LR users with more than one camera

01/16/2009 01:03:51 PM · #1

I took both bodies out to play today and have overlapping image numbers. Can't get LR to import them even to separate files. Is there a way to do this?

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

01/16/2009 01:17:44 PM · #2

short of renaming one set somehow (adding a prefix, maybe) I can't think of anything else

I need to check and see if I can alter the in-camera naming convention--I just got a second body, so will no doubt encounter the same problem. I save them off the memory card directly to separate folders on my hard drive, but the software packages will no doubt get confused at some point.

Can you set one camera to start numbering at 20000 or something, that should keep them different for a while?

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

01/16/2009 01:18:00 PM · #3

I haven't run into that ..... yet.

My two main cameras have different extensions (CRW and CR2) so it's not an issue.

You might be able to do a rename on import for one set. Experiment with one file to see if you can load multiples by doing a rename.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/16/2009 01:18:51 PM · #4

Deb, I use their renaming routines to batch rename all my files. It doesn't happen automatically, but I have a D80 and a D90 renaming profile saved. So as soon as I import, I rename.

I've always coded my files with a text string, a camera "prefix" and the file number... e.g.,

My Nikon D80 renaming template is:

{Date (YYYYMMDD)} {Custom Text} N1{Filename number suffix}

and my Nikon D90 renaming template is:

{Date (YYYYMMDD)} {Custom Text} D{Filename number suffix}

In other words, one has an N and the other a D template. The N has a 1, because the numbers in the file have rolled over past 10,000 clicks on my Nikon D80. When it hits 20,000, I change the template so that's a 2.

When the import dialog appears, you simply pick the template you want to use.

Notes. The templates above are approximate--I had to type them because LR won't copy the template string to the clipboard. In gettting the naming the way I wanted it, I found that I had to use an editor to modify the template outside of LR, since it removes spaces between fields for some odd reason.

That files easy to edit; if you go that route, and need instructions, I can tell you how.

Message edited by author 2009-01-16 13:19:47.

MattO

Nikon D4

01/16/2009 01:22:30 PM · #5

I have a 1DMKIIn and a 1DMKIII. I can make the file names prefix whatever I want. I have one of them as MJO_XXXX and the other is MJO1XXXX. I always use both cameras and lightroom imports them just fine. Although both are far enough now that I dont have any overlapping, I purposely named them that to avoid it if one ever caught up with the other, as I dont reset my shutter count on them.

Matt

krnodil

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

01/16/2009 01:23:09 PM · #6

I should think if you put your Rebel files in one folder and the 30D files in another folder, then import each folder as "all files in this folder" you should be ok...

Please excuse if you've already tried this and it doesn't work - I don't have LR in front of me right now to try the suggestion out myself...

01/16/2009 01:27:00 PM · #7

Originally posted by krnodil:

The renaming thing is something I shall have to learn, but yeah, I put them in different folders when I transferred them and when trying to import each folder, separately, it still wouldn't let me since the file names are the same (IMG_3838, for example).

The Rebel is on the first time through and the 30D on the third or fourth time as far as the numbering goes. If I'm to use LR, I guess I'll have do whatever Neil is suggesting. Seems a pain...

01/16/2009 01:28:24 PM · #8

I just checked Aperture, and it has a way to rename them at import. I assume LR has something similar. Keeping the original files in separate folders would likely work fine, unless you move them later I suppose--the tool could get lost trying to find the right original? If LR is changing the name of it's internal reference to the file at import, that might solve the problem.

Applescript might be a way to rename files in the folder directly before import, but I confess I have never used that tool, so cannot say. And if you have a pc, obviously Applescript won't work, but some computer savvy teenager could probably whip up a windows equivalent script/macro for you :-)

Message edited by author 2009-01-16 13:29:25.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/16/2009 01:30:39 PM · #9

Originally posted by MattO:

I checked my d80 and d90, they don't seem (at first glance) to have a unique naming feature.... [goes to dig out manual]

MattO

Nikon D4

01/16/2009 01:34:44 PM · #10

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Originally posted by MattO:
I have a 1DMKIIn and a 1DMKIII. I can make the file names prefix whatever I want. I have one of them as MJO_XXXX and the other is MJO1XXXX. I always use both cameras and lightroom imports them just fine. Although both are far enough now that I dont have any overlapping, I purposely named them that to avoid it if one ever caught up with the other, as I dont reset my shutter count on them.

