EXIF question.

<p>When I mount my Sigma 17-70mm 2.8/4 OS on my D5300 and take a shot, the EXIF data records among the usual stuff....</p>

<p><em><strong>Subject Distance Range</strong></em>. I find this handy for subsequent analysis to see the DoF at the Aperture I used at that focused distance. Inputting accurate distance info into a DoF calculator is important to a get a reliable result.</p>

<p>However, when I mount my trusty Nikon 70-200mm VRII on the same camera with the same card etc etc... it comes up as Subject Distance Range...<em>UNKNOWN</em>. What gives?</p>

<p>Ever since lenses went past the D designation, I kinda assumed it would record it. So before I put another, different lens on the camera, is there anything I should know about lenses and EXIF?</p>

<p>I'm using Infanview 4.37 on Window 7 64 </p>

<p> </p>

<p>EXIF reports in Irfanview when following lenses fitted to a D800.<br>

14-24mm AF-S G Zoom Nikkor: SubjectDistanceRange Unknown<br>

70-200mm AF-S VRII Zoom Nikkor: SubjectDistanceRange Unknown<br>

Tamron SP 28-75mm f/2.8 - 'G' version: SubjectDistanceRange Unknown<br>

Tamron SP 70-300mm VC: SubjectDistanceRange Unknown<br>

Tamron SP 70-200mm VC: SubjectDistanceRange Unknown<br>

Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 AF macro: SubjectDistanceRange Unknown</p>

<p>Assorted other AF lenses tried from Tokina and Sigma: SubjectDistanceRange Unknown</p>

<p>In fact I don't recall <em>ever</em> seeing any distance information revealed in the EXIF data shewn by Irfanview, Mike.</p>

<p>I'm a bit curious why you want to know this after the fact anyway. Surely the time to be considering DoF is before the picture is taken? Not that depth-of-field calculations count for much on a pixel-peeping scale, because in reality there's no such thing as DoF. It's either in focus or it aint.</p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>

<p>In fact I don't recall <em>ever</em> seeing any distance information revealed in the EXIF data shewn by Irfanview, Mike.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>RJ, that's <strong><em>EXACTLY</em></strong> why I wrote this post, 'cos I've now seen it! I'll take a screen shot when I'm on my big machine next. I'm interested that it reports it with the 'new' Sigma but not the 'older' Nikon. I'll have to go and try my Sigma 35mm 1.4 A on my D5300....and my D700,</p>

<p>It's primarily for the horse action shoots I go on where I may be running from fence to fence and when in dim light I'm pushing the ISO up and the aperture down in an effort to keep the shutter speed up!</p>

<p>For critical analysis in post, it's more of a what-went-wrong tool! Imagine being at <em>about</em> 60 degrees off-axis to a 20ft wide fence, standing <em>about</em> 20 ft away and you're up to ISO 3200 and f4 to try to get 1/1000 to freeze Neddy's feet. Pic looks OK on LCD at the time but some are a hint soft....you might get the red box to show where <em>theoretically</em> it was focused, but I get a few with the box showing over a fuzzy horse!</p>

<p>Agreed, DoF is an illusion, but seeing that the camera was focused at 15ft rather than 22ft is helpful when the apparent DoF is only a couple of ft! Even on centre point AF and smooth panning, there are a lot of distracting, contrasty things that can come between me and the horse.... arty vegetational additions to jumps are a pain....old Christmas trees are a favourite.</p>

<p>No idea what that "Subject Distance Range" is, but the EXIF entry for the focus distance is labeled "Focus Distance"...</p>

<p>Andreas, what label a field is given depends on the specific EXIF reader. EXIF metadata has binary headers for its various fields - not plain English names. So how the field header appears when written out in full depends on what was programmed into the EXIF reader. For example the Aperture field label could just as easily be programmed to read: "Size of Hole in Lens Number thingy", or Shutter Speed as "Time what the picture was exposed for".</p>

