Avoid a DQ! Importing images can rewrite original

06/24/2006 10:30:00 PM · #1

There has been alot said about making sure you keep you original "just out of the camera" image so that you can validate your image if need be. Some have said to just copy your files from your card to a file using "My Computer" and the copy command.

That's what I did for my Indulgence entry. Then I wanted to view the images more easily, so I did an import into Picture Project. None of the data changed that I could see. The date and time were still the same on screen. I placed in the top 5, so I was asked to validate my image. I sent off my .NEF (RAW) file and forgot about it.

Imagine my surprise when I get an e-mail from SC letting me know it was not original. I thought maybe I'd forgotten and copied the original to another drive. No, I searched the computer in every way I knew how. The only file I had was the one I had sent.

I had reformatted my CF card and shot some new images. My only hope was that I had not rewritten over my images on the card. I pulled out the trusty ZAR recovery software and gave it a try. (I love that program.) The images were there and I was able to find my original (I hope). It's been sent in and should be fine. Otherwise, that import to Picture Project has cost me.

So, be warned. Importing your images into a program from a straight copy command MAY overwrite your image and cost you a DQ.

Importing straight into Picture Project from the camera has been fine. Doing a two step process nearly cost me.

Becky

jrtodd

Nikon D850

06/24/2006 10:38:41 PM · #2

Gee, that was close

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/24/2006 10:41:54 PM · #3

I'm very glad you found it, Becky. I very, very much dislike having to DQ images for dumb reasons like this one would have been. I'm so glad your original is OK now.

peterish

Nikon D90

06/24/2006 10:47:46 PM · #4

holycrap you're right. I just checked some of my pics and behold, no EXIF data... I don't know but I might stop using Picture Project.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

06/24/2006 10:51:47 PM · #5

I use Picture Project to transfer my images from camera to computer. As long as I don't save anything from within PP, but just use it as a transfer program, it's OK. The problem comes up if you open a file in PP and then save it again, then the dates change.

IMO, Picture Project does a decent job as a file transfer utility (it allows me to name my folders/files the way I want them). But it's not good for much of anything else.

Something else I discovered in all of this: If you open a NEF file (NEFs are the RAW files for Nikon images) in Nikon Capture and save a copy of the NEF, the date of modification changes even though the NEF itself stays the same as the original.

So, I guess the important thing is to always keep an image that is "untouched" out of camera.

BTW - I have submitted proof files that were transferred from camera to computer via Picture Project, both JPG and NEF, and the dates are OK (as long as the image is not opened and saved from within PP).

Message edited by author 2006-06-24 22:53:05.

banmorn

Nikon D750

06/24/2006 11:09:20 PM · #6

Well you got me scared about this...not that I have had to provide an original, lately....but I see what you are saying. You can, from what I can see, still view the pictures in PP by selecting the images, either a whole file or just some, and using slide show. Then you can see and note what you may want to process. As long as no select and open is done in PP your choices are OK....at least the tag date stays the same as the shooting information. Is that correct?

Message edited by author 2006-06-24 23:09:51.

rjkstesch

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/25/2006 12:08:54 AM · #7

Originally posted by banmorn:

I've not had any problem when I transfer from the camera using Picture Project and then view in PP. I don't do my editing there, ever. What I did this time was view the camera through My Computer, copy to a file in My Photos and then used PP's import command from the My Photos file so I could easily view the NEFs. (All I get are thumbnails when using Windows) JUST IMPORTING the images to view them in PP change the EXIF. When I clicked on the image and looked at the properties, it looked the same. I would never have known the exif was changed if the SC hadn't told me.

That's a different answer that your question, but is what my experience told me.

Becky

peterish

Nikon D90

06/25/2006 12:11:24 AM · #8

Originally posted by rjkstesch:

I've not had any problem when I transfer from the camera using Picture Project and then view in PP. I don't do my editing there, ever. What I did this time was view the camera through My Computer, copy to a file in My Photos and then used PP's import command from the My Photos file so I could easily view the NEFs. (All I get are thumbnails when using Windows) JUST IMPORTING the images to view them in PP change the EXIF. When I clicked on the image and looked at the properties, it looked the same. I would never have known the exif was changed if the SC hadn't told me.
That's a different answer that your question, but is what my experience told me.

Becky

That's exactly what I use PP for. We need to find another NEF viewing software asap!!

06/25/2006 12:32:51 AM · #9

Originally posted by peterish:

Originally posted by rjkstesch:
I've not had any problem when I transfer from the camera using Picture Project and then view in PP. I don't do my editing there, ever. What I did this time was view the camera through My Computer, copy to a file in My Photos and then used PP's import command from the My Photos file so I could easily view the NEFs. (All I get are thumbnails when using Windows) JUST IMPORTING the images to view them in PP change the EXIF. When I clicked on the image and looked at the properties, it looked the same. I would never have known the exif was changed if the SC hadn't told me.
That's a different answer that your question, but is what my experience told me.

Becky

That's exactly what I use PP for. We need to find another NEF viewing software asap!!

Why don't you guys use Nikon Capture? Or RSE?

06/25/2006 12:36:18 AM · #10

Originally posted by banmorn:

I guess so, but I haven't tried it. I never use PP for editing. I don't even use it as a slide-show. The only thing I use it for is to transfer from camera to computer, and then only because of the ease in renaming files.

Without trying it, I don't think that just viewing a file will ever change the date. Saving it would, as would importing the way Rebecca did. But I don't think that using PP for slide show would affect the date of modification. I'll try it tomorrow to make sure.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800