What you need from EXIF

[nooutlet]

I'm beginning work on the EXIF interpretation and have found that images have a ton of EXIF data. Some sample images I tested had over 200 things output. Now, a lot of that was repeated info with different names and I'll have to figure out what things are always the same, but I want to know from you, the professional digital photographers what you want to see in the EXIF data. Because I don't really know everything that's important. Is the data that we already try to print out enough or would you like more detail?

Here're the things I got from one image(keep in mind, I might get more things with different images):

CMMFlags
Shadows
XResolution (4)
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit (1)
SaturationAdjustmentOrange
WhiteBalance (1)
SplitToningShadowHue
AlreadyApplied
GlobalAngle
ParametricHighlights
LensInfo
PhotoshopThumbnail
FNumber (1)
LuminanceAdjustmentMagenta
GreenSaturation
BitsPerSample
MaxApertureValue (1)
MIMEType
FileType
ConnectionSpaceIlluminant
Version
ImageHeight
ProfileCMMType
DateTimeOriginal
ColorNoiseReduction
ISO (1)
LuminanceSmoothing
ProfileDescription
ParametricLights
ToneCurveName
ScaleFactor35efl
ProfileID
ConvertToGrayscale
Brightness
DeviceModel
XResolution (3)
ICCProfileName
GreenMatrixColumn
ResolutionUnit (3)
APP14Flags0
Saturation
PhotoshopQuality
WhiteBalance (2)
DisplayedUnitsX
ModifyDate
FillLight
FocalLength
DateTimeDigitized
LuminanceAdjustmentAqua
HueAdjustmentGreen
MeteringMode (1)
SidecarForExtension
WhiteBalance
SaturationAdjustmentMagenta
ChromaticAberrationR
VignetteAmount
SaturationAdjustmentYellow
Lens
BlueTRC
HueAdjustmentRed
ExposureProgram (1)
XResolution (1)
RedTRC
ExposureTime
HyperfocalDistance
HueAdjustmentAqua
CircleOfConfusion
ExposureTime (1)
ExifImageLength (1)
Compression
ThumbnailLength
FocalPlaneYResolution (1)
CameraProfileDigest
ColorTransform
SaturationAdjustmentBlue
ColorSpace (1)
ProfileClass
ExifImageWidth (1)
ExposureMode
XResolution
BlueMatrixColumn
SharpenRadius
RedHue
History
ExifByteOrder
YResolution (4)
ColorSpace
ExposureCompensation
Clarity
EncodingProcess
SceneCaptureType (1)
Temperature
CustomRendered
Sharpness
LuminanceAdjustmentGreen
Vibrance
PrimaryPlatform
NativeDigest (1)
SplitToningBalance
FocalPlaneXResolution
ShadowTint
ParametricDarks
RedMatrixColumn
CustomRendered (1)
BlueSaturation
ExifImageLength
FlashFired
ProfileVersion
CopyrightFlag
HasCrop
GlobalAltitude
MetadataDate
ApplicationRecordVersion
ProfileCreator
RenderingIntent
ThumbnailOffset
BlueHue
Model
DocumentID
ParametricMidtoneSplit
ShutterSpeed
SaturationAdjustmentPurple
ResolutionUnit
FocalLength35efl
ResolutionUnit (2)
MeteringMode
Firmware
ColorComponents
SerialNumber
SplitToningHighlightHue
SharpenEdgeMasking
ResolutionUnit (1)
ExifToolVersion
LuminanceAdjustmentOrange
LightValue
ISO
Directory
Defringe
ProfileFileSignature
Make
PhotoshopFormat
ApertureValue
FlashFunction
YCbCrSubSampling
ExposureCompensation (1)
ExifVersion (1)
ExifImageWidth
ExposureProgram
FlashCompensation
SaturationAdjustmentAqua
MediaBlackPoint
HueAdjustmentOrange
HueAdjustmentPurple
DeviceManufacturer
HueAdjustmentYellow
LuminanceAdjustmentBlue
DisplayedUnitsY
SaturationAdjustmentGreen
DerivedFromDocumentID
Exposure
GreenHue
Flash
ParametricShadowSplit
ShutterSpeedValue
APP14Flags1
DerivedFromInstanceID
Orientation
FocalLength (1)
CreateDate (1)
SharpenDetail
ColorMode
ExifVersion
ImageSize
YResolution (3)
LuminanceAdjustmentRed
DCTEncodeVersion
ThumbnailImage
Contrast
HasSettings
ImageWidth
Make (1)
ParametricShadows
Format
ProfileCopyright
ToneCurve
SaturationAdjustmentRed
CameraProfile
Model (1)
LuminanceAdjustmentPurple
Orientation (1)
XResolution (2)
ExposureMode (1)
ProfileDateTime
JFIFVersion
FlashRedEyeMode
ShutterSpeedValue (1)
HueAdjustmentMagenta
NativeDigest
FocalPlaneYResolution
FileName
GreenTRC
LuminanceAdjustmentYellow
ProgressiveScans
Tint
CreateDate
SplitToningShadowSaturation
ImageNumber
RawFileName
ApertureValue (1)
FileModifyDate
DeviceAttributes
RedSaturation
InstanceID
ColorSpaceData
ChromaticAberrationB
FocalPlaneXResolution (1)
HueAdjustmentBlue
ParametricHighlightSplit
HighlightRecovery
SplitToningHighlightSaturation
SceneCaptureType
ModifyDate (1)
FileSize
YResolution
Aperture
YResolution (2)
MediaWhitePoint
FlashReturn
YResolution (1)
Rating
MaxApertureValue
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit
DateTimeOriginal (1)
FNumber
ProfileConnectionSpace
Software
FlashMode
CreatorTool