<p>Besides, having a simple universal header code makes it very easy to translate EXIF metadata into languages other than English.</p>

<p>Time for a better EXIF reader Mike. I just used an online EXIF reader (against my better judgement mind you) and it revealed loads more info than the one in Irfanview. That included the approximate focused distance, depth-of-field and Hyperfocal Distance for the lens and aperture in use.</p>

<p>I also downloaded another EXIF reader that showed even less useful information than the one in Irfanview. Why this should be I don't know, although there appear to be many, many OEM fields particular to Nikon.</p>

<p>Surely somewhere out there is a free EXIF reader that accurately shows all the information? Without having to upload your image to some perhaps dodgy site.</p>

<p>Yup, just tried this..</p>

<p>http://regex.info/exif.cgi</p>

<p>..and tried a measured shot, 1.80m from my D5300 + Sigma 17-70mm to my flatbed scanner label (don't ask!) and it reported as 1.80m. Oddly it didn't like a horse shot from last weekend with my D700 + 70-200mm??</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Surely somewhere out there is a free EXIF reader that accurately shows all the information? Without having to upload your image to some perhaps dodgy site.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Maybe Nikon should make one? Only kiddin'......:-)</p>

<p>Mike. Try the free Kuso EXIF viewer. This actually displays a field it calls FocusDistance, although Focus Distance Range remains unknown. However, the distance information seems quite spurious. It seems reasonably accurate up to a couple of metres, but then reports a distance of several kilometres when beyond 10 metres or so. Guessing by looking at the picture is far more accurate IME!</p>

<p>It does recognise what lens was fitted and gives its zoom range and aperture, rather than some meaningless lens number like Irfanview does.</p>

<p>Does anyone have a link for Kuso EXIF viewer that does not load a bunch of other stuff? I can't seem to find any live link that does not attempt to instal some extra installer, file utility, or something else along with it. </p>

<p>Please ignore above. A bit of navigation through Softpedia got it cleanly in without anything else.</p>

<p>It works nicely, by the way, though I have not yet figured out how accurate its distance information really is. </p>

<p>I use Preview from OS X 10.6.8 which, for a D200 with Nikkor AF 35-70 gives:</p>

<p>Color Space: sRGB<br />Compressed Bits Per Pixel: 4<br />Contrast: Normal<br />Custom Rendered: Normal process<br />Date Time Digitized: 2013:09:22 03:21:57<br />Date Time Original: 2013:09:22 03:21:57<br />Digital Zoom Ratio: 1<br />Exif Version: 2.2.1<br />Exposure Bias Value: 0<br />Exposure Mode: Auto exposure<br />Exposure Program: Normal program<br />Exposure Time: 1 / 20<br />Flash: Flash did not fire<br />FlashPix Version: 1.0<br />FNumber: 4.5<br />Focal Length: 70<br />Focal Length In 35mm Film: 105<br />Gain Control: High gain up<br />ISO Speed Ratings: 3200<br />Light Source: unknown<br />Max Aperture Value: 4.3<br />Metering Mode: Spot<br />Pixel X Dimension: 3872<br />Pixel Y Dimension: 2592<br />Saturation: Normal<br />Scene Capture Type: Standard<br />Sensing Method: One-chip color area sensor<br />Sharpness: Normal<br />Subject Distance Range: unknown<br />Sub-second Time: 08<br />Sub-second Time Digitized: 08<br />Sub-second Time Original: 08<br />User Comment: <br />White Balance: Auto white balance<br />AFInfo: 0.4691358, 0.4653846, 0.0617284, 0.06923077, F, 0.4717078, 0.6923077, 0.05658436, 0.04615385, n, 0.4717078, 0.2615385, 0.05658436, 0.04615385, n, 0.3106996, 0.4576923, 0.0308642, 0.08461539, n, 0.6584362, 0.4576923, 0.0308642, 0.08461539, n, 0.3106996, 0.5807692, 0.0308642, 0.08461539, n, 0.6584362, 0.5807692, 0.0308642, 0.08461539, n, 0.3106996, 0.3346154, 0.0308642, 0.08461539, n, 0.6584362, 0.3346154, 0.0308642, 0.08461539, n, 0.191358, 0.4576923, 0.0308642, 0.08461539, n, 0.7777778, 0.4576923, 0.0308642, 0.08461539, n<br />Flash Compensation: 0<br />Focus Distance: 0.01496236<br />Focus Mode: 1<br />Image Number: 18528<br />Lens ID: 2108322738198548992<br />Lens Info: 35, 70, 3.3, 4.5<br />Lens Model: AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 N</p>

