LR, Nikon and Subject Distance

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I use LR 2.6, a Nikon D7'' with firmware version 1.'2. I have recently noticed that in the Library module in the EXIF data area that there is now a "subject distance" field. This appears to be the focus distance for the image that is being displayed. I had not noticed this data field until recently. I am wondering if it is as a result of upgrading to the Nikon ver. 1.'2 firmware for the D7''. I had ask this question on another site and no one seems to know. The moderator of the forum on the other site advised that it must be a Nikon issue since the EXIF data is from the camera. I sent an email to Nikon and ask if that was so. They said they didn't do it. They advised that software providers sometime choose which data to show. So it seems Adobe didn't add the subject distance field information and Nikon says they didn't. Interesting that no one is taking credit. I think this is useful information.

Guess I really don't care who added it, but can someone confirm for me that only Nikon D series lenses' display this field? I use a couple of Zeiss lenses and they don't display the subject distance field. My 17-35, 7'-3'', 24 PC-E do display the distance information in this field. If you know anything about this, I would be interested. Also the distance is expressed in meters. Does anyone know if you can change this to feet?

Any info appreciated.
Ron
 
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Welcome to Lightroom Forums Ron!

Lightroom won't read this (Nikon proprietary) information as it read only EXIF fields common to all cameras. Yes, only some lens will communicate the information to your D7'' but I can't say which ones. As to switch from meters, best to look at you manual as if you can change it, it is most probably a setting on the D7''.
 
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Denis and Nik-
Thanks much for the information.

I had looked in older folders at images taken with D and G lens and didn't see the subject distance info. That was why I wondered about firmware Version 1.'2. Anyway, I will look a the D7'' info to see if the distance can be changed to feet. Seems like Nikon would have told me that, but then that's what is great about forums like this!

Thanks again.
Ron
 
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[quote author=Denis Pagé link=topic=9337.msg62837#msg62837 date=1268247561]
Lightroom won't read this (Nikon proprietary) information as it read only EXIF fields common to all cameras. [/quote]Actually it is not proprietary but a part of the EXIF 2.2 standard. Many Camera Mfgs supply this information if it is communicated by the lens. Unfortunately is is not a part of the EXIF metadata that LR chooses to track. There is another EXIF field called SubjectDistanceRange that is more useful since it can report Macro, Near and far Distances as a range value. LR does not track this either. I personally would love to be able to search my catalog to find all the Macros I have in the library.
 
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Cletus-
Thanks for the information. I think I would find the information you refer to very useful also. I appreciate knowing.

When did software company's begin using EXIF 2.2?

Thanks again.
Ron
 
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[quote author=rlacy1 link=topic=9337.msg62859#msg62859 date=1268256136]
Cletus-
Thanks for the information. I think I would find the information you refer to very useful also. I appreciate knowing.

When did software company's begin using EXIF 2.2?
Thanks again.
Ron
[/quote] I do not know. I have been seeing SubjectDistanceRange and Subject Distance ever since I got my first DLSR (a Pentax) in 2''7. This standard has been around since 2''2.
http://www.exif.org/Exif2-2.PDF

The Tag has been included since at least 2.1 which was adopted in 1998.
 
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