[dang]

For me (not being a professional) really only care about the basics. I'm sure there's those who will want more (like focus distance), but the current exif is fine if you can get the flash showing again.

Thanks for the update, and trying to sort it out.

[ernst]

I am only interested to see the basic exposure settings: shutter speed, aperture (FNumber), iso, focal length, flash used, metering mode (matrix, spot, ...), white balance, exposure corrections (+/- EV) and flash exposure corrections
and it would be nice to see extras like focus distance, camera make and model, lensinfo.

Thanks for getting into this!

[nolock]

It would be brilliant to have the image geotag data (latitude/longitude/?altitude) shown, if available, at least until full support of geotagging comes on line. This image - http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/93528742 - has it in the 'original' version. And here is an entire gallery of geotagged images - http://www.pbase.com/nolock/homathko - you can see, speaking only for myself, why I'd like to see this information displayed. Note that as I have previously mentioned, it is contained only in the 'original' images.

[andrys]

Hi, NoOutlet
If you can get Flash situation accurately for the small Canon series
Powershot series cameras, like s410 and a710 cameras, that would be great.

That's working fine for Canon digital Rebels though.

Also, if you could have an option in Edit_Gallery area where we could
RE-pick up EXIF data in old photos in that gallery, that would be very nice.

Pbase missed EXIF totally for a couple of weeks so I have a couple of
galleries w/o exif data, which Slug said could be picked up at a later
date.

[jypsee]

is that the software seems biased towards Nikon. If I look at exif from a Nikon photographer I see the metering, program mode, etc., in proper Nikon nomenclature, while for my Canon cameras I often have exif information that says I used a program mode to make a manual exposure, and the exposure information is often wrong.
Basically, I want to see ISO, focal length, shutter speed, aperture, exposure bias, metering mode, flash used, time of day, and so on.

[goislands]

I'm beginning work on the EXIF interpretation and have found that images have a ton of EXIF data. Some sample images I tested had over 200 things output. Now, a lot of that was repeated info with different names and I'll have to figure out what things are always the same, but I want to know from you, the professional digital photographers what you want to see in the EXIF data. Because I don't really know everything that's important. Is the data that we already try to print out enough or would you like more detail?

