EXIF data

[Muse]

Is there a freeware EXIF viewer?

I believe I was told that I could see how many shutter clicks a camera had had from the EXIF data of a picture it took. True for JPGs? What field is this and how do I see it?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I believe the way to find out shutter clicks if your camera isn't supported by one of those programs that can pull it from the camera, is to look at the file name

IMG_0525.jpg means its the 525th picture or the 10,525th

I just uploaded IMG_3405.JPG the other night. I know it resets at 9999, so this is my 13,405th shutter click on my T1i. You gotta keep track of the resets (just count them I suppose) to know which 10,000th you're at. Also, notice that if you have other files and swap cards a lot, you could have the potential to skip #s, but if you keep using the same camera for those cards, I suppose they have nowhere to go but up and there shouldn't be a skipping issue. It's only when you start swapping between cameras and filenames could overlap (although even then the chances aren't that likely)

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Is there a freeware EXIF viewer?

I believe I was told that I could see how many shutter clicks a camera had had from the EXIF data of a picture it took. True for JPGs? What field is this and how do I see it?

In general, this is not supported. It is for a few cameras, but I think it's limited to very high-end stuff like 1D's. I know my 5D and 20D don't support it, despite some online claims to the contrary.

 

[Cattykit]

You could use exif programs like opanda to check the shutter counts or specific programs made for that matter. This, however, doesn't work on Canon cameras.

 

[996GT2]

Is there a freeware EXIF viewer?

I believe I was told that I could see how many shutter clicks a camera had had from the EXIF data of a picture it took. True for JPGs? What field is this and how do I see it?

This is true for both RAW and JPEGs, but only for Nikon DSLRs. I had a D70 and a D200, and both supported this feature. The D2h and D300 that I use at the newspaper also support this. However, no Canon cameras support shutter count viewing within EXIF, and the 1D series cameras can only have the shutter count read at an authorized Canon service center. If you have a newer (Digic III or later) Canon DSLR, you can use a third party executable program to view an *approximate* shutter count.

 

[Muse]

This is true for both RAW and JPEGs, but only for Nikon DSLRs. I had a D70 and a D200, and both supported this feature. The D2h and D300 that I use at the newspaper also support this. However, no Canon cameras support shutter count viewing within EXIF, and the 1D series cameras can only have the shutter count read at an authorized Canon service center. If you have a newer (Digic III or later) Canon DSLR, you can use a third party executable program to view an *approximate* shutter count.

I received my first DSLR 6 days ago, a Pentax K-x (you were one of those who encouraged me to consider a DSLR for my upgrade from my first digicam, a 7 year old Samsung Digimax V3, 3MP... thanks!). I looked at a few of the JPGs I've taken with Opanda, didn't notice a shutter count. Of course, the first shot should have been the first click.

Now, if my K-x is like my Samsung P&S, it gives file names based on the names it sees in the folder it uses (DCIM? I think that's the folder on both cameras. What does that stand for? The Pentax creates a new folder every day, however, and names it in accordance with the date) on the SD card. Since I delete those regularly, it starts over, right? Well, I'll see...

Edit: DCIM means Digital Camera Image Management or Digital Camera Images, evidently based on a bit of googling.

 

[corkyg]

If there is EXIF data in the image, it can be viewed by Irfanview. If the image is JPG, RAW or other format where EXIF is recorded, open the image and under Image, click Information. EXIF, if available, is a button in the lower left.

I have three Canons, S3IS, SX-10 IS, and 5D. All produce EXIF data in a standard JPG image. Here is a 5D JPG example from Irfanview. Nothing about shutter clicks.

Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS 5D
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - Corel Photo Album 6
DateTime - 2010:05:16 13:55:42
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 210
ExposureTime - 1/500 seconds
FNumber - 14
ExposureProgram - Normal program
ISOSpeedRatings - 1600
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2010:05:16 10:52:25
DateTimeDigitized - 2010:05:16 10:52:25
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/512 seconds
ApertureValue - F 14.05
ExposureBiasValue - 0
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 55 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 800
ExifImageHeight - 533
InteroperabilityOffset - 4350
FocalPlaneXResolution - 3086.93
FocalPlaneYResolution - 3091.30
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit - Inch
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - Off
Quality - Fine
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - One-Shot
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Low , -32769
ISO Value - 32767
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected -
Exposure mode - Program
Focal length - 24 - 105 mm (1 mm)
Flash activity - Not fired
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - 65535
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Flash bias - 0 EV
Subject Distance - 0
Image Type - Canon EOS 5D
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.1.0
Camera Serial Number - 620303194 (24F904954)
Sharpness (0D) - 0
File number - 000 - 0002
Sharpness (A0) - 3

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 4491
JpegIFByteCount - 8500
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited

 

[Muse]

If there is EXIF data in the image, it can be viewed by Irfanview.

Thanks corkyg, I'll install Irfanview. Actually I have in the past and it may be installed on my desktop PC.

