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Change Creation Dates in DNG or CR2 Raw-Files?


Concorde-SST

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Hello,

 

I did set up the wrong date in my camera (Canon 1Ds II) and in the Leica too.

Please don´t ask how that can happen :) but when you travel its really common

to get out of sync...

 

So I´m asking if its possible to change the stamped dates of the original RAW-

Files (DNG and CR2 in my case)? If so, how? Is it a plain Finder thing (I use

OS X on a Mac).

 

Thanks a lot,

 

best regards

 

Andreas.

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I don't think that this is at all straightforward I'm afraid. My web designer (when creating an upload database - long story) created a custom XMP data input panel within PS to add data. Whilst looking into this he was able to examine RAW files using text editing software which reveals all the added data - and clearly this can ALL be edited - as his online software extracts data to feed the database and thus support the images online.

 

Your problem is that the origination date is not intended to be edited and you will only be able to do so if you can find some editing software which actually gives access to editing the origination date is a straightforward way. In all honesty I'd suggest that this could be complex and long winded unless you are very fortunate and find a bit of software to allow you to batch redate/time the images. I really don't know that it's worth it. I too use OSX and I'm pretty sure that there is no work around - if someone knows different please let me know as I too have incorrectly timed files!

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Grrmmbl...:mad:

 

Thats unfortunate! Didn´t think it is that difficult...another thing is, when you send in the camera for clean up or repair work, the dates are almost always wrong. Often I forget to re-set it...(laziness, sheer oversight, age, whatever!)... I just hope there´s a solution, I´d even

do it with an text editor, but have no idea how to access the data.

 

Thanks anyway!!!

 

Andreas.

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My web designer used a text editing program running under windows. Text Edit from Apple won't handle the file sizes. I'd be wary as I gathered that the data is 'tagged' to delineate and identify it so making a mistake might result in a unreadable file.

 

I've done the same thing with times on my dSLRs and M8! Probably a common problem!

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Well, so far I tried several Hex editors (like HexFiend or FileCarver for Macs, can be found

on versiontracker).

 

Changing seems easy, you can save it as well. But no converter will recognize the

manipulated file, not PS 2, Camera Raw, Lightroom or Capture One 4. DNG converter

doesn´t helps too.

 

Seems there is a checksum thing in between where it gets corrupted...

 

any other ideas!?

 

best,

 

Andreas.

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Wow thanks, I should have looked more closely...thought of too much low-level editing!

 

I could do it with Photo Mechanic...

 

Thanks a lot!!

 

best regards,

 

Andreas.

 

Will it change the Leica DNG files as well?

 

Will Capture 1 open the DNG file once you update the time using PhotoMechanic?

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Hm, interesting results...

 

Yes, I can change the date+time in Photo Mechanic too for M8 DNG files. And

they do open up in Capture One 4. BUT the timestamp doesn´t changes in the

info section!

 

In Lightroom the correct changed capture date/time will be shown. Strange?!

 

Seems that it depends on the Converter used or Capture One has a deeper

"penetration" of the source code of those DNG files.

 

Even converting it again to DNG (Adobe DNG Converter) it doesn´t changes

in C1 4.

 

In Photoshop CS2 the changed capture time does show up.

 

My conclusion so far is, if anyone does work with capture sensitive time things

(e.g competitions, which only allow photos taken last year or so) with the M8

really should pay attention to setting up the right time before any shoot inside the

camera. It seems that this camera format bakes the time information really tight.

 

As for my Canon 1 Ds and 1 Ds II this restriction doesn´t applies.

 

Mabye others can find out more!?

 

best regards,

 

Andreas.

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One of the problems you're having is that there are multiple ways to save creation dates in a DNG; it can be encoded in the various EXIF fields or in XMP data - different raw converters will give priority to different storage locations.

 

I would try changing the data in Photo Mechanic, then running the changed file through Adobe's DNG converter; DNG converter tends to try to synchronize the various locations

 

Sandy

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One of the problems you're having is that there are multiple ways to save creation dates in a DNG; it can be encoded in the various EXIF fields or in XMP data - different raw converters will give priority to different storage locations.

 

I would try changing the data in Photo Mechanic, then running the changed file through Adobe's DNG converter; DNG converter tends to try to synchronize the various locations

 

Sandy

 

Sandy, I already tried that, if you remember my previous post. I changed the date with

PhotoMechanic, then tried to convert. Nothing.

 

best,

 

Andreas.

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Sandy, I already tried that, if you remember my previous post. I changed the date with

PhotoMechanic, then tried to convert. Nothing.

 

best,

 

Andreas.

 

I'm using ExifTool - on a Mac - to insert lens info for non-indexed lenses (i.e.Voigtlander). I'm confident enough now, having used it quite a bit, to dive in and put this straight into the DNG file. It reads in C1 v.4, no problem. I've no idea whether it can change the date, but I see no reason why not.

 

David

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Hm, interesting results...

 

Yes, I can change the date+time in Photo Mechanic too for M8 DNG files. And

they do open up in Capture One 4. BUT the timestamp doesn´t changes in the

info section!

 

 

Andreas.

 

Are you sure you are not just changing the IPTC date and time, not the actual exif date and time?

 

Robert

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Are you sure you are not just changing the IPTC date and time, not the actual exif date and time?

 

Robert

 

Yes, I´m sure. Anyway, with C1 not that much but any other program shows the changed capture dates in the original RAW files.

 

best,

 

Andreas.

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