SL file numbering?

[erudolph]

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I'm unclear on how the file/folder number reset works.  The manual says:

 

"To reset the folder number to 100, format the memory card and reset the picture number immediately afterwards. This also resets the picture number (to 0001)."

 

Does formatting the memory card reset everything to Folder 100, File # 1000001?  Or does it leave the file number alone?

 

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[Manoleica]

Surely:- Formatting is in reference to your Media!  Reset activates the camera to reset the file # to Zero

[thighslapper]

Oh what a can of worms to open ...... the logic behind the teutonic firmware engineers is unfathomable........

 

This is what happens if you fiddle with this.......

 

The NUMBER RESET is a misnomer ..... it is basically FOLDER RESET 

 

If you say 'yes' to Reset Image Numbering it increments the FOLDER by 1 every time you do it ......... L100 XXXX to L101 XXXX ..... then L102 XXXX etc 

 

The picture number ......... the XXXX bit resets to zero as well (if I recall correctly)

 

Unfortunately the numbering doesn't go up to 9999 ........ only X999, then the folder increments by 1 and the numbering back to zero ....... ie. L100 0999 to L101 0001, not L100 1000 as any normal human would expect ....

 

Just to confuse things further, formatting the card with more than 1 card in the camera also increments the folder number by 1 ....... L100 XXXX to L101 ....... some have reported that this doesn't happen with the current firmware with only 1 card in the camera ......

 

As per the instructions you quote above  ..... if you want to set everything back to L100 0000 then use a newly formatted card with no images on it and then invoke 'Reset Image Numbering' 

 

Simple, isn't it  ........ 

 

As I have/have had multiple Leicas and try and keep numbering unique I have my folder set to L130 XXXX ....... and as I am well beyond 1000 images the stupid camera is now on L131 0XXX, so being anally retentive and tidy I batch rename these to L130 1XXX to keep them sequential. I re-format the card on my iMac to avoid further trouble. Oh for the simple days of the M when you could reset numbering to any point you wanted .......

 

What a godawful mess ....... I have emailed Leica and sent them more info at their request as they clearly don't understand what is going on either .....

[ramarren]

I just ignore the in-camera image numbering entirely. What numbers and folders the camera makes are completely irrelevant to my image management system. I treat the number in the file name as an ID code rather than as a sequence. 

 

• When I move files into LR, my standard practice is to have LR auto-rename them with file names coded YYMMDD-(fnum), that is, the year-month-day based on the file's internal EXIF data prepended to the numeric portion of whatever number the camera assigned. 
• Sometimes, I want to specifically tag a set of files on import that came from a particular shooting session. In that case, I use YYMMDD-(tag)-(fnum) where tag is a custom string I set at the time of import. 
• Sometimes, after the files are imported, I want to set their names in a particular sequence. I use Lightroom to move them around in a folder or collection view until they're in the correct sequence, select all, then use the Library > Rename Photo function to rename them using YYMMDD-(seq03) or YYMMDD-(tag)-(seq03) patterns. 

I organize files in the file system by storing them into a date oriented directory tree:

 

...

2015/150101

2015/150102

...

2015/151231

2016/160101

2016/160102

...

 

Each subdirectory contains all image files imported on that date. 

 

What camera and lens was used for each photo is already stored in the EXIF data so IMO there's no need for me to make file names reflect which camera or lens was used. LR makes sure that file name collisions don't happen when importing. I also apply generalized keywords for each import so that every image in my LR library has at least some keyword search capability right off the bat. 

 

It's probably not a solution for everyone, but this file name and directory organization and workflow methodology has worked well for me since before LR was even available (in my 'Photoshop years' ...). I was pleased that LR automated some bits of it without the need to use Bridge or other utility apps to automate the file naming. 

[erudolph]

I like to have some signifier in the file name that shows me the camera used.   So, for this camera, I set up a LR renaming preset that looks like this:  YYYYMMDD-SFilename.  Thus, the first image file was imported as 20160116-SL1000001.

[David Dennis]

Oh what a can of worms to open ...... the logic behind the teutonic firmware engineers is unfathomable........

 

This is what happens if you fiddle with this.......

 

The NUMBER RESET is a misnomer ..... it is basically FOLDER RESET 

 

If you say 'yes' to Reset Image Numbering it increments the FOLDER by 1 every time you do it ......... L100 XXXX to L101 XXXX ..... then L102 XXXX etc 

 

The picture number ......... the XXXX bit resets to zero as well (if I recall correctly)

 

Unfortunately the numbering doesn't go up to 9999 ........ only X999, then the folder increments by 1 and the numbering back to zero ....... ie. L100 0999 to L101 0001, not L100 1000 as any normal human would expect ....

