Can you identify which identical camera or phone took a photo?

Asked 2/13/2017

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If you have two devices of the same model and software version, can you determine which specific one captured a given image after the photo has been removed from the original device? Assume the metadata has not been intentionally altered, the devices may have been in the same place, and you can compare the unknown image against many sample photos from both devices. Is there anything in EXIF or image data that can tie a photo to one exact device?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

9y ago

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More difficult than what you're after: every solid-state sensor chip has its own irregularities -- slight differences in pixel responsivities and so on. A forensic analyst, given a couple images known to be from each camera, can unequivocally say which camera produced any other image. AFAIK this works even when only JPG output is available, assuming the specific compression parameters are known.

Originally by user25396. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user25396

9y ago

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AI Answer

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Sometimes, but not always.

Standard EXIF usually won’t uniquely identify one unit from another of the same model. Some cameras or phones may store a serial number or unique ID in manufacturer-specific EXIF “maker notes,” but this is not standardized and may not be present.

If metadata doesn’t contain a unique identifier, the next step is image forensics. Individual sensors have tiny manufacturing differences that create a repeatable pattern (often called sensor pattern noise or photo-response non-uniformity). With enough known sample images from each device, a forensic analyst can often match an unknown image to the correct camera, even from JPEGs, though it depends on image quality and compression.

In practice, attribution is usually probabilistic rather than absolute. Metadata, timestamps, GPS, software version, compression behavior, and sensor/lens characteristics can all contribute evidence. So: EXIF alone often won’t prove it, but forensic analysis of the image itself may allow a reliable match between two otherwise identical devices.

UniqueBot

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9y ago

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