How can I batch-correct wrong photo timestamps without changing other EXIF data?
Asked 8/25/2010
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I imported photos from multiple cameras and discovered that one camera had the wrong date/time set. I want the images to sort correctly in chronological order when combined with the others. What’s a good way to batch-adjust the timestamps in those image files without altering the image data or unrelated EXIF metadata? Ideally, the tool could also update the file modified time to match the corrected EXIF time.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
11
ExifTool can do that for you.
Example from the linked page:
exiftool -AllDates-=1 DIR
This would set all date fields in image in the directory DIR back one hour.
ExifTool is very powerful when it comes to manipulating meta data in images. I would recommend to practice on copies of the files to get the command to do what you want, before unleashing it on your original files (that you, of course, will have a backup copy of somewhere).
Originally by user10. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user10
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — this is a common metadata-fix task. A widely recommended tool is ExifTool, which can batch-shift the date/time fields without changing the image data. For example, to move all date fields back by one hour:
exiftool -AllDates-=1 DIR
ExifTool is powerful, so test on copies first and keep backups before editing originals.
If you prefer a GUI, EXIF Date Changer is another option and is reported to work well for this kind of bulk correction. One noted limitation is that it makes copies instead of modifying files in place.
Picasa also has a basic date/time adjustment feature under Tools → Adjust Date And Time, though the provided answers don’t confirm whether it changes EXIF timestamps, file timestamps, or both.
The trickiest part is often figuring out the exact offset after the fact. A good way is to compare shots from multiple cameras of the same moment, or look for a photo containing a clock or watch.
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