EXIF Data - Naming Lenses

[JPSuisse]

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Hi All

 

One of the big advantages of using Lightroom is its very good and flexible interpretation of metadata. But, the usefulness of this feature could really depend on how Leica and Adobe will work together in the future. I'm writing this post mostly to inform Leica how I'm using the metadata, tell other people what possibilities currently exist and to ask Leica what future developments could happen here.

 

I'm currently using EXIFTool to tag the lenses using the lens tag. (The command at the command line is: "exiftool -lens "Summilux-M 1:1.4 50 ASPH filemname.dng" I submit the results in the attached file. The advantage of course is, you can filter by lens, etc. Now, I choose the lens name by looking at the name of the lens written on front of the lens!

 

SITUATION FILM

Basically, the metadata needs to be completely tagged and the name of the film scanner moved from the position of the camera to a special XMP namespace. No problems here.

 

SITUATION M8/M9

The M8/M9 present rather a problem. First of all, in the maker note tags, Leica has chosen to use the name "Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH.; 50/75mm frame lines engaged." However, I didn't notice this at first and for the last 2 years have tagged all my pictures like I was tagging film pictures, i.e. adding the lens name directly to the EXIF tags. This could result in sorting problems, if Lightroom at some in point time starts looking at the maker note tags. Or, it could result in a problem because the EXIF lens tag does not match the maker note tag. This could make the images not readable. Secondly, I am adding the F-number manually to the EXIF data. The M8 of course can not record the actual F-number in the EXIF data, so I suspect Lightroom will never read or compare the maker note value "approximate f-number" and the EXIF value F-number. Therefore, I doubt this will every cause a conflict.

 

So, my questions to Leica (or any other informed member on the forum) are:

 

1.) Why did Leica pick names like "Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH.; 50/75mm frame lines engaged" instead of the names found on the front of the lenses?

2.) Will Lightroom at some point in time start reading this name in the maker note tags?

 

So, in the attachment, people can see how my pictures appear in the Lightroom's library with lens name and F number recorded. The M8 pictures appear exactly the same, but I choose picked a film picture to post.

 

Kind regards, JP

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[gautier]

With Lightroom 2.6, we haven't to use an external command. The lens name is automatically decoded when the image is imported.

 

[sandymc]

1.) Why did Leica pick names like "Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH.; 50/75mm frame lines engaged" instead of the names found on the front of the lenses?

2.) Will Lightroom at some point in time start reading this name in the maker note tags?

 

1. Leica didn't pick the lens names - what's in the MakerNotes are just a code, its up to the program that reads the MakerNotes to translate the code into a human readable name. Adobe happens to have used the same lens names as CornerFix does.

 

2. Newer versions of Adobe software already already read the MakerNotes. However, if you already have something in the EXIF that is different, I'm pretty sure that what will be used will be the EXIF data.

 

Sandy

[andybarton]

With Lightroom 2.6, we haven't to use an external command. The lens name is automatically decoded when the image is imported.

 

 

Not if you are using a film camera.

 

Or if you are using uncoded lenses on an M8 or 9

[cbretteville]

With Lightroom 2.6, we haven't to use an external command. The lens name is automatically decoded when the image is imported.

 

Cool, it took the two years to get it from the decode instructions we published in 2007, but they got there in the end. Saves me from having to write a plugin to LR.

 

Carl

[JPSuisse]

Hi there,

 

I just wanted to give a feedback on this issue. I tested my M8 files that have the added EXIF data: Lens name, F-value etc.

 

1.) Conflicts

Indeed, as sandymc said, Lightroom 2.6 seems to ignore the maker notes for the lens name, F-value, etc. if my values are present in the EXIF fields.

 

2.) Naming

I am not convinced that sandymc is 100% correct. Some EXIF, makernotes, etc. are text strings. These should be decipherable by the normal humans.

 

Now the decision comes, should I just keep using my values or use the ones that Adobe is showing.... It's annoying to have all my Leica lenses say "Leica" in front of them. Takes up space in the metadata sorter. And anyway, with a name like "Summilux" what else would the lens be?!

 

Cheers to all,

 

JP

[Shootist]

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Also with the newest version of ACR, 5.6, installed Abobe Bridge CS4 sees the lens name code and reports it along with a guess at the aperture used.