Adding image data to metadata

[dkCambridgeshire]

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Is there any means of manually adding image data to the metadata other than via the copyright menu? I'd like to record legacy lens type used but appears can only add same via the matrix available within the copyright menu facility.

 

dunk

[AlanJW]

I don't think this is possible in camera.  In Bridge you can change some fields in the EXIF and could add a keyword for legacy lenses, but you would have to do that manually.  I am assuming the lenses you are talking about are uncoded so not picked up by the camera automatically and not on the list of lenses to manually select either.  

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[dkCambridgeshire]

Yes … just for uncoded lenses.  I have done it 'in camera' - e.g. input 'Canon FD 85.2 L' via the SL's copyright menu facility - it's just a means of recording the legacy lens in use but not sure if other SL menu options offer a similar matrix. Would also like to input legacy lens used in my Leica T metadata but the T does not offer a copyright menu facility. 

 

dunk

[ramarren]

That's a nice hacky use of the copyright capability! Thanks. 

 

There aren't any other IPTC input options in the SL, so that's about as much as you'll be able to get. 

[CheshireCat]

This is what I use (command line):

 

exiftool -m -lenstype="APO Telyt-R 180/3.4" -FocalLength="180" *.DNG

 

That will replace the lens type and focal length for all images in the current folder. Use a filename instead of the wildcard (asterisk) to only change one image.

Edited March 28, 2016 by CheshireCat

[CheshireCat]

P.S. Remember to import the image in Lightroom after you have used exiftool. Otherwise, you need to manually tell Lightroom to reload the image metadata.

[BCMielke]

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I believe that EXIF Editor will do what you are asking.  I didn't see whether you were using a Mac or Windows.

[dkCambridgeshire]

I believe that EXIF Editor will do what you are asking.  I didn't see whether you were using a Mac or Windows.

 

 

Need to add the type of legacy lens or vintage R lens used at the time the image is taken i.e. 'in camera' - before the shutter is pressed - so Mac or Windows is irrelevant. I could be using e.g. two different Novoflex lenses e.g., 400mm T, and 600mm, plus 2x or 1.4x  R extenders … and also Leitz 350mm and 560mm R lenses … so need to 'feed in' the lens data so it's recorded somewhere in the metadata …  then each image's metadata  includes a permanent record of the actual lens used. The only way to do this is to feed in the lens data via the SL's copyright matrix. 

 

dunk

[BCMielke]

Need to add the type of legacy lens or vintage R lens used at the time the image is taken i.e. 'in camera' - before the shutter is pressed - so Mac or Windows is irrelevant. I could be using e.g. two different Novoflex lenses e.g., 400mm T, and 600mm, plus 2x or 1.4x  R extenders … and also Leitz 350mm and 560mm R lenses … so need to 'feed in' the lens data so it's recorded somewhere in the metadata …  then each image's metadata  includes a permanent record of the actual lens used. The only way to do this is to feed in the lens data via the SL's copyright matrix. 

 

dunk

 

 

Mis-read then.  My solution only works after the shutter is pushed and the images are back on the computer.

[gvaliquette]

Dunk,

 

I don't know if this would work for you, but you could use different SD cards for each lens, or use the SL's 2nd slot (I don't have an SL to test) with lens-specific SD cards, and then use 'exiftool' batch-wise as CheshireCat suggested on the SD cards.  SD cards are getting real cheap these days.

 

Guy

[dkCambridgeshire]

Thanks Guy … I've already considered using additional cards but they do not really help after images are transferred to various folders.

 

dunk

[ramarren]

I've not really had much problem with this. My strategy is simple and a natural result of my usual shooting predilections. I almost never carry more than two lenses at any one time, and the majority of my lenses are coded now, or are R lenses that I can set a lens code for.

 

I always move the files from my camera to the computer after my sessions, so if I did shoot with a lens that I don't have codes for, I can immediately separate those files and then use EXIFtool to emplace all the correct data in them. Here's my workflow:

 

• Import all into LR
• Select all the files made with the unknown lens (presuming no video files; they always have an unknown lens)
• Create a subfolder in the session's folder and tell LR to move the selected files there. 
• Save all metadata to the files (metadata and annotation added during import)
• Exit LR
• Open a Terminal window and cd to the subfolder with the unknown lens files in it
• Run EXIFtool and emplace lens name and maximum aperture into all the files
• Delete all the backup copies that EXIFtool created. 
• Reopen LR and select the subfolder 
• Read the metadata from all the files
• Select all and drag the files back into the parent folder
• Delete the subfolder from LR

 

It takes longer to write it than to do it.

[jmahto]

My workflow is as follows:

 

While shooting:

- The first shot after the lens change is to shoot the pic of old lens that just came off. It doesn't have to be in focus pic. Just a marker that prev lens is off.

 

Uploading to LR: (one time: Install LensTagger pluggin. It uses Exiftool to change metadata)

- Select all the picture with same lens.

- Add my own lens tag in the keywords (I have one keyword for each lens I use). This way I have a parallel record of lens used.

- Save Metadata to the selected files (this is LensTagger requirement)

- Run LensTagger to change Lens Metadata (and anything else). It stores the Lens info in its repository and runs Exiftool to change metadata in the files.

- Read Metadata from the selected files (this is LensTagger requirement)

Repeat for other lens

 

Caution:

All this has to be done *before* you create any virtual copies. Virtual copies duplicate the metadata from the main file in LR and will not be affected by LensTagger.

Edited March 29, 2016 by jmahto

[gvaliquette]

Thanks Guy … I've already considered using additional cards but they do not really help after images are transferred to various folders.

 

dunk

 

I know, "let bygones be bygones"!

 

... but, you could update the EXIF on the SD card itself by first plugging it into your computer, and then importing into LightRoom or whatever.

 

Guy

 

BTW, I am looking forward to getting an SL soon, and then I'll have to deal with this!

[ramarren]

I know, "let bygones be bygones"!

 

... but, you could update the EXIF on the SD card itself by first plugging it into your computer, and then importing into LightRoom or whatever.

 

Guy

 

BTW, I am looking forward to getting an SL soon, and then I'll have to deal with this!

 

 

Well, as long as you're using Leica lenses (M or R), you should be able to find a matching lens code that works and populates the EXIF for you. 

 

The way I worked it with my M9 when I had mostly Voigtländer lenses was to find the closest Leica match and set that manually. Then I could use EXIFtool to revise the lens names, etc, after the fact since I knew what lens code was mapping to what lens.

[mwizenbe]

I recently purchased a Leica SL. For some reason while using Lenstagger plugin in LR to change exif data (it uses exiftool) I manage to change the metadata in DNG files with no problem. Nevertheless, whenever I try to run it on JPG files I get error 256 - unable to run command. I never had this problem before on any LEICA. Anybody has any idea of why this may be happening on JPG's?