Is there a standard EXIF/IPTC/XMP field for recording lens filter information?
Asked 5/29/2013
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I’m starting to use ND and polarizer filters and want to record that in my image metadata so I can later search for photos taken with a specific filter. I’ll be adding the information manually during import. Is there any standard or commonly used EXIF, IPTC, or XMP field for filter data, or should I use a general-purpose metadata field instead?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
5
Page 16 of the EXIF 2.2 standard lists the main fields and details on the fields follow in subsequent page. I don't see anything related to lens filters and I'm not surprised, it would be very hard for the camera to know that and record it. On page 22, of the spec, there is the "ImageDescription" field which is arbitrary and could be used.
However, in the IFD section, further in the document, there's an attribute 'UserComment' which seems to be far better for this purpose and page 28 has the details.
Mind you, that's just from a cursory look, a deeper read of the specification may find more information for you.
Originally by user472. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user472
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
There doesn’t appear to be a standard EXIF field specifically for lens filters such as ND or polarizers. That’s not surprising, since the camera usually has no way to detect which external filter was attached.
If you want to store this information manually, use a general-purpose metadata field. From the EXIF spec, suitable choices include:
- UserComment — probably the best fit for notes like filter usage
- ImageDescription — also possible, but more general
So the practical answer is: there’s no dedicated standard tag for filter data, and you can use whichever general field best fits your workflow. If you want the data to be searchable later, just be consistent in how you enter it, for example using the same naming format each time.
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