 

Just to confuse things further, formatting the card with more than 1 card in the camera also increments the folder number by 1 ....... L100 XXXX to L101 ....... some have reported that this doesn't happen with the current firmware with only 1 card in the camera ......

 

As per the instructions you quote above  ..... if you want to set everything back to L100 0000 then use a newly formatted card with no images on it and then invoke 'Reset Image Numbering' 

 

Simple, isn't it  ........ 

 

As I have/have had multiple Leicas and try and keep numbering unique I have my folder set to L130 XXXX ....... and as I am well beyond 1000 images the stupid camera is now on L131 0XXX, so being anally retentive and tidy I batch rename these to L130 1XXX to keep them sequential. I re-format the card on my iMac to avoid further trouble. Oh for the simple days of the M when you could reset numbering to any point you wanted .......

 

What a godawful mess ....... I have emailed Leica and sent them more info at their request as they clearly don't understand what is going on either .....

 

 

I am running into the same issue as this on my brand new Q.  I always like to know how many pictures I have taken, so I was assuming it would just go from 0998, 0998, 1000, etc but as you know behavior is exactly as you describe in your message.

 

Did Leica ever write back to you and explain why it works that way?  It seems very counterintuitive and strange to someone like me, who can take more than 1,000 pictures in a day.

 

I solve the problem by using Capture One to organize my pictures, and so I don't care about the file name except for a nice "at a glance" display of the number of shots taken by the camera.  Especially since the Leica way to disclose the actual number is apparently some kind of oddball hex scheme that you have to translate to decimal!

[thighslapper]

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I emailed Leica last week after it was obvious both Q and SL firmware updates failed to correct this. 

 

No reply yet. 

[ramarren]

I like to have some signifier in the file name that shows me the camera used.   So, for this camera, I set up a LR renaming preset that looks like this:  YYYYMMDD-SFilename.  Thus, the first image file was imported as 20160116-SL1000001.

 

 

Sure, that's good, but I'm not sure why it's necessary if you're using Lightroom. You can just open the Metadata filter panel and find exactly what camera made what exposures at any time. 

[Bobitybob]

Sure, that's good, but I'm not sure why it's necessary if you're using Lightroom. You can just open the Metadata filter panel and find exactly what camera made what exposures at any time. 

 

 

That's ok if you use a digital camera, it doesn't work for scanned files unless you want to see which scanner you used.  I add this via editing of the scanned files EXIF using Exif Editor along with lenses, film type etc.

 

FWIW, I use a renaming system that replaces the L or whatever in the file number with the name of the camera and then add via Lightroom's sequential numbering workflow a unique number.  This allows me to add the camera name and a sequential number to all images added, eg.  LEICA SL-1000,889 or Canon EOS 5-1000,099 etc.

 

It was easier when the camera didn't reset the number to zero, and I could just add the camera name, but as I was using this system for scanned film files anyway I gave up on Leica sorting out this and just moved it to my digital Leica cameras as well.  

 

This workflow allows me to search via metadata for any camera whether Leica, digital or not.  I also have smart collections for camera, lenses, film etc, thus avoiding the need to set a new metadata search for frequently used items.  

[ramarren]

 

 

... That's ok if you use a digital camera, it doesn't work for scanned files unless you want to see which scanner you used.  I add this via editing of the scanned files EXIF using Exif Editor along with lenses, film type etc. ... 

 

I use EXIFtool to insert camera brand and model, lens model, focal length, and maximum aperture after scanning. I don't see that it's a problem to add markers in the file names, it just isn't really necessary. :-)

[trond]

Oh what a can of worms to open ...... the logic behind the teutonic firmware engineers is unfathomable........

 

This is what happens if you fiddle with this.......

 

The NUMBER RESET is a misnomer ..... it is basically FOLDER RESET 

 

If you say 'yes' to Reset Image Numbering it increments the FOLDER by 1 every time you do it ......... L100 XXXX to L101 XXXX ..... then L102 XXXX etc 

 

The picture number ......... the XXXX bit resets to zero as well (if I recall correctly)

 

Unfortunately the numbering doesn't go up to 9999 ........ only X999, then the folder increments by 1 and the numbering back to zero ....... ie. L100 0999 to L101 0001, not L100 1000 as any normal human would expect ....

 

Just to confuse things further, formatting the card with more than 1 card in the camera also increments the folder number by 1 ....... L100 XXXX to L101 ....... some have reported that this doesn't happen with the current firmware with only 1 card in the camera ......

 

As per the instructions you quote above  ..... if you want to set everything back to L100 0000 then use a newly formatted card with no images on it and then invoke 'Reset Image Numbering' 

 

Simple, isn't it  ........ 