<p>Kuso's distance information does not appear to be very accurate, with a test of a couple of G zooms at min and max focal length from a set distance of a little over 3 meters at a flat space yielding four different measurements from a bit long to nearly a meter short, but at least in the little test I did it was in the ballpark. A second test came out closer, and three shots taken with all settings the same, with the camera moved between shots, all agreed, so it does not seem to be completely guessing. </p>

<p>Except for the distance info, Irfanview seems pretty complete, but Kuso is pretty convenient. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>Thanks for all the replies!</p>

<p>I'm curious about the 'wrongness' of the data displayed?</p>

<p>If that info is being generated from, or used by, the focus mechanism, it kinda implies it's not in focus...doesn't it?</p>

<p>Rotary or linear encoders are usually a lot more precise than this would seem to show.</p>

<p>If I'm feeling really keen, I might do a couple of LV AF v VF AF comparisons to see if this makes any difference to the recorded data....afterall we all 'know' LV AF is more accurate.</p>

<p>Time for a better Exif tool was the exact right answer. Nikon modifies their Exif format (the Manufacturers data part, where the good stuff is), and most of the existing Exif tools are years too old.</p>

<p>The best (and frequently updated one) is Exiftool. I see mine (a few months old) is five versions out of date now. :) </p>

<p>http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/</p>

<p>This is a command line tool. However, towards that page bottom, section Related Utilities, is ExifToolGUI</p>

<p>http://u88.n24.queensu.ca/~bogdan/</p>

<p>Put it in the same folder, start it, and it becomes wonderful in Windows.</p>

<p>It shows this for a D800 (almost more than is imaginable)</p>

<p>Including subject distance, however Nikon zoom lens subject distance is frequently wrong, causing D-lens errors for TTL BL direct flash ( http://www.scantips.com/lights/ttlbl-d.html ) We need a menu to turn that stuff off. :)</p>

