EOS EXIF Distance Information

Anyone know which EOS bodies in connection with which EOS lenses and

which EXIF reading software will record and display focus distance

information from image data?

 

It's obviously there in the cameras with many lenses since E-TTL II

uses it, but most EXIF display programs (stand alone or in image

editors) don't seem to display it, at least for the EOS 20D.

 

Is it in there, but encoded in some non-standard format? There's a

lot of extra stuff in the EXIF data, but nothing seems to be in the

place (and/or format) where the EXIF standard says that focus

distance information should be.

Partial answer. According to http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00EgRo&tag= this thread only older DLSRs (e.g., D60) report distance in EXIF data.

I'm prety sure that I saw some distance info reported under some circumstances with my old 10D, though since I no longer have it I can't check on that. I might have been thinking of an even earlier D30 though!

 

I've never really worried about it before, though I've always known it wasn't obviously there. However I do have an application that could use it, so I wondered if anyone had figured out whether it was there in some sort of non-standard format (like the frame count on the EOS 1D models).

 

There is a lot of stuff in the Makernotes section of the EXIF data that's not identified.

 

Distance data certainly isn't where it should be (in tag 0x9206).

I've noticed the same thing. DxO Optics Pro could use the info, for lens distortion correction. I took a bunch of shots with a 17-85 on a 20D body of some wall murals for later stitching, not realizing that the distance information would not be findable by the DxO program. I ended up guessing the distance, plus or minus a bit, and it turned out OK, but it's pretty aggravating to have Canon claim that that lens/body combination works with their ETL II system, but find that the distance info is nowhere to be seen by mortal men (or programs).

You might look here (search for distance):

 

http://www.gvsoft.homedns.org/exif/makernote-canon.html

 

Not quite the answer you wanted, but then not all lenses support giving distance information to the body so they may have decided to have a consistent interface and hide it. Nonetheless, you may be able to extract it.

 

enjoy,

 

Sean

A D30 provides the info, at least according to this EXIF:

 

http://www.pbase.com/image/834585

 

It is hidden in the makernote, so you need an appropriate (?early version) Zoombrowser to view it. IIRC, the 1D and 1Ds also provided the info - not sure about the 10D though.

Well, from that image it doesn't look too accurate, but at least it must be there!

 

There are fields in the makernotes that seem to change when you have different focus distances, but they don't seem to change in any really consistant way.

 

Given all the other stuff that crammed into the EXIF info, it seems odd that Canon decide to leave out something standard like focus distance that even simple digicams include.

IMatch shows in EXIF field 'can Subject Distance' some information

for my 10D, but it seems that information is not correct. But at least some data are there and it seems they are changed with changed distance.

But I did not explore it deeply.

Some EOS camera's show distance in the Makernote 0x0004: FocusDistanceUpper and FocusDistanceLower. The 20D for some reason always seems to show 0 for both. Also 300D, 350D, 5D, Digital Rebel XT, 1D, 1Ds showing always zero.

Oh well, looks like it isn't there.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Maybe the new EOS 30D will have it :-(

Hmm...I'm not too familiar with the EXIF data, but I do know that my Rebel XT writes the info

on all my shots. Not sure if this is EXIF data, but I get the exposure info on my shots in

iPhoto (Show Info-->Exposure) or Photoslop (FIle-->File Info-->Camera Data 1), it's there

with the 17-40 and 70-200 f/4 lenses.

 

Cheers

Keith

Bob,

I had the same question, and I posted it to the CANON support line. Basically the 30D does NOT support EXIF distance info, and there is no info from CANON as to if/when/how this feature will be implemented.

Meanwhile I purchased a 30D and can confirm that in this aspect it behaves just like the RebelXT, and the 20D.

Here is CANONs' response:

 

From: Canon Support [mailto:CareCenter@cits.canon.com]

Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 16:33

To: Prince, Fredrik

Subject: RE: Response from Canon - Technical Support

 

Dear Fredrick Prince:

 

Thank you for contacting Canon {snip}

 

Regrettably, Canon has not released any information at this time. Your comments are noted and will be passed along to the appropriate party.

 

Thank you for taking the time to write.

 

We hope this information is helpful to you. Please feel free to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns.

 

Thank you for choosing Canon.

 

Sincerely,

 

XXXX

Technical Support Representative