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What EXIF contains

EXIF commonly stores capture time, camera make and model, dimensions, exposure settings, lens information and sometimes GPS coordinates. Fields vary by camera, file format and editing history.

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Capture date versus file-created date

A Windows created date may be the day a ZIP was extracted. An embedded capture date may describe when the shutter was released. Treat them as different facts and do not silently replace one with the other.

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GPS data

GPS coordinates can help reconstruct where a photograph was taken, but they are also sensitive personal information. Preserve them in the file while considering whether they should be exposed when sharing copies.

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Camera and lens information

Camera model, lens, focal length, ISO, aperture and shutter speed help document the technical history of an archive. Photo Archive Rescue reads these fields where they are present.

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IPTC metadata

IPTC fields may contain captions, keywords, creator information and rights data. Their presence and completeness vary. Preserve the original file even when the application does not display every IPTC field.

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XMP metadata

XMP can be embedded or stored in sidecar files and may contain descriptive or editing information. Keep sidecars beside their related files even when the application does not display every XMP field.

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Nikon MakerNotes

Nikon MakerNotes can contain manufacturer-specific camera information. They are specialised and should not be rewritten casually. Preserve the original file even when every MakerNotes field is not displayed.

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RAW metadata

NEF and NRW files combine original image data with camera metadata. Preserve the original file and avoid workflows that flatten the RAW into a derivative while discarding the source.

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Why copying can confuse dates

Copying, downloading and extracting can change file-system timestamps even when embedded capture metadata remains intact. Inventory both kinds of evidence before building date-based folders.

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Analyse before reorganising

A previewable plan lets you see which date will drive each destination without changing the source. Where evidence is missing or uncertain, keep that uncertainty visible rather than inventing a convenient answer.

EVIDENCE / SOURCES

Sources and boundaries

  • ExifTool tag-name documentationExifToolReference for common EXIF, IPTC, XMP and manufacturer metadata families.
    Open source ↗