<p>---- ExifTool ----<br />ExifTool Version Number : 9.69<br />---- File ----<br />File Name : DSF_4611.JPG<br />Directory : .<br />File Size : 2.8 MB<br />File Modification Date/Time : 2014:10:19 15:29:44-05:00<br />File Access Date/Time : 2014:10:19 16:26:44-05:00<br />File Creation Date/Time : 2014:10:19 16:26:44-05:00<br />File Permissions : rw-rw-rw-<br />File Type : JPEG<br />MIME Type : image/jpeg<br />Exif Byte Order : Big-endian (Motorola, MM)<br />Image Width : 4288<br />Image Height : 2848<br />Encoding Process : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding<br />Bits Per Sample : 8<br />Color Components : 3<br />Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling : YCbCr4:2:2 (2 1)<br />---- EXIF ----<br />Make : NIKON CORPORATION<br />Camera Model Name : NIKON D300<br />Orientation : Horizontal (normal)<br />X Resolution : 300<br />Y Resolution : 300<br />Resolution Unit : inches<br />Software : Ver.1.10<br />Modify Date : 2014:10:19 15:29:43<br />Artist : WAYNE FULTON<br />Y Cb Cr Positioning : Co-sited<br />Copyright : 2014<br />Exposure Time : 0.6<br />F Number : 4.8<br />Exposure Program : Aperture-priority AE<br />ISO : 200<br />Exif Version : 0221<br />Date/Time Original : 2014:10:19 15:29:43<br />Create Date : 2014:10:19 15:29:43<br />Components Configuration : Y, Cb, Cr, -<br />Compressed Bits Per Pixel : 4<br />Exposure Compensation : 0<br />Max Aperture Value : 4.8<br />Metering Mode : Center-weighted average<br />Light Source : Unknown<br />Flash : No Flash<br />Focal Length : 42.0 mm<br />User Comment : C2012 WAYNE FULTON 1-972-517-9558<br />Sub Sec Time : 60<br />Sub Sec Time Original : 60<br />Sub Sec Time Digitized : 60<br />Flashpix Version : 0100<br />Color Space : sRGB<br />Exif Image Width : 4288<br />Exif Image Height : 2848<br />Interoperability Index : R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)<br />Interoperability Version : 0100<br />Sensing Method : One-chip color area<br />File Source : Digital Camera<br />Scene Type : Directly photographed<br />CFA Pattern : [Red,Green][Green,Blue]<br />Custom Rendered : Normal<br />Exposure Mode : Auto<br />White Balance : Auto<br />Digital Zoom Ratio : 1<br />Focal Length In 35mm Format : 63 mm<br />Scene Capture Type : Standard<br />Gain Control : None<br />Contrast : Normal<br />Saturation : Normal<br />Sharpness : Normal<br />Subject Distance Range : Unknown<br />GPS Version ID : 2.2.0.0<br />Compression : JPEG (old-style)<br />X Resolution : 300<br />Y Resolution : 300<br />Resolution Unit : inches<br />Thumbnail Offset : 36540<br />Thumbnail Length : 11417<br />Y Cb Cr Positioning : Co-sited<br />---- MakerNotes ----<br />Maker Note Version : 2.10<br />ISO : 200<br />Quality : Fine<br />White Balance : Auto<br />Focus Mode : AF-C<br />Flash Setting : Normal<br />Flash Type : <br />White Balance Fine Tune : -6 0<br />WB RB Levels : 1.82421875 1.23046875 1 1<br />Program Shift : 0<br />Exposure Difference : 0<br />Compression : JPEG (old-style)<br />X Resolution : 300<br />Y Resolution : 300<br />Resolution Unit : inches<br />Preview Image Start : 9128<br />Preview Image Length : 27251<br />Y Cb Cr Positioning : Co-sited<br />Flash Exposure Compensation : 0<br />ISO Setting : 200<br />Image Boundary : 0 0 4288 2848<br />External Flash Exposure Comp : 0<br />Flash Exposure Bracket Value : 0.0<br />Exposure Bracket Value : 0<br />Crop Hi Speed : Off (4352x2868 cropped to 4352x2868 at pixel 0,0)<br />Exposure Tuning : 0<br />Serial Number : 3018352<br />Color Space : sRGB<br />VR Info Version : 0100<br />Vibration Reduction : On<br />VR Mode : Normal<br />Image Authentication : Off<br />Active D-Lighting : Off<br />Picture Control Version : 0100<br />Picture Control Name : Standard<br />Picture Control Base : Standard<br />Picture Control Adjust : Default Settings<br />Picture Control Quick Adjust : Normal<br />Sharpness : 3<br />Contrast : Normal<br />Brightness : Normal<br />Saturation : Normal<br />Hue Adjustment : None<br />Filter Effect : n/a<br />Toning Effect : n/a<br />Toning Saturation : n/a<br />Timezone : -06:00<br />Daylight Savings : Yes<br />Date Display Format : Y/M/D<br />ISO : 200<br />ISO Expansion : Off<br />ISO2 : 200<br />ISO Expansion 2 : Off<br />Lens Type : G VR<br />Lens : 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6<br />Flash Mode : Did Not Fire<br />Shooting Mode : Single-Frame<br />Lens F Stops : 5.33<br />Shot Info Version : 0210<br />Firmware Version : 1.10B<br />ISO2 : 200<br />Shutter Count : 34723<br />AF Fine Tune Adj : 0<br />Custom Settings Bank : A<br />Custom Settings All Default : No<br />AF-C