Identifying the lens

[DonSchap]

I know most of you don't have an issue with this, because you are working with two or three lenses in your bag, but even so, how are people distinguishing their 50mm f/4 shots from their several lenses that cover the same range?

EXIF does not identify the lens you used, just the camera body you did it with.

You could have a terrific 50mm f/1.2 lens ... or a 50mm f/2.5 MACRO ... and not know which one you used for an image that you took months ago. Or for that matter, whether you used a TAMRON 17-50mm f/2.8 lens ... a SONY CZ 24-70mm f/2.8 ... a TAMRON 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ... a SIGMA 50-150mm f/2.8 ... or even a big ol' SIGMA 50-500mm!

See what I mean?

The EXIF all record Focal length: 50mm Aperture setting: f/4.

So, what was the lens used? Generically or industry-wide, something needs to be done about this ... for better tracking of glass on our cameras. With eight electrical contacts between the lens and the camera body ... you'd think the possibility would exist of encoding it, wouldn't you? Hey, why not the serial number of the lens, too. Wouldn't that make for an interesting tracking ... of the lenses that were stolen out of your bag? :rolleyes: Once those images started showing up on flickr™ ...

I think it would be rather interesting, forensically speaking, to review various shots and see, specifically, what the lens was that produced what, as well as the settings that were used.

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Okay, we know it probably wasn't this one (You would have remembered using it after your recovery from the subsequent hernia operation).

[Margus]

What a pic!!! :D :D :D

[StuartN]

Using Lightroom, it does tell you what lens was used. You can use it sort your images by lens used. It must pull it from the EXIF data. I think I get that same data in Capture NX as well, but would have to check to be sure.

Nikon's Picture Project also shows the lens used. Example below from the "shooting data" field:

Nikon D80
2008/03/11 15:09:39.8
Compressed RAW (12-bit)
Image Size: Large (3872 x 2592)
Color
Lens: 24-70mm F/2.8 G
Focal Length: 70mm
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
1/160 sec - F/5.6
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Optimize Image: Vivid
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-A
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Color Mode: Mode IIIa (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: Normal
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Enhanced
Sharpening: Medium high
Image Comment: Copyright 2008 Stuart Neil
Long Exposure NR: Off
High ISO NR: Off

[Paradox]

Yep Lightroom tells me what lens I used to take a shot. I only have the one at the moment...But it's identified it perfectly. :p Just in case I forget what it's called. :rolleyes:

[downtrodden]

Yeah Don.. you're a little behind on this post.. EXIF does tell you what lens you used, you just need a program that tells you that bit of Exif....

[DonSchap]

With the recognized prime camera manufacturers and their own lenses, I had hoped it would be there ... I'd like to see what it has to say about third-party entries, not standard Nikon or Canon faire.

Place a SIGMA, TAMRON or Tokina on that rig and let it "spill its EXIF guts."

:D

[Rooz]

3rd party lens exif shows up for me fine.

[Paradox]

My lens is a Sigma and it's identified perfectly by Lightroom. There's more to Exif than meets the eye. ;)

[Rooz]

maybe its a sony thing. lol

[DonSchap]

Well, I'm not using Lightroom ... just PS CS3 and SONY's Image Data LightBox SR. I'll have to look closer, but this is a bit troubling:

A shot taken with a SIGMA 10-20mm f/4-5.6 @ 10mm ... misidentified as a 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 ... and it knew the lens focal length setting, too.

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Or this one .. . using the TAMRON 17-50mm f/2.8 ... "unknown" lens, indeed.

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Maybe you're correct, Rooz. I haven't gone through my Canon shots with this tool, yet ... but, it is by no means of much use as a full EXIF data collector.

EDIT: Here's the Canon ... like I was saying ... LOL ... OMG :eek:

34925

It didn't even know there was a lens attached! :rolleyes: Could just be the darn software, I suppose. Although you should be able to trust this stuff, right? Maybe I should send you the shot, Rooz ... and have you read it.

[Rooz]

Don i get the lens info in CS3 aswell, (all it says is 10-20mm f4-5.6 though not Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX etc). it may be a missing update and/ or driver.

[DonSchap]

Maybe I'm just going to the wrong place ... what menu selections are you using? This is what I see with the CS3 screen:

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It's a different image, same lens, but you get the idea. :o It's like there was nothing attached.

Here, you look through it ... whilst I reflect on it.

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Remember: GO F/2.8 ... it's not too late!

[cdifoto]

Before I got Lightroom, I really didn't care what lens I used for a given photo.

Now that I have Lightroom, I really don't care what lens I used for a given photo.

If you have so much redundancy in your focal ranges that you can't determine one lens from another, time for a yard sale.

[DonSchap]

Don,

we all have our own pits to dig, right? My glass trench is still growing.

[Rooz]

theres a line missing from that exif Don. if you go to advanced i think you may be able to add the lens into the exif display.

[DonSchap]

Okay ... I mounted one of my few SONY lenses, 50mm f/1.4, on the A700, then the TAMRON fixed 180mm f/3.5 Macro ... ran it through the SONY software and got this:

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Both are PRIMES, but identified quite differently.

Then, I did the SONY "kit" lens ... and the SONY software pegged it ... put the TAMRON 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 on ... it's "Land of the Lost", again.

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Unfortunately, PS CS3 still won't pull the lens info out from any one of them, though.

Obviously, third-party is going to need some work. LOL ... cough-cough ... geez. :(

[cwphoto]

Don, you spend too much time worrying about the most trivial things.

Just go out and shoot.

[TenD]

Before I got Lightroom, I really didn't care what lens I used for a given photo.

Now that I have Lightroom, I really don't care what lens I used for a given photo.


+1

Why would I care what lens I took a certain photo with? The only reason I can think of is if I was testing the lens or writing a review.

[T06]

+1

Why would I care what lens I took a certain photo with? The only reason I can think of is if I was testing the lens or writing a review.

Only if you're trying to help someone out & give them a sample. Or maybe look back at that particular model in comparison. Or maybe compare it to a 'next' generation. Or maybe have some smart-ass that doesn't know squat about the lens & bitch of image quality when it's apparent they have bad technique ( no I'm not referring to you ). I like it, want it & have it.;)

[DonSchap]

Don, you spend too much time worrying about the most trivial things.

Just go out and shoot.

Okay, I got up off my couch cushions and headed west, to Colorado, over the past weekend. That's a 1000-miles for some decent scenery. Check out the SONY DSLR forum for some of the shots I had gotten.

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Anyway ... outstanding weather the entire time high 60s-70s, sunny, cloudless ... and it followed me back to Chicago. Too bad I have to work. Something about making money. Who knew? :rolleyes:

Even though I went, CW, not worrying about it (as you said I should) ... I still didn't get the proper "lens information" ... detailing which lens I used for each of the shots ... but, for one saving grace ... since lens overlap was next to impossible because of the lens selection I took along ... who the frog cares, right?

Oh, I feel so ... exposed. LOL :D