For everyone that asks about the camera settings used for an image - Good Info!

[llebcire]

It seems like people are always asking about the camera settings used for a particular image both in this forum and elsewhere on this site. If the picture is stunning, then I'd like to know as well!

I recently purchased a Powershot 620 and have been combing these forums looking for the same information when I recently made a very obvious discovery: the EXIF data holds all of the information that you need!

For us newbies, "EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format, and is a standard for storing interchange information in image files, especially those using JPEG compression. Most digital cameras now use the EXIF format. The format is part of the DCF standard created by JEITA to encourage interoperability between imaging devices. " - Quoted from http://www.exif.org/

What this means in simple terms is that the information for the image, i.e. camera model, flash mode, f-number, exposure, iso, etc. is included with the image although some editing software/websites will remove this data.

While setting your camera to the same parameters won't give you the exact same results (different camers/lighting sources/etc.), I have found it to be a great place to start as I am still learning things like aperature priority, shutter priority, f-stop, iso, etc.

As for the actual information I found that you can right click on the image (while open with Windoze Picture and Fax Viewer) Click-->Properties Click-->Advanced. This only works for an image that's already downloaded and on your hard drive. Of course editing software such as Photoshop provide this info but if you know that then you probably didn't read this far down.

I also found a free piece of software that provides all of the information from the image called Opanda IExif and available on Tucows .

Take a peek at this thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=922986

Quote:

"For example, the last pic of the hippo tang:

[Image]
Make = NIKON CORPORATION
Model = NIKON D70s
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 300
Y Resolution = 300
Resolution Unit = inch
Software = ACD Systems Digital Imaging
Date Time = 2006-09-05 22:20:55
YCbCr Positioning = centered
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 227

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/200"
F Number = F4.5
Exposure Program = Manual
Exif Version = Version 2.2
Date Time Original = 2006-09-05 04:42:12
Date Time Digitized = 2006-09-05 04:42:12
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Compressed Bits Per Pixel = 4
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.44
Metering Mode = Spot
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Off
Focal Length = 70mm
Maker Note = 23634 Byte
User Comment =
Subsec Time = 0.31"
Subsec Time Original =
Subsec Time Digitized =
Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 800
Exif Image Height = 532
Interoperability IFD Pointer = Offset: 24467
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
CFA Pattern =
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Manual exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 1x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 105mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = None
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

[Interoperability]
Interoperability Index = ExifR98
Interoperability Version = Version 1.0

[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 24555
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 11096

[Thumbnail]
Thumbnail = 160 x 106

[MakerNote (Nikon)]
Makernote Version = 0210
ISO Speed Used = 200
Quality = FINE
White Balance = AUTO
Sharpening = AUTO
Focus Mode = AF-C
Flash Setting = NORMAL
Auto Flash Mode =
White Balance Bias Value = 0
000D = 00, 01, 06, 00
Exposure Diff = EA, 01, 0C, 00
ThumbOffset = 1430
Flash Compensation = 00, 01, 06, 00
ISO Speed Requested = 200
Photo corner coordinates = 0, 0, 3008, 2000
0017 = 00, 01, 06, 00
Flash Bracket Compensation Applied = 00, 01, 06, 00
AE Bracket Compensation Applied = 0EV
Tone Compensation (Contrast) = AUTO
Lens Type = Nikon D series Lens
Lens Min/Max Focal Length, Max Aperture = 180/10, 700/10, 35/10, 45/10
Flash Used = Flash Not Used
Auto Focus Area = 02, 00, 00, 01
Bracketing & Shooting Mode = 1
008A = 0
008B = 40, 01, 0C, 00
Colour Mode = MODE1a
Lighting Type = NATURAL
Hue Adjustmen = 0
Noise Reduction = OFF
0097 = 30, 31, 30, 33, 01, 00, 01, 00, 01, 00, 01, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 02, 74, 01, 14, 01, 8D, 01, 14, 00, 00, 01, 08, 01, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 70, 00, 0C, 00, 18, 00, 03, 01, 8C, FF, 87, FF, ED, FF, E3, 01, 73, FF, AA, FF, FF, FF, C9, 01, 38, FF, FF, FF, FF, FF, FF, 80, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 0A, 00, 00, 00, 02, 80, 00, 00, 03, 00, 00, 00, 02, 80, 00, 00, 00, 00, 10, 10, 00, FF, 00, FF, 00, 4D, 00, 96, 00, 1D, FF, C6, FF, C2, 00, 78, 00, 99, FF, 7D, FF, EA, 00, 00, 01, 00, 00, 0C, 33, CC, 33, CC, 01, 3E, 01, 5C, 2F, 1F, 00, 1A
0098 = 30, 31, 30, 31, 17, 35, 0E, 00, 11, 46, 5C, 7F, 40, 2D, 5C, 2C, 34, 84, 34, 17, 65, 20, 63, 06, 00, 00, 15, 05, 00, 01, 06
009A = 78/10, 78/10
00A0 = NO= 30041594
00A2 = 2207667
00A3 = 0
Total Number of Shutter Releases for Camera = 12253
00A8 = 30, 31, 30, 30, 00, 4E, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00
Image optimisation = NORMAL
Saturation = NORMAL
Digital Vari-Program =" End Quote

I appreciate steve68 listing this information! :thumbsup:

This should give everyone looking for image information/camera settings a great place to start!!

~Eric

 

[astrogazer]

Exif data is invaluable, but you can't count on it always being there to view. When an image is re-saved in PS say as save as for web , the exif data is stripped out ...

for example ...

 

[Ebn]

Correct. The "Save for Web" option strips a picture of all its metadata.

 

[Blazer88]

I don't generally use the save for web so my exif is always there. And it's nice to see that someone was paying attention when I recommended to view the exif data to look at the settings

 

[llebcire]

<bump>

 

["Umm fish?"]

By the way, on a Mac you can find the most important bits of this info by importing the file into iPhoto. Go to Photos->Get Info and click on Exposure.

 

[kryppy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8320054#post8320054 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Blazer88
I don't generally use the save for web so my exif is always there. And it's nice to see that someone was paying attention when I recommended to view the exif data to look at the settings

I was paying attention and maybe never thanked you.
I really need to move away from Paint Shop Pro because it always strips it out, at least my old version does.

With CS2, can you add or edit fields of the data?

 

[astrogazer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8623531#post8623531 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kryppy

With CS2, can you add or edit fields of the data?

yes there are many fields that you can edit and add data