Priority Selection : Focus<br />AF-S Priority Selection : Focus<br />AF Point Selection : 11 Points<br />Dynamic AF Area : 21 Points<br />Focus Tracking Lock On : Short<br />AF Activation : Shutter/AF-On<br />Focus Point Wrap : No Wrap<br />AF Point Illumination : Auto<br />AF Assist : Off<br />AF-On For MB-D10 : AF-On<br />ISO Step Size : 1/3 EV<br />Exposure Control Step Size : 1/3 EV<br />Exposure Comp Step Size : 1/3 EV<br />Easy Exposure Compensation : Off<br />Center Weighted Area Size : 8 mm<br />Fine Tune Opt Center Weighted : 0<br />Fine Tune Opt Matrix Metering : 0<br />Fine Tune Opt Spot Metering : 0<br />Multi Selector Shoot Mode : Select Center Focus Point<br />Multi Selector Playback Mode : Thumbnail On/Off<br />Initial Zoom Setting : Low Magnification<br />Multi Selector : Do Nothing<br />Exposure Delay Mode : Off<br />CL Mode Shooting Speed : 4 fps<br />Max Continuous Release : 100<br />Reverse Indicators : + 0 -<br />File Number Sequence : On<br />Battery Order : Camera Battery First<br />MB-D10 Batteries : LR6 (AA alkaline)<br />Beep : Low<br />Shooting Info Display : Auto<br />Grid Display : On<br />Viewfinder Warning : On<br />Func Button : FV Lock<br />Func Button Plus Dials : None<br />Preview Button : Preview<br />Preview Button Plus Dials : None<br />AE Lock Button : AE/AF Lock<br />AE Lock Button Plus Dials : None<br />Command Dials Reverse Rotation : No<br />Command Dials Change Main Sub : Off<br />Command Dials Aperture Setting : Sub-command Dial<br />Command Dials Menu And Playback : Off<br />LCD Illumination : Off<br />Photo Info Playback : Info Up-down, Playback Left-right<br />Shutter Release Button AE-L : On<br />Release Button To Use Dial : No<br />Self Timer Time : 2 s<br />Monitor Off Time : 10 s<br />Flash Sync Speed : 1/250 s<br />Flash Shutter Speed : 1/60 s<br />Auto Bracket Set : AE & Flash<br />Auto Bracket Mode M : Flash/Speed<br />Auto Bracket Order : 0,-,+<br />Modeling Flash : Off<br />No Memory Card : Release Locked<br />Metering Time : 6 s<br />Internal Flash : TTL<br />Noise Reduction : Off<br />WB GRBG Levels : 256 467 315 256<br />Lens Data Version : 0203<br />Exit Pupil Position : 107.8 mm<br />AF Aperture : 4.9<br />Focus Position : 0x22<br />Focus Distance : 1.68 m<br />Focal Length : 42.4 mm<br />Lens ID Number : 153<br />Lens F Stops : 5.33<br />Min Focal Length : 16.3 mm<br />Max Focal Length : 84.8 mm<br />Max Aperture At Min Focal : 3.6<br />Max Aperture At Max Focal : 5.7<br />MCU Version : 155<br />Effective Max Aperture : 4.9<br />Retouch History : None<br />Image Data Size : 2904507<br />Shutter Count : 34723<br />Flash Info Version : 0103<br />Flash Source : None<br />External Flash Firmware : n/a<br />External Flash Flags : (none)<br />Flash Commander Mode : Off<br />Flash Control Mode : Off<br />Flash Compensation : 0<br />Flash GN Distance : 0<br />Flash Color Filter : None<br />Flash Group A Control Mode : Off<br />Flash Group B Control Mode : Off<br />Flash Group C Control Mode : Off<br />Flash Group A Compensation : 0<br />Flash Group B Compensation : 0<br />Flash Group C Compensation : 0<br />Multi Exposure Version : 0100<br />Multi Exposure Mode : Off<br />Multi Exposure Shots : 0<br />Multi Exposure Auto Gain : Off<br />High ISO Noise Reduction : Off<br />Power Up Time : 2014:10:19 15:29:20<br />AF Info 2 Version : 0100<br />Contrast Detect AF : Off<br />AF Area Mode : Dynamic Area (21 points)<br />Phase Detect AF : On (51-point)<br />Primary AF Point : E4<br />AF Points Used : E4<br />Contrast Detect AF In Focus : No<br />File Info Version : 0100<br />Directory Number : 101<br />File Number : 4611<br />AF Fine Tune : Off<br />AF Fine Tune Index : n/a<br />AF Fine Tune Adj : 0<br />---- Composite ----<br />Aperture : 4.8<br />Auto Focus : On<br />Blue Balance : 1.230469<br />Image Size : 4288x2848<br />Lens ID : AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED<br />Lens : 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR<br />Preview Image : (Binary data 27251 bytes, use -b option to extract)<br />Red Balance : 1.824219<br />Scale Factor To 35 mm Equivalent: 1.5<br />Shutter Speed : 0.6<br />Create Date : 2014:10:19 15:29:43.60<br />Date/Time Original : 2014:10:19 15:29:43.60<br />Modify Date : 2014:10:19 15:29:43.60<br />Thumbnail Image : (Binary data 11417 bytes, use -b option to extract)<br />Circle Of Confusion : 0.020 mm<br />Depth Of Field : 0.30 m (1.54 - 1.84)<br />Field Of View : 31.1 deg (0.94 m)<br />Focal Length : 42.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 63.0 mm)<br />Hyperfocal Distance : 18.35 m<br />Light Value : 4.2<br /><br /></p>

