JPEGs and TIFFs stripped of some EXIF data

[Peter 13]

I just downloaded LR for a 3' day trial. I noticed that LR strips my files of some EXIF data. A processed (Canon) RAW file has some of the the info, like f stop, etc., but not the info about the lens used, for example, ISO, etc. This is what PS CS2 used to do as well.

I part of my workflow is to process the file after that with software that uses this info to automatically correct CA, distortion, etc. I cannot do that with the files that LR exports. Is there a way to fix that?

 

[Brad Snyder]

Peter,

One of the export options is to "Minimize embedded metadata"
First step is to make sure that is not checked.

Second step, tell us more specifics, Camera, PC, OS, LR version, etc. Maybe use the User CP upper left to create a signature block.

 

[Peter 13]

LR 1.4, the camera is Canon 35'D. I am using Windows XP SP2. Here is what is preserved:

File Name IMG_4562_LR.jpg
Camera Model Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Shooting Date/Time 12/15/2''7 12:'':'' AM
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/25'
Av( Aperture Value ) 1'
Image Size 33'3x22'2
Flash Off
Parameters Settings
File Size 1657 KB

Here is what the original contains:

File Name IMG_4562.jpg
Camera Model Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Shooting Date/Time 12/15/2''7 2:42:51 PM
Shooting Mode Program AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/25'
Av( Aperture Value ) 1'.'
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation '
ISO Speed 1''
Lens 18.' - 55.' mm
Focal Length 55.' mm
Image Size 3456x23'4
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Focus AF
Parameters Settings Contrast Standard
Sharpness Standard
Color saturation Standard
Color tone '
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off
File Size 841 KB
Custom Function C.Fn:'1-4
C.Fn:'2-1
C.Fn:'3-'
C.Fn:'4-'
C.Fn:'5-'
C.Fn:'6-'
C.Fn:'7-'
C.Fn:'8-'
C.Fn:'9-'
Drive Mode Single shooting
Camera Body No. XXXXXXXX

 

[Brad Snyder]

Not to be obtuse. We really do want to help.

In one place, you say the original is RAW, in another you say it's jpg.

You don't say whether you investigated the "minimize metadata" setting?

What app are you using to display / expose the metadata?
(Some of that stuff looks like it may be coming from the Canon DPP software)

Ahem, nevermind, I've just waded thru 3 different Metadata tools looking at 2 different Canons on several different versions of LR, and you're right, that data is not there in the exported EXIF. (Honestly, the answer to questions like this is almost always to enable the embedded metadata.)

Interestingly enough, that data is there in the (exif segment of the XMP embedded in the exported JPG's. Don't suppose you can use that?
I assume you have some kind of automation going on with your post-processing? Can it be tweaked to look at the XMP/EXIF rather than the EXIF?

I'm at the limit of my knowledge here, I don't know why the data is stored the way it is, or how to help you deal with it.

We do have a couple of metadata gurus, who often stop by, perhaps they'll have something to add.

 

[Peter 13]

In one place, you say the original is RAW, in another you say it's jpg.

I am processing CR2 files. I just copied the EXIF data from a JPEG file processed by DXO Pro (see below). It is the same info that I get when I open a CR2 file. To copy this, I clicked on "properties" on ZB.

You don't say whether you investigated the "minimize metadata" setting?

It is off.

What app are you using to display / expose the metadata?

I am using ZB to view files. It shows less metadata than the JPEG file, processed by ZB RAW Task would. Lens info is missing, for example.

Ahem, nevermind, I've just waded thru 3 different Metadata tools looking at 2 different Canons on several different versions of LR, and you're right, that data is not there in the exported EXIF. (Honestly, the answer to questions like this is almost always to enable the embedded metadata.)

Interestingly enough, that data is there in the (exif segment of the XMP embedded in the exported JPG's. Don't suppose you can use that?
I assume you have some kind of automation going on with your post-processing? Can it be tweaked to look at the XMP/EXIF rather than the EXIF?

I'm at the limit of my knowledge here, I don't know why the data is stored the way it is, or how to help you deal with it.

We do have a couple of metadata gurus, who often stop by, perhaps they'll have something to add.

My main concern is the following. I am using DXO Pro to do some automatic corrections. For that, DXO must know the lens, the ISO, etc. It works just fine with the RAW files, and with the JPEGs that ZB RAW Task would produce. The output from DXO Pro show all metadata when opened with the ZB.

Now, when I try to open a JPEG or a TIFF that was exported by LR from a RAW file, DXO cannot recognize the lens. ZB does not show the lens info, the ISO, etc., either.

In Adobe Bridge, I can see that the lens info is still there. Apparently, it is moved to a different place or a different tag so that ZB and DXO cannot find it. Same goes for the exposure compensation, etc., a lot of data.

 

[billg71]

I've noticed this as well. Actually, there's quite a lot of EXIF data stripped out.

Here's a screenshot from Opanda. The panel on the left is from a .nef file saved as jpeg in Capture NX, the one on the right is from the DNG version exported from LR:

Two more screenshots with the rest of the EXIF from NX are here and here

It doesn't seem to make a difference in the EXIF whether I export from a .dng file or a .nef file, I get the same reduced metadata set.

Minimize embedded metadata in the Export dialog is unchecked.

System data is in my siggie.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Definitely sounds like one for an official feature request: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

 

[Brad Snyder]

In Adobe Bridge, I can see that the lens info is still there. Apparently, it is moved to a different place or a different tag so that ZB and DXO cannot find it. Same goes for the exposure compensation, etc., a lot of data.

As you say, some of the data is embedded, but apparently in a "less than conforming" location.

Here's screen shot of a jpeg which exhibits the truncated EXIF data. There is at least some additional data squirreled away in the XMP.

I agree with VB, if it's important to you, be a squeaky wheel on the U2U forum and Feature Request.

 

[billg71]

More info:

If I open the .nef file in ACR(4.3.1) and save from ACR as a jpeg, I get the same reduced EXIF set.

I tried opening the .nef through ACR into CS3 but CS3 won't let me Save As.. a jpeg. If I do Save for Web or Devices, all the EXIF gets stripped.

 

[Brad Snyder]

If I do Save for Web or Devices, all the EXIF gets stripped.

I've read that that behavior is a "feature", intended to get the smallest file / lowest bandwidth output. Don't know how true it is in actual reality.

 

[Peter 13]

Definitely sounds like one for an official feature request: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

Thanks, I just did that.