D200, EXIF focus distance

[blumesan]

A great deal of EXIF information is contained in D200 files and can be viewed

by a number of programs. I currently use XnView. The one datum that is

missing is the focus distance. I use D type lenses which, presumably,

communicate this information to the camera. Is it simply omitted from the EXIF

information, or does one need a special program to retrieve this datum?

 

Thanks,

Mike

[bill_chiarchiaro]

Hi, Mike.

 

<p>

The Nikon DSLRs that I've used do indeed put the focus distance into the EXIF data. I haven't used the D200, but I'd be shocked if it doesn't do this too.

</p>

 

<p>

As for an EXIF viewer which will show this, by far the most capable viewer is ExifTool:

<a href="http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool">

<b>

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

</b>

</a>

 

<p>

This program is updated every few days with new features. I use it on Unix and Windows XP computers; it would work too on OS X. You can easily customize it to show as much or as little of EXIF data as you want, in whatever format you want. It is a command-line program, and you'll need to install a Perl interpreter. Take a look at the ExifTool Web site.

</p>

 

<p>

--Bill

</p>

[bob_s__n.e._mass_]

I can't find it viewing the metadata in Photoshop Album- apparently it's not there.

[bill_chiarchiaro]

<i>

I can't find it viewing the metadata in Photoshop Album- apparently it's not there.

</i>

 

<p>

I just grabbed one of the D200 sample images from the dpreview.com review and ran it through ExifTool. ExifTool reported that the photo was made with the 18-200mm VR lens and that the focus distance was 33.50 meters. So, the D200 does record focus distance when used with a D or G lens.

</p>

 

<p>

--Bill

</p>

[joseph_smith3]

Bill what is ExifTool? I just checked Nikon View and Capture and it does not show distance in Shooting data with D and G lenss. Joe Smith

[walterh]

Yea something happened to the focus distance data in the NEF files or PS reading the data. I used to read the info from D70 images but now it disappeared, also from D200 images. Some data are there but seem scrambled if I check for it with opanda.

[bill_chiarchiaro]

Joe: <i>

Bill what is ExifTool?

</i>

 

<p>

See my first message in this thread; follow the link for ExifTool.

</p>

 

It's very easy to install on Unix computers and probably on Mac OS X too. On MS Windows, it takes a little more involvement. As explained on the ExifTool Web site, you'll need to get a Perl interpreter (for free). Another Web page that has info about installing ExifTool on MS Windows is (see option b):

<a href="http://www.halo-photographs.com/info/PerlExifToolgpsPhoto.html">

<b>

http://www.halo-photographs.com/info/PerlExifToolgpsPhoto.html

</b>

</a>

</p>

 

<p>

One thing missing from that Web page is how to extract the Exiftool compressed TAR file (".tar.gz" file) on an MS Windows computer. For that info, go to

<a href="http://www.gzip.org/"> <b>http://www.gzip.org/</b></a>

and search for "To extract .tar and .tar.gz files on Windows 9x/NT/2000/ME/XP".

</p>

 

<p>

I hope this helps. Maybe someone will make a simple MS Windows installer for ExifTool and keep it up-to-date. ExifTool makes every other EXIF reader (and writer) than I've seen, including the camera manufacturers' readers, look lame. It supports every Nikon DSLR, along with probably just about every other brand and type of digital camera. It supports dozens of file types (JPEG, TIFF, NEF, CR2, etc.). The only Nikon EXIF tags that I'm aware of that ExifTool doesn't yet support are the ones for VR state and GPS heading. But, I expect that Exiftool will support them before long. To see how frequently ExifTool is update, follow the "Version History" link on the ExifTool Web page.

</p>

 

<p>

--Bill

</p>

[bryantan]

<p>Thanks for this info!</p>