Here're the things I got from one image(keep in mind, I might get more things with different images):[...]

The standard data about the exposure:

aperture
shutter
ISO rating
focal length, also with 35mm equivalent based on sensor size
time

Any additional information would be a plus:

lens type
exposure method
exposure bias +/- ev
flash fired
flash bias +/- ev
metering mode
camera type

For me important would be also that upon reload on an image, also its EXIF would be reloaded.

[nooutlet]

The standard data about the exposure:

aperture
shutter
ISO rating
focal length, also with 35mm equivalent based on sensor size
time

Any additional information would be a plus:

lens type
exposure method
exposure bias +/- ev
flash fired
flash bias +/- ev
metering mode
camera type

For me important would be also that upon reload on an image, also its EXIF would be reloaded.

Thank you. This is exactly what I'm looking for.

[imorozoff]

Yep, the items on "goislands" list would be fantastic. Thanks!

aperture
shutter
ISO rating
focal length, also with 35mm equivalent based on sensor size
time
lens type
exposure method
exposure bias +/- ev
flash fired
flash bias +/- ev
metering mode
camera type

[djwixx]

For Nikon anyway, the EXIF only shows if flash was used for onboard flashes, but the original EXIF shows that a flash was used.

Also, my post processing previously stripped the EXIF, and I have reloaded the images with the EXIF. Is there a way to regenerate the EXIF so when images are replaced, so is the EXIF?

Thanks.

P.S. Great to see all the recent feature additions and improvements.

[bobfloyd]

For me important would be also that upon reload on an image, also its EXIF would be reloaded.

This one right here is huge! I am getting pretty much everything I want in EXIF today if it would update on image reload and if it would display correctly for all camera types.

[murraybowles]

I'm not sure where you're currently getting the "flash used" from. It used to be correct on my D100/70 images but isn't on my D200/300 images (it always says "no").
The tags which Exifer calls "Flash" and "Light Source" both indicate that flash was used.

[akmc_in_au]

I've got one which is minor but annoying; I'm not sure whether other 40D owners have the same problem.

When I load a new 40D image, the camera type isn't recognised. Instead in the "Other:" box next to the camera body drop down, the name "Canon Canon EOS 40D" appears. In other words, the pBase software appears to be reading the exif data from both the Make and Model fields, and concatenating the two of them together. I then have to select the correct model from the drop down; not very arduous, but when you're doing 10 or 20 images in a session it gets a little old.

However when I upload an image from my 300D, the correct camera type is read and automatically appears in the drop down.

As a wish, it would also be nice if the lens type could be read so that it doesn't have to be manually selected. I'm not sure whether it is or not for some types, but doesn't appear to be in any of mine even though the data does appear in the Bridge.

[djwixx]

I've got one which is minor but annoying; I'm not sure whether other 40D owners have the same problem.

When I load a new 40D image, the camera type isn't recognised. Instead in the "Other:" box next to the camera body drop down, the name "Canon Canon EOS 40D" appears. In other words, the pBase software appears to be reading the exif data from both the Make and Model fields, and concatenating the two of them together. I then have to select the correct model from the drop down; not very arduous, but when you're doing 10 or 20 images in a session it gets a little old.

However when I upload an image from my 300D, the correct camera type is read and automatically appears in the drop down.

As a wish, it would also be nice if the lens type could be read so that it doesn't have to be manually selected. I'm not sure whether it is or not for some types, but doesn't appear to be in any of mine even though the data does appear in the Bridge.

Someone else reported the same issue in another forum entry, so I think it's common for the 40D.

[tim32225]

I'm so glad this is being looked into. I have a thread in here with a monthly update that is about 9 months old where I have asked that the FLASH USED status be fixed. That one used to show up on Pbase's exif, but no longer does.

Thank you for working on this. I think the basics are fine, but if you can add a few more fields that are requested, that's great too. But I would limit it to just a few more at most, or else the whole thing will become very cluttered up.

My 2-cents...

Tim