Adding Your Details To The Exif Data - Canon EOS 350d / Digital Rebel XT
Friday, May 8, 2009 at 9:47PM Imagine my surprise when I was checking what shutter speed I took some photographs at, when I discovered that someone else's name was listed in the exif data!
Obviously this person was the last owner (and I think I've found his blog, which is cool), but I need my name and details there, and I was actually quite pleased that the camera could do this, I thought it was only a feature of high-end models, or something you had to add in Photoshop or Light-room.
First up, exif data explained. Exif data is all this extra stuff that gets stored within your photo at the time you took it. Shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, focal length, etc. Take a look at the "more properties" link the next time you're looking at a photo on Flickr. It's useful for reminding you how you got that particular look (or the mistakes you might have made), but it's better for checking other peoples shots on flickr - you can see what camera they used, what aperture, what shutter speed, ISO, focal length etc. Very useful.
Apart from water-marking your photo's for the web, another way of protecting them (and proving they're yours) is to add your details to the exif data. It can be stripped out of course, but most people who just grab photo's from the web to use on their own sites won't bother, so you can simply point out to them that it is yours, and if they check the exif you can prove it.
As I've said, you can add extra stuff into the exif data with software - the most common thing is GPS coordinates, but we all should be adding our details to our photographs, but to be honest I haven't bothered in the past, but if canon digital cameras, like the 350d / Rebel XT can do it automatically, at point of capture, why not give it a go?
A quick search of the web, and I found out how. First up you'll have to find the discs that came with your camera, and find the CD that has Zoombrowser EX on it. Install that piece of software from the options screen (use custom install), connect your 350d / Rebel XT to your computer with the USB lead, turn it on, fire the software up, and click on the "Acquire & Camera Settings", then the "Remote Shooting" option from the drop-down menu:
Next up, click the "Set To Camera" tab, then "Confirms / changes camera settings":
Finally we just put our details in, click "Apply" and "OK":
So from now on, whenever I take a photo, my camera automatically stamps my name and contact details into the exif data, without having to run any extra software. How great is that!
Cheers, Rob.
350d, canon, digital rebel xt, exif in tutorials
Reader Comments (5)
Hey Rob - been meaning to leave a reply here for ages. Glad you are enjoying the camera and that you managed to sort out the exif data thing I completely forgot that I put my info onto the camera and didnt even think about clearing it off when I went to sell it (or in fact knew how to till I read this post!). Anyway, good to hear its all sorted now and happy snapping.
Cheers Nick, looks like you're taking great shots with the 350d's replacement - brilliant!
Rob.
Rob, I have had my camera almost 2 years now and didn't know I could do this. I learned how to shoot and develop Black & Whites in High School...many years ago and for financial reasons sold my Pentax with much regret. A few years ago my husband bought me a Canon Rebel XT for my birthday and has encouraged me to go after my dream...but the world of cameras has changed and learning this camera has been very difficult for me. Recently someone suggested YouTube where I found your video and alas your website. In one morning I learned a lot. Thank you!
Hi Greer!
It's great to have you along for the journey - and many thanks for your kind comments about the blog and my videos.
Thanks again, Rob.
I have a Rebel ESO XTI... and I really want to put the info for my biz on the images... can you tell me how to do that? I would love for the customers to only see that I took the photo and the size of it. Please Help