 

As I have/have had multiple Leicas and try and keep numbering unique I have my folder set to L130 XXXX ....... and as I am well beyond 1000 images the stupid camera is now on L131 0XXX, so being anally retentive and tidy I batch rename these to L130 1XXX to keep them sequential. I re-format the card on my iMac to avoid further trouble. Oh for the simple days of the M when you could reset numbering to any point you wanted .......

 

What a godawful mess ....... I have emailed Leica and sent them more info at their request as they clearly don't understand what is going on either .....

 

Dear Thighslapper,

 

With FW2.2 this has gotten from bad to worse.

 

When I format the SD card in camera the image "number" is kept, but the folder number is incremented as before.

 

The result is now that if the last image is L1050714, after format the next image will be L1060715.

 

If Leica insists on incrementing the folder number on each format of the SD card, I think I would prefer the image number in the new folder to start at 0001, giving then L1060001 instead of L1060715.

 

Best regards

 

 

Trond

[meerec]

This is completely insane what's going on. Has Leica engineers lost their plot?

[ramarren]

It may be a mess, but: I consider the file name assigned to the exposure to be an identifier, not a sequence number. The sequence is better determined by the capture time embedded in the EXIF data. If I need my files to be sequenced and named in a specific manner, I do that later, on my computer, where I have full control over the ordering and specifics of the file name.

 

With the tools available today (Lightroom, Bridge, tons of others) this is a ten second job.

 

I do hope Leica fixes the file numbering silliness. It's a bit strange that it's even a noticeable issue. How hard is it to just increment from L0000001 to whatever, regardless of the number of bits you've got? Anyone there ever heard of BCD? ...

[thighslapper]

This is completely insane what's going on. Has Leica engineers lost their plot?

Yes........ someone at Leica clearly doesn't appreciate that users would like a logical, reliable file numbering system, preferably with the facility to reset it to a given numbering point and a variable prefix (which at least you can do now) so they don't have to rename them every time they download from a card .....

[MT0227]

Hi Godfrey....question for you.  When I import my files to LR, I use the following extentions:  YYYY-MM-DD-Frame#_Total #Frames Imported. Example:  2016-12-20-1_100.   So this would indicate I'm looking at Frame 1 of 100 imported for a shoot done on 2016/12/21.   The issue I've just recently noticed is that the shooting sequence based on capture time in not in line with the imported numbering sequence.  In other words 2016-12-20-1_100 could be the 75th frame if ordered by the actual shooting sequence based on capture time....any thoughts?

 

It may be a mess, but: I consider the file name assigned to the exposure to be an identifier, not a sequence number. The sequence is better determined by the capture time embedded in the EXIF data. If I need my files to be sequenced and named in a specific manner, I do that later, on my computer, where I have full control over the ordering and specifics of the file name.

With the tools available today (Lightroom, Bridge, tons of others) this is a ten second job.

I do hope Leica fixes the file numbering silliness. It's a bit strange that it's even a noticeable issue. How hard is it to just increment from L0000001 to whatever, regardless of the number of bits you've got? Anyone there ever heard of BCD? ...

[MT0227]

Just curious,  for those reading this thread....other than knowing the number of actuations, what information does the raw camera file number provide and why would one use this number as opposed to something more informative which is easily created upon import using LR or other tools?

 

I can see wanting to know the number of shutter actuations for cameras with shutters and mirrors; the same way you want to know the number of hours on a motor for a boat if purchasing it used.  Not sure how this relates to mirror-less cameras.   

[ramarren]

Hi Godfrey....question for you.  When I import my files to LR, I use the following extentions:  YYYY-MM-DD-Frame#_Total #Frames Imported. Example:  2016-12-20-1_100.   So this would indicate I'm looking at Frame 1 of 100 imported for a shoot done on 2016/12/21.   The issue I've just recently noticed is that the shooting sequence based on capture time in not in line with the imported numbering sequence.  In other words 2016-12-20-1_100 could be the 75th frame if ordered by the actual shooting sequence based on capture time....any thoughts?

 

 

Are you numbering on import or after the fact once the files are imported? It is not necessarily the case that files are imported in strict capture time order and that can throw the numbering off if you're looking to the numbering for the actual sequence. 

 

I import my files usually with a rename on import to YYMMDD-{numeric portion of original file name}, because I usually don't care much about the file numbering  sequence, it's mostly just an identifier for me. If I do care about the sequence, after I have them imported I LR to order them by capture time, select all, and then rename to YYMMDD-SEQ(4 digits with leading 0, starting at 0001). This absolutely ensures frame ordered sequences are named properly in the file system. Such sequences are typically pretty specific in their use, so they live in their own folder (directory) and I don't really need the additional "x of n" information since I can figure that out almost instantly.

