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Customer Reviews and Ratings for Garmin Oregon 550t with Camera and US Topo |
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88% of our reviewers recommend this item.
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Cmangusso
Bennett, CO
Feb 13, 2011
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GARMIN 550 GPS IS AWESOME!!
Pros: simple to use camera function
Cons: 100k topo map. map should be a 24k topo map.
I bought the 550T version because it came with a map. I should have gone with the regular 550 model and bought the 24K TOPO map instead. The 550 plus 24K TOPO map would cost the same as the 550T and you would have a better map. Anyway I have been using my GPS every day and have not had any issues. The 24K TOPO map is awesome, have not had any issues with it, yet. I don't understand the reviews knocking the brightness of the screen I have not had any issues and I use it all the time in the sun and can see the screen even with the sun shinning directly on the screen. I have an 8Gb SDHC card in it and use it to store mostly photos I take with the camera. The camera is not bad, granted it is not a high end camera but it works for what it was intended for. I use it to take pictures of areas I want to navigate back to. The cool thing is you can take a picture one year and navigate back to the same spot the following year. This is helpful for hunting seasons. I can take an animal and if I have to leave it overnight for some reason I just take a picture and then navigate back to it in the morning, very cool. If you are looking for a hand-held GPS unit the Garmin 550 model with a 24K TOPO map is the way to go. I would definitely purchase this item again.
Recommend? YES
77 viewers found this helpful.
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Jim
Summer: Wyoming, Winter: San Diego
Oct 18, 2010
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GARMIN 550T
This Garmin 550t is my 5th GPS, all Garmins. It is far and away the best. The touch screen is far better than any button-type model easy to use and customize. Yeah, it's expensive, but the 400 or Dakota series is a cheaper alternative if money is the issue. The camera lacks features of a true camera of course, but the pictures are excellent. I just returned from two weeks in Europe and found I used it more than my digital camera and upon downloading the pix, found they were equal in quality. If you are "into" pictures/cameras they won't measure up, for for everyday snapshots it's way beyond what was expected. Geotagging the pictures is a very nice feature also, particularly when traveling.
Garmin is sneaky about routing. Even tho the 550t has 100k topos, and city street detail beyond what is expected, the the unit will not provide street-by-street directions. You must purchase the city micro SD for that feature. Given the cost this should have been included. It was clearly done just to make the customer buy more Garmin "stuff."
Like every other GPS unit out there using topos, the maps are copies of U.S. Forest Service topos. If you are expecting more, even using the 24K topos, well, you won't get it. FYI.
The ability to load your own maps is a clever and great feature. It's a bit time-consuming, particularly at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy. Search Youtube for GPS City clips on how to do it.
Battery life is short, but that's because of the high def screen, a worthwhile trade-off IMO.
"Cons": The lanyard hole for a wrist strap is too small. Make it bigger. The unit needs an easy and convenient mounting system for handlebars on bikes/ATVs similar to the E-Trex. Whoever thought the removable "prongs" for the battery charger was a good idea should be slapped into the middle of next week. Easy to lose when traveling. Make the prongs fold - just like every other rechargable and portable thing on the market.
Recommend? YES
93 viewers found this helpful.
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wydopnthrtl
SE Idaho
Sep 21, 2010
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GARMIN OREGON 550T - SEPT 2010
Pros: good quality of physical features
Cons: pricey & rechargable battery life could be longer
Recently got into ATV-ing in Idaho. And I'm a novice with GPS. This is my third one, the first two were a low end tom- tom, and a mid range tom-tom (for street use). For this Garmin I also purchased the US street maps, a motorcycle ram mount, the auto kit with ram mount for the windshield, and additional energizer re-chargable batteries (2300mAh).
To say the least, I've spent A LOT on this Garmin Oregon 550t. Far more than I wanted too. However I've been disappointed in the low end GPS units and wanted to have a single unit that could go on/off road. Been on two atv trails and one out of state trip so far. I'm learning and so far am pleased. Switching between functions is easy and it'll still be guiding you (and recording) even though you may have something else displayed. Gives audible tones when a turn is coming up. Still haven't figured out how to change the volume yet... Battery time: The AA's that came with it will go about 4.5hrs with display on full brightness. The AA energizer 2300mAh will go about 6.5hrs on full brightness. I've used the camera several times and it's ok for showing things like a trail head and where it's located. I very much like the physical quality of the unit. It's tough and the back with integrated mounting is tough. The ram mounts are a MUST. Very good quality! Still learning....
Recommend? YES
66 viewers found this helpful.
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marl59
Oakland, CA
Sep 14, 2010
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OREGON 550T, A GREAT UNIT
Pros: fast acquisition simple intuitive interface-stable
Cons: sight n go dumps stored waypoints
I recently switched from a Garmin Rino 120 to the Oregon 550T. I am very pleased with is unit. Acquisition was very fast and stable even in bad weather and lots if tree cover in Idaho. The features all worked very well. The topo map is a HUGE plus. It saved me more than a few times in a recent 2 week Idaho elk hunt. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone who could afford it. The only negative I would offer is that when you use the "Sight N Go" feature, it deleted all of my waypoints. Not good! I hope Garmin fixes this with an update. I was able however to restore some of the waypoints. The ones that were assigned to the photos that I took. So I avoided the Sight N Go button after that.
