How to re-set image file numbers?

[mannys]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Is it possible to re-set the image file number to a specific number? I shot a few hundred images on an M8 body I had to return for defects. I got a replacement M8, but want to have the file numbers on this new body pick up from where I left off with the previous body. The manual is not clear on this. Thanks for your help!

[wparsonsgisnet]

Manny,

 

Take a picture with the new camera. This process is fastest with only one image on the SD card. Before turning off the camera set it to continuous numbering in the menu.

 

Take the SD card out and mount it to your PC using a card reader.

 

If you plan to keep the directory at L100, leave that name alone. Otherwise rename the directory to L101 or ....

 

In the directory, change the name of the image to the one you want to start after.

 

Put the card back in the camera, turn on, and take a picture.

 

Put the card back in the pc and verify that it created an image with the next number in the sequence.

 

Remember that if you have other cards with old number sequences on them, they will have to be reformated in order not to mess up the numbering.

 

If at first you don't succeed,......

 

How glad we all are that our cameras are computers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mannys]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the directions onre-setting the file numbers. I was able to change the first image's folder and image number. But when I shot the second image, the M8 still picked up from the old number sequence. Did I miss something?

Best,

Manny

[wparsonsgisnet]

I guess you need to go thru the reset option in the menu and then set to continuous and put the sd card in after that.

 

Let me play today and get back with the exact steps.

[neelin]

I guess you need to go thru the reset option in the menu and then set to continuous and put the sd card in after that.

 

Let me play today and get back with the exact steps.

 

I think you have to set the menu to "Standard" not continuous for it to pick up the 1st new shot properly. After you've done the first new shot and find it's picking up the naming properly, change it to "continuous".

 

Robert

[Shootist]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the directions onre-setting the file numbers. I was able to change the first image's folder and image number. But when I shot the second image, the M8 still picked up from the old number sequence. Did I miss something?

Best,

Manny

Here is a procedure that will allow you change to anything you want:

 

1. Set the Picture Number in the menu to "Standard".

2. Format the SD card in camera.

3. Reset the File Number in the menu. It actually says “Reset fold. No”, that is the one you want.

4. Set Picture Number back to "Continuous"

5. Take one image

6. Shut off camera, remove SD card and place in card reader attached to a computer.

7. Access the image in your Finder or Explorer (Mac or PC); rename the image number to whatever file number/image number you want. I would suggest Lyyyxxxx, with "y" being your preferred folder number (See Note Below) and "x" being the frame number you want to start with. (You are making these changes to the file name on the card in the card reader.)

 

NOTE

 

If you want to change the first or second digit of the L100 (Lyyy above) in the file name, like to L200 or 120 or 220, then you have to change the folder name also.

The directory/folder structure on the card when in a card reader is [Drive Letter]:\DCIM\100LEICA\. You need to change the 100LEICA to whatever you want the file number to start with. Like if you want it to be L200xxxx then you need to rename that folder to 200LEICA. If you want L120 then you need to change that folder name to 120LEICA. It would look like this [Drive Letter]:\DCIM\120 or 200LEICA.

 

8. Properly remove card from card reader and return to camera.

9. Turn the camera on and press "Play". The file will now display with newly renamed folder and file number. (Use "Info" to see this data.)

10. Expose another image to confirm and check file numbers.

11. Format SD card, and you are good to go from that point on.

[egibaud]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi,

 

My question after reading this last post is.

 

If you have 2 bodies, one with picture numbering as L1YYXXXX

and the other one as L2YYXXXX. I imagine you cannot swap sd cards between cameras, can you? otherwise they will jump back and forth between L1 and L2.

 

I am very curious about this point because when changing card, the XXXX part of the number does jump back and forth as the card I insert is not necesseraly the last one I used.

 

If after changing the numbering I do not reset the camera, will my folder starting number will stay the right one in each camera?

 

Thank you for the answer,

 

Eric

[Shootist]

As long as you FORMAT the card in the camera BEFORE you take a picture you can use any card in any camera.

BUT if you have images on the card and you put L1xx in to camera L2xx and take a picture then the camera will switch over to writing L1xx and you'll have to go through the steps again to straighten it out.

 

I don't find it a big problem as I have 2 card for each camera, and they are labeled as such, but if I needed to use a B (L2xx) card in the C (L1xx) camera I would format it FIRST.

I have only once filled a whole card in any one shooting session and that time I just put the correct card in that camera.