Interestingly, I shot some more today and used a fresh card, different from the one where I shot my first shots. This is a Pentax K-x, now. The first shot today was named IMGP0020.JPG, so I have to think that the camera is keeping its own shutter count! Well, 3 of the first 19 files were AVIs of 720p video, so it's really a file count, I suppose.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Thanks corkyg, I'll install Irfanview. Actually I have in the past and it may be installed on my desktop PC.

Interestingly, I shot some more today and used a fresh card, different from the one where I shot my first shots. This is a Pentax K-x, now. The first shot today was named IMGP0020.JPG, so I have to think that the camera is keeping its own shutter count! Well, 3 of the first 19 files were AVIs of 720p video, so it's really a file count, I suppose.

That is keeping count, yes. But you can reset the filename counter at any time back to 0. But since you bought the camera new, you can always know how many clicks it has as long as you don't reset it to 0, or if you do, you remember how many clicks it had when you did the reset.

 

[corkyg]

Many digicams have two settings for image counts. The best is "Continuous." That works usually up 9,999, and then it starts over.

The alternative menu setting is "Auto Reset." If that is used, the count doesn't mean much.

 

[Muse]

If there is EXIF data in the image, it can be viewed by Irfanview.

I just installed the latest version of irfanview, 4.27. When I went to display EXIF data (Image/Information/EXIF info button), it said I had to go to the website and download the EXIF plugin. I went, downloaded all the plugins in one EXE and installed. First I checked out a JPG sent me by a relative, shot with a Nikon, Maybe a D60, don't exactly recall. The result was incredibly sparce:

Filename - DSC_0038.jpg
ExifOffset - 26
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 1280
ExifImageHeight - 851


However, for one of my own JPGs shot today with my new Pentax K-x, plenty of cool details:

Filename - IMGP0073.JPG
Make - PENTAX
Model - PENTAX K-x
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - K-x Ver 1.01
DateTime - 2010:08:03 16:19:12
Artist -
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
Copyright -
ExifOffset - 694
ExposureTime - 1/320 seconds
FNumber - 10.00
ExposureProgram - Normal program
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2010:08:03 16:19:12
DateTimeDigitized - 2010:08:03 16:19:12
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 55.00 mm
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 4288
ExifImageHeight - 2848
InteroperabilityOffset - 54456
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - Other
SceneType - Other
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 82 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
Contrast - Hard
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Hard
SubjectDistanceRange - Distant view

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Mode - Auto
Quality - Best
ISO - 200
White Balance - Auto
Lens Type - smc PENTAX-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 54580
JpegIFByteCount - 7890

 

[corkyg]

If the photo your friend sent had undergone some editing and adjusting, that could have zapped the detailed EXIF data. Darn! I forgot that was a plugin. Glad you got it. It is very useful.

 

[Cattykit]

You could use exif programs like opanda to check the shutter counts or specific programs made for that matter. This, however, doesn't work on Canon cameras.

It feels weird that I'm quoiting myself. Anyway, here's the program that I kinda mentioned: http://astrojargon.net/EOSInfo.aspx

I tried it on my 5d mk2 and 40d and it does seem to generate accurate shutter counts on both cameras.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

If the photo your friend sent had undergone some editing and adjusting, that could have zapped the detailed EXIF data. Darn! I forgot that was a plugin. Glad you got it. It is very useful.

Yes, your friend's photo must have had its EXIF removed by some image-processing program. The amount of EXIF output you got from your K-x is typical of most DSLR's.

 

[Homerboy]

You know what ticks me off? I borrowed my in-laws DSLR the other day and took a butt-load of pictures of my son and his friends at their final BBall game of the summer. Get home and import only to realize all the damned pictures date/time stamps are jacked up becuase they had the time/date set wrong on their camera.

I was furious (but the pictures were great ).

 

[Muse]

You know what ticks me off? I borrowed my in-laws DSLR the other day and took a butt-load of pictures of my son and his friends at their final BBall game of the summer. Get home and import only to realize all the damned pictures date/time stamps are jacked up becuase they had the time/date set wrong on their camera.

I was furious (but the pictures were great ).

The very first thing I did with my K-x when it came a week ago was set the time/date, accurate to < 1 second!

I'm thinking that theoretically it's possible to adjust the date/time on those pictures. A utility could go in there and edit the EXIF data. I suppose it's in the header info for the files?

 

[Homerboy]

The very first thing I did with my K-x when it came a week ago was set the time/date, accurate to < 1 second!

I'm thinking that theoretically it's possible to adjust the date/time on those pictures. A utility could go in there and edit the EXIF data. I suppose it's in the header info for the files?

There is EXIF editing software out there. Just a royal pain in the butt.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

On my Mac, I use exiftool in the Unix shell. It allows me to adjust the timestamps by given offsets. After a few times doing it, though, I would much rather make sure my cameras are right before shooting!