Recommend? YES
63 viewers found this helpful.
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wheelie jon
prince goerge
Sep 10, 2010
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EXPENSIVE POS
Pros: water proof and great batt life
Cons: poor maps and terrible instructions
1 month now ive had this gps and after my 1st day hunting i am not impressed at all..the topo map that came with the gps (separatly) did not have the logging roads!??..and when you try and figure out where you are on a real map using the details on the topo map (in the gps) it takes a minute to load,,now i realize the more detail slows it down but you need to have all the detail to figure out where you really are! BECAUSE THERS NO LOGGING ROADS ON THE POS..that and the base map for city streets is dreadfull..gps does not have my street i live on.. other city streets completly out of date..took me down a deadend..for over $600 by the time the smoke clears i have to update this for what?..another $100 im sure to get nothing i bet!
i should have just bought a cheap no frills gps to keep a track back..why i dont know cause ive never been lost the 51 years ive walked this earth...and the instructions LOL..forget them and just go to you tube for some amature videos on how to use this thing..
basecamp is sooo slow as well..be prepared to wait 2-3 minutes for the right app to work.also sometimes the road your on is shown hundreds of feet away..if your using this for quading the back roads forget it..it wont have the roads your hoping to see
Recommend? NO
65 viewers found this helpful.
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Jim
Wyoming
Aug 3, 2010
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OREGON 550T
Pros: features. touch screen. ease of use. micro sd
Cons: dull screen - try before you buy.
This is my 4th Garmin. Excellent FEATURES, but oh, the screen. I would gladly give up several hours of battery life - or reduced res - for a brighter screen. It seems Garmin is locked in to the use of AA batteries. I'm not an engineer but a 9 volt or some other battery would be better for this application just for screen brightness vs. life.
Love the touch screen. Easy to navigate the various features. Easy to customize for individual tastes. Micro SD card increases utility.
There are no negatives save for the dull screen. I tried both the 550 & 550t, thinking perhaps the 550 w/out the dark background of the topos might be easier to see...not so. Both verge on "almost impossible." In some cases the unit must be tilted in a specific angle to be seen.
Have only experimented with the camera. It's easy to use but I really have not used it enough to give it an up or down. Like the auto tagging to location. Good idea.
GPS city is a class act. Very easy to do business with and very helpful. Fast too.
Recommend? NO OPINION
66 viewers found this helpful.
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mrchanute
Kansas
Jul 13, 2010
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DOES IT'S JOB AND THEN SOME!
Pros: touch screen, camera, sensitivity
Cons: maybe a little bulky..but has nice hand feel.
I've been a Garmin user since my first GPS III+ which I purchased in 1999. The Oregon doesn't disappoint! Shortly after purchasing I took it to the Alaskan peninsula to go fishing. This GPS has great clarity, amazingly fast acquisition (even after moving great distances), and great extra features I never even knew I wanted or would use...but did. The integrated camera is an awesome addition, saving me from hauling a camera around. Furthermore, it is nearly impossible to lose a signal with the Oregon. Whether I was in a jet airplance, a float plane, or a boat, I always had a strong signal and was able to track my location. The menus are intuitive, descriptive, and easy to use. I was hesitant getting a touch screen...but my fears were unfounded as it works flawlessly. My guides all loved the unit, and were planning on getting one as soon as they could. This is a great product that lives up to the Garmin reputation.
Recommend? YES
87 viewers found this helpful.
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Get Fit Gloucester!
Gloucester MA
Jun 17, 2010
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TRAIL TRACKING
We're using this unit to track unmapped trails and fire roads. On good days we're getting 3-4 meter accuracy. Some places with heavy tree cover the accuracy is 6-9 meters..
The equipment has been easy to use.. Data has been easy to download using Minnesota DNR software.
Recommend? YES
84 viewers found this helpful.
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PugCacher Dave
Traverse City, MI
Jun 12, 2010
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BEST GPS FOR GEOCACHING
Pros: paperless geocaching and very easy to use
A well designed GPS with all the bells and whistles. This is the GPS you want if you are a geocacher. It is very easy to use and customize. Display is fine and touchscreen works great. Very quick to "lock on" and is accurate. I use the camera all the time.
Recommend? YES
91 viewers found this helpful.
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Desert Dog
Scottsdale AZ
Jun 2, 2010
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GREAT TRAIL GPS
the display screen is very bright compared to 400t. Excellent unit, the ability to photograph landmarks with gps coordinates is why i purchased the unit.
Recommend? YES
111 viewers found this helpful.
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J-Po
Hamilton, Ontario
Jun 1, 2010
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PAPERLESS FEATURE IS FANTASTIC!
Pros: paperless caching.