<blockquote>

<p>It shows this for a D800 (almost more than is imaginable)</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Wayne, I hope you mean D300.....:-)</p>

<p>..and somewhere near the bottom is..</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Subject Distance Range : Unknown<br>

</p>

</blockquote>

<p>and then, a bit further on .......<br>

</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Focus Position : 0x22<br />Focus Distance : 1.68 m<br /></p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>I guess it's all in there somewhere!</p>

<p>Oops! :) Yes, I have both, and grabbed the wrong one. D300 is old enough that many other Exif tools can get it right enough too.<br>

D800, not so, we need an Exif tool that gets updated.</p>

<p>And yes, Focus Distance is in there. However, Nikon Focus Distance for zoom lenses can be pretty wrong.</p>

<p>I don't know what Subject Distance Range means?</p>

<p>For RJ!.</p>

<p><em>Infanview</em> Distance Info...</p>

<p>I un-intentionally misread the text Re:- my first post...</p>

<p>...Subject Distance <strong>Range</strong> is UNKNOWN, but</p>

<p>SUBJECT DISTANCE is 1.50m</p>

<p>As you can see this is the mid portion of the ream of info it gives....but it just lets me show both Distance references!</p><div></div>

<p>Late edit.</p>

<p>However, there's some setting somewhere in camera, that seems to determine whether it shows or not......same camera with same lens a few days later and there's nothing there, Subject Distance isn't even on the list!!</p>

<p>....it might be AF-C or AF-S, it might be LV AF or VF AF, or Monday but not Tuesday.....! I'll have to do a bunch of tests and find out what it is.</p>

<p>Mike, if you subsequently "Save" the image with Adobe later, it strips off many of the Exif entries. You will want to look in your original file, out of the camera.</p>

<p>Adobe Bridge (file manager part of Photoshop) has a preferences menu you can specify more to be omitted (many default to omit). But Adobe never saves the Manufacturer Notes section (Makers Notes).<br>

<br />My previous Exif list above has 277 entries. Simply opening and saving that file in Photoshop results in only 192 entries of Exif (as seen by ExifTool - Photoshop reports far fewer).</p>

<p>(Save For Web strips 100% of them, except maybe Copyright)</p>