for first time international buyers they want a photo copy of credit card and photo id... not a chance of me sending that any where

I might just have t settle for a 300

pirate 63 · Post by **pirate 63** » 11 August 09 6:37 pm

theres a couple on ebay in the us,but they wont have aus maps i'm asuming,by the sounds of it pjamesk its gonna be while before it here!

Post by **CraigRat** » 11 August 09 7:14 pm

The garmin basemaps are GARBAGE, in fact they are unusable for anything, don't let the lack of them be the only thing that puts you off. I cannot over-emphasise how bad they are...

You will still be able to put the full priced Garmin TOPO australia maps on it, or even the Openstreetmap builds which are WAY more accurate than the Garmin basemap (and free).

pjamesk · Post by **pjamesk** » 11 August 09 7:48 pm

The cost of buying a 550 without topo maps at the current exchange rate is the same as the 300, that comes without maps. The only additional cost is shipping between 30 - 50 $US

I'm still tempted to buy the unit in the US and maps in Au

Tom60 · Post by **Tom60** » 11 August 09 8:02 pm

I have just returned from the UK where I purchased an Oregon 550 with the intention of starting geocaching. Took it out yesterday to do some experimenting. The first thing I noted was that even with the supposed improved screen I found it difficult to read in bright sunlight and needed to look for a shady spot when I wanted to check my progress.

I didn't purchase it for the camera but it was interesting to be able to photograph my waypoints and link the image to the waypoint coordinates. A small icon would appear on the map.

I've worked out how to download the cache locations and this afternoon took it out to find my first cache (unsuccessfully). The unit was spot on with the navigation and it was easy to be guided using the map and digital compass.

pirate 63 · Post by **pirate 63** » 11 August 09 10:10 pm

johnny apple seeds now have them in stock ,$685 i think

pjamesk · Post by **pjamesk** » 11 August 09 10:24 pm

Wow their sales reps are up with the times
I was only talking with them on friday and they didn't know when or if they were getting them

that just made the decision easier

only prob now is that I'm going to Alice next week and would not get it in time

bugger

thanks for the heads up pirate 63

pirate 63 · Post by **pirate 63** » 11 August 09 10:51 pm

pjamask,do you know what the diff between 550 and the 400t,if the diff is only a camera and all map already loaded on the 400t i may go with the 400t,

Geocaching Australia

Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera

Re: Garmin Oregon 500 Series with digital Camera