 

note 1: I use YYMMDD because it's kind of impossible that I might get to something in the next century in new imports ... :-)

 

note 2: Given how easy it is to reorder the display inside Lightroom for capture time or other parameters, I only rarely find it important to tweak the naming in the file system until I'm generating output products. 

[ramarren]

Just curious,  for those reading this thread....other than knowing the number of actuations, what information does the raw camera file number provide and why would one use this number as opposed to something more informative which is easily created upon import using LR or other tools?

 

I can see wanting to know the number of shutter actuations for cameras with shutters and mirrors; the same way you want to know the number of hours on a motor for a boat if purchasing it used.  Not sure how this relates to mirror-less cameras.   

 

Mirrorless cameras have shutters too, although the total number of exposures that the mechanical shutter has made can be thrown off if you use the electronic shutter that some of them allow as an option. 

 

I estimate how many shutter actuations my camera has made by looking in my archive of raw files from a given camera and seeing how many raw files I have. The frame number is irrelevant. :-)

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[MT0227]

Godfrey,

 

I've been using a very similar approach for years:

 

My catalog starts with (1) Year; next subdir will be (2) Camera Used; then (3) Shoot Name or General Type (Street, Sports, City/Landscape); next subdir will be (4) Date of Shoot. Within each Date of Shoot the files are listed as YYYY-DD-MM_Frame#_Total #Frames Imported.  

 

I also shoot film which I digitally scan; my negative sheets are labeled and ordered the same as they appear in LR.

 

Everyone has their own approach I guess. I've never had any problems locating my files with this method. Nice to see and understand how others manage their work.  Thanks.

 

 

I just ignore the in-camera image numbering entirely. What numbers and folders the camera makes are completely irrelevant to my image management system. I treat the number in the file name as an ID code rather than as a sequence. 

 

• When I move files into LR, my standard practice is to have LR auto-rename them with file names coded YYMMDD-(fnum), that is, the year-month-day based on the file's internal EXIF data prepended to the numeric portion of whatever number the camera assigned. 
• Sometimes, I want to specifically tag a set of files on import that came from a particular shooting session. In that case, I use YYMMDD-(tag)-(fnum) where tag is a custom string I set at the time of import. 
• Sometimes, after the files are imported, I want to set their names in a particular sequence. I use Lightroom to move them around in a folder or collection view until they're in the correct sequence, select all, then use the Library > Rename Photo function to rename them using YYMMDD-(seq03) or YYMMDD-(tag)-(seq03) patterns. 

I organize files in the file system by storing them into a date oriented directory tree:

 

...

2015/150101

2015/150102

...

2015/151231

2016/160101

2016/160102

...

 

Each subdirectory contains all image files imported on that date. 

 

What camera and lens was used for each photo is already stored in the EXIF data so IMO there's no need for me to make file names reflect which camera or lens was used. LR makes sure that file name collisions don't happen when importing. I also apply generalized keywords for each import so that every image in my LR library has at least some keyword search capability right off the bat. 

 

It's probably not a solution for everyone, but this file name and directory organization and workflow methodology has worked well for me since before LR was even available (in my 'Photoshop years' ...). I was pleased that LR automated some bits of it without the need to use Bridge or other utility apps to automate the file naming. 

[MT0227]

I'm numbering on import and tend to always view in LR based on capture sequence.  I agree that the file name is just a label, but the OCD in me would like them to be aligned.  I take a look at the renaming in LR, never had gone in that direction.  Thanks.

 

 

Are you numbering on import or after the fact once the files are imported? It is not necessarily the case that files are imported in strict capture time order and that can throw the numbering off if you're looking to the numbering for the actual sequence. 

 

I import my files usually with a rename on import to YYMMDD-{numeric portion of original file name}, because I usually don't care much about the file numbering  sequence, it's mostly just an identifier for me. If I do care about the sequence, after I have them imported I LR to order them by capture time, select all, and then rename to YYMMDD-SEQ(4 digits with leading 0, starting at 0001). This absolutely ensures frame ordered sequences are named properly in the file system. Such sequences are typically pretty specific in their use, so they live in their own folder (directory) and I don't really need the additional "x of n" information since I can figure that out almost instantly.

 

note 1: I use YYMMDD because it's kind of impossible that I might get to something in the next century in new imports ... :-)

 

note 2: Given how easy it is to reorder the display inside Lightroom for capture time or other parameters, I only rarely find it important to tweak the naming in the file system until I'm generating output products.