EXIF data help - RAW vs. Fine?

Hi All,

I've been working with my D3200 w/ 18mm - 55mm kit for 6 months now -- very comfortable with Exposure Triangle, most of the time using in Manual mode.

Can someone help me understand the EXIF data?

This picture was taken today at ISO 100, F/5, ET 1/1000.

In various EXIF viewers (Picasa, Windows, Jefferey's EXIF Viewer) however, the image has the following EXIF data:

ISO - 720 <= ???
F/5
ET - 1/4000 <= ???

Is this because I am shooting in Fine and not Raw + Fine -- does the image get 'processed' and therefore the EXIF values change?

(I'll go shoot some RAW + Fine images now and see what happens...)

Thanks, all,

Mike

No the data doesn't change due to type of file it saves it in. Though I'm unsure what the dfifferent viewers are doing.

All the data is, is the settings you put into your Nikon for that photo. The iso, aperture, and shutter speed.

The same photo should not have different data. Unless it's just a different way of saying the same thing.

Thanks, Bill16, upon additional investigation it seems some of the pics in Picasa and Windows Explorer display the correct EXIF values but most do not...

Yikes!... Hope it's not my camera!!

Most likely it's the readers that are the problem, not your Nikon.

Just my guess!

Why don't you use View NX supplied with the camera to check the exif data. In my case I use Capture NX-D to process the files and export to jpeg. The Exif data is consistent across all the viewers, including online exif viewers.

When you say manual, do you mean manual focus or manual settings. The latter is set by the mode dial only. In case you have left auto ISO on, or shooting in program mode, the exif will reflect what you have set.

It's not the reader. I checked the first photos I made with the D3300; all JPEG and unprocessed and some of them also show strange ISO values; 560, 160, 125, 140... Even View NX2 displays the value.

If I have to gamble, I'd say some setting affects the value.

Edit: It's only the shots done in P or any of the pre-programmed modes that occasionally show those values. A and S are correct in my case. All those shots also have "automatic ISO" in common.

Maybe it is auto-ISO and when it tries to set one closest to the prioritized, it can pick any range it likes. It's not because we can only set values like 100-200-400 that there is no range between.

Auto ISO works with set range (say upto 1600,3200,)
In the settings you can mention the upper limit

It first tries to shoot at the set ISO with the settings(camera tries to keep EV@0) ..else it will increment

Sent from my GT-I9070 using Tapatalk 2

adityasoman said:

Auto ISO works with set range (say upto 1600,3200,)
In the settings you can mention the upper limit

It first tries to shoot at the set ISO with the settings(camera tries to keep EV@0) ..else it will increment

Sent from my GT-I9070 using Tapatalk 2

Click to expand...

Yes auto-ISO works with the normal ranges when you set them but it tries to find a compromise when that value isn't working out. The only thing all my weird EXIF ISO values have in common is auto-ISO.

J-see said:

It's not the reader. I checked the first photos I made with the D3300; all JPEG and unprocessed and some of them also show strange ISO values; 560, 160, 125, 140... Even View NX2 displays the value.

If I have to gamble, I'd say some setting affects the value.

Edit: It's only the shots done in P or any of the pre-programmed modes that occasionally show those values. A and S are correct in my case. All those shots also have "automatic ISO" in common.

Maybe it is auto-ISO and when it tries to set one closest to the prioritized, it can pick any range it likes. It's not because we can only set values like 100-200-400 that there is no range between.

Click to expand...

You have it. It is in a "Program Mode" that the camera decides to vary every setting, depending on what it thinks is the best. The first thing it will do is to vary ISO, then either Aperture or Exposure speed depending on whether it is action or scenery (in its opinion).

That is why, I set
. Auto ISO - OFF
. ISO = 100 (normally)
. Mode = A
. Change Aperture with the wheel to suit the subject

In case the speed is too low, then I either use the Flash or open the aperture up. Rarely to I use higher ISO, unless I am doing low light, then I vary it between 400 and 1600 manually.

aroy said:

You have it. It is in a "Program Mode" that the camera decides to vary every setting, depending on what it thinks is the best. The first thing it will do is to vary ISO, then either Aperture or Exposure speed depending on whether it is action or scenery (in its opinion).

That is why, I set
. Auto ISO - OFF
. ISO = 100 (normally)
. Mode = A
. Change Aperture with the wheel to suit the subject

In case the speed is too low, then I either use the Flash or open the aperture up. Rarely to I use higher ISO, unless I am doing low light, then I vary it between 400 and 1600 manually.

Click to expand...

I do the same, I have ISO programmed on my Fn button. I don't know if the 3200 has that option too. I mainly shoot A because it's simply a priority option in macro. If shutter speed is too low, I first see if I can change aperture to compensate but if that doesn't work, I up the ISO.

Since I don't use flash and too often have moving subjects, I constantly need to find a good compromise and more often than not, it is ISO.

Auto-ISO I had rather quickly disabled. It didn't really behave as I wanted.

Thanks, All -- I am shooting in M mode -- selecting my own ISO, aperture and shutter speed settings...

Looking back through my last few batches of pictures, it seems I must have accidentally popped out of M on this particular set of shots -- a sunny day of horseback riding -- I'd've used ISO 100, F/4.5, 1/1000 or so...

But still I've noticed that some ISO values come out strange on all EXIF viewers, CaptureNX 2 included -- where I'll use 100, 200, 400, 800, etc. the EXIF data will say 120, 240, 420, 900 -- slightly off.

Anybody know why ISO values seem to be slightly off or is that how the EXIF data works -- the camera setting may be 100 but the exact EXIF ISO value may adjust a little??

Cheers,

Mike

That could be a camera problem, it is not setting the ISO properly. If the body is in warranty, please get it checked.

twopups2 said:

Thanks, All -- I am shooting in M mode -- selecting my own ISO, aperture and shutter speed settings...
Mike

Click to expand...

Do you also have an auto-ISO mode on your cam? I know on mine, when switched on in my settings, overrides my input even when in other modes. I think I read something about yours having the same issue but I'd have to check to be sure.

Edit: just checked.

"When images captured with Auto ISO sensitivity control in the shooting menu set to Off were displayed in ViewNX 2 or Capture NX 2, Auto (ISO XXX) was incorrectly displayed for ISO Sensitivity in Metadata. This issue has been resolved."

Apparently the latest firm should fix it. In my case it is only in JPEG and any auto-mode (P included) the error shows.

Now it's waiting on the D3300 fix.

Update: In m Shooting Settings, under ISO sensitivity settings my Auto ISO sensitivity control was set for ON.

I turned it off and will snap some shots today and check the EXIF data.

My Firmware version is listed in the Setup Menu as

C: 1.01
L: 1.009

I'll look into the Firmware update, too.

Thanks again.

Another update: Took a batch of dog-park pictures this morning w/ Auto-ISO turned OFF and the EXIF data is exactly the settings I used on the camera -- so that Auto ISO setting seems to tweak the EXIF data slightly...

Thanks again, all.

So all users beware, use auto ISO at your peril!

Auto ISO is useful when you are shooting in rapidly varying light and would like your aperture and speed to be tightly controlled, otherwise it is a bother.