Cons: no lanyard included.
I love my Garmin! Very easy to navigate around the menu system, and I like that I can customize it to fit my needs. The paperless geocaching feature is amazing! No more printouts, so more eco-friendly. I have noticed, however, that the Garmin 60CSx is consistently more accurate, by several feet--this counts when you're looking for a micro cache. Maybe because of the external antenna on the CSx? Still, I wouldn't trade my GPS, just because of the paperless feature, which is priceless. It means I have to search a little more to get my cache, but I'm okay with that. This unit is a rugged little guy, too. I've knocked this thing about pretty badly, dunked it a couple of times, and it just keeps on ticking. It's been handy having the camera feature when in a pinch, but I rarely use it, as it sucks battery power like mad! So I still have to carry around my camera when I want to take more than a couple of pictures. Generally, the battery life is good when you don't use the camera, and if you set the default backscreen lighting to off, except when in use. The compass works great, but make sure you calibrate it on a table so you get better accuracy, rather than in your hands. And be sure to recalibrate every time you change the batteries. Communicating between other, similar Garmins is another nice feature. My geofriend shared some cache coordinates and info with me with a flick of her fingers. I've been using it for onroad navigating too, but the maps weren't entirely up-to-date, but still better than the maps of my Magellan car GPS. Maybe that's not Magellan's fault--I don't want to pay for an update. Another problem with the onroad mapping is that I couldn't select an alternate route--it only takes you via the shortest distance (unless I just haven't figured this out yet). This doesn't work when it takes you to a ferry crossing that's closed for the night! (which is what happened to me on Vancouver Island) Still, it's nice that with the touch of a couple of 'buttons' it changes to onroad navigation and gives me a couple of gentle audio warnings as I approach my turns. The computer interface isn't as user-friendly as I would have liked, but their help feature had me uploading maps to my unit in no time. With the topo software, this device was pretty expensive, but in my opinion is worth every penny. So much so, I bought a second one to give to my son for his birthday. As for GPScity.ca, they put my purchase in the mail the same day I ordered, both times, and I had my new gadget in 2-3 days. GPScity also had the cheapest price, aside from Ebay. No regrets here.
Recommend? YES
97 viewers found this helpful.
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Peeter
Toronto
Jan 13, 2010
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BASICALLY USELESS
Pros: nifty feature
Cons: useless without maps installed
Arrived without Canadian maps installed. If this was shipped from Canada, why only US maps installed?
Appears to be a nifty device, but without the Canadian maps this thing is a waste of time.
Recommend? NO
150 viewers found this helpful.
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Nick
United Kingdom
Sep 1, 2009
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DIGGIN' THE OREGON 550T
Pros: reliability, geo-tagged photos, durable
Cons: camera at full zoom,readability in bright sunlight
I purchased my 550t from gpscity shortly before giving it a thorough workout during a 3 week trip to the US (from the UK). It was perfect for recording my 2500 mile trip along the west coast and illustrating it with surprisingly decent photos from the integrated camera. The photos taken at full zoom were not brilliant, but acceptable nonetheless. I only lost satellite signal once, but that may have been because I was hiking the narrows in Zion National Park! Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase. I downloaded the gpx files and photos to Google maps which looked really cool too. If you're into the great outdoors and want to show off to your friends about where you've been, then the 550t is an essential piece of kit.
Recommend? YES
179 viewers found this helpful.
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George
Baltimore, MD
Aug 31, 2009
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OUTSTANDING GPS
Pros: touch screen, easy interface with pc or mac.
Cons: a bit pricey
I have tried several outdoor GPS units and this is by far the best. Easy to use, fast, accurate and the photo options make it great for swamp kayaking where there are no clear channels. rugged and a beautiful bright screen make it my favorite.
Recommend? YES
161 viewers found this helpful.
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Douglas
British Columbia
Aug 13, 2009
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GARMIN OREGON 550T
This is by far the best GPS I have ever used. Better then the 760CSX or 60CSX. Compass function is much better, back light is good but could be improved for daylight viewing. The camera geotags the photos and they can be loaded into most GIS mapping applications to show you where the photos were taken. Great for Law Enforcement. Battery life seems to be better then the 300 series...
Recommend? YES
148 viewers found this helpful.
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Chuck
Southern California
Aug 6, 2009
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GREAT FOR A NEW PRODUCT
Pros: touch screen, easy menu navigation
Cons: menu navigation needs shortcuts at times
The 550t is a great outdoor gps for hiking. I love the touch screen, although I wish there was a way to calibrate it, as it sometimes has problems with a few buttons needing a off center touch. The screen can be a bit difficult to see in some lighting conditions, but is fine if you tilt it to avoid the glare. For a new product, it had very few issues. I did run into one issue with the tracks file getting corrupted and needing to be deleted and reloaded from a computer. Garmin is looking at this. Other than the one issue with tracks, it is amazingly fault free for a brand new product.
Recommend? YES
183 viewers found this helpful.
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(4.4/5.0 based on 17 ratings)