Matt

I checked my d80 and d90, they don't seem (at first glance) to have a unique naming feature.... [goes to dig out manual]

Most cameras dont have this feature. Canon 1 series is the only Canon camera that I know that gives this option. And I'm not even 100% sure it was available on the original or the 1DMKII, as most of my files from them have odd names.

Matt

01/16/2009 01:37:19 PM · #11

yup, you are correct: no such feature in the d80/90

seems like a simple sorta standard feature, but I guess nikon's capture software might get confused with custom prefixes (they use a prefix underscore to distinguish Adobe RGB colorspace images)

Artifacts

01/16/2009 02:15:14 PM · #12

Originally posted by Melethia:

... Can't get LR to import them even to separate files. Is there a way to do this?

I'm probably just dumb, but don't quite understand what "Can't get LR to import them" means. Is it giving you a duplicate number error of some sort??

I just got LR for selecting and organizing files and just now learning it - actually watching a NPAA LR video tutorial even as I speak - so I'm very interested in the nature and solution to your problem.

I do know that LR will capture your two camera's identity separately in the metadata so you should not have to do anything extra to distinguish images as having come from one or the other camera.

Btw... there is an excellent video on Importing images into LR here:
Lightroom II Basics - Overview of Importing

Message edited by author 2009-01-16 14:19:26.

01/16/2009 02:23:52 PM · #13

Yes, when I try to import, even though the camera settings are different, it bases the library on image number and will not import the duplicate numbers.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

01/16/2009 02:43:52 PM · #14

Originally posted by Melethia:

Yes, when I try to import, even though the camera settings are different, it bases the library on image number and will not import the duplicate numbers.

You could turn off the option to not import duplicates right in the dialog.

But I'm sure my D80 and D90 numbers overlap, and it's not giving me a problem. Perhaps that's the benefit of renaming when you import as I do.

Why not take a minute and learn to use LR's template based renaming?

Artifacts

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

01/16/2009 02:45:55 PM · #15

Originally posted by Melethia:

Yes, when I try to import, even though the camera settings are different, it bases the library on image number and will not import the duplicate numbers.

And you can't simply import them into different directories?

I have many 10s of thousands of pictures and one of my concerns is that I do NOT want to have one GIANT LR catalog with everything in the universe in it. I'm thinking I will keep separate catalogs on the physical hardware devices that actually hold the pictures for practicality. Keeping your images from the two different cameras on separate physical devices might work for you... though I can't bring myself to believe that should be necessary.

Also, there is another library dilemma I'm unsure how to solve. I have two computers to deal with. One is my desktop computer where I do my primary post processing and permanent image storage. But I also have a fully calibrated laptop configured with LR and PS for field post processing when out on the road on photo safaris. I will have to learn how to merge that back to my desktop machine when I return. I have no idea how to do that right now. LOL!!!

BTW... Both of Neil's suggestions are on the mark!

Message edited by author 2009-01-16 14:53:30.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

01/16/2009 02:57:37 PM · #16

Originally posted by Artifacts:

Originally posted by Melethia:
Yes, when I try to import, even though the camera settings are different, it bases the library on image number and will not import the duplicate numbers.

And you can't simply import them into different directories?

I have many 10s of thousands of pictures and one of my concerns is that I do NOT want to have one GIANT LR catalog with everything in the universe in it. I'm thinking I will keep separate catalogs on the physical hardware devices that actually hold the pictures for practicality. Keeping your images from the two different cameras on separate physical devices might work for you... though I can't bring myself to believe that should be necessary.

Also, there is another library dilemma I'm unsure how to solve. I have two computers to deal with. One is my desktop computer where I do my primary post processing and permanent image storage. But I also have a fully calibrated laptop configured with LR and PS for field post processing when out on the road on photo safaris. I will have to learn how to merge that back to my desktop machine when I return. I have no idea how to do that right now. LOL!!!

BTW... Both of Neil's suggestions are on the mark!

I think (with LR 2) you can import from one catalogue into another.

Artifacts

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

01/16/2009 03:12:23 PM · #17

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by Artifacts:
Also, there is another library dilemma I'm unsure how to solve. I have two computers to deal with. One is my desktop computer where I do my primary post processing and permanent image storage. But I also have a fully calibrated laptop configured with LR and PS for field post processing when out on the road on photo safaris. I will have to learn how to merge that back to my desktop machine when I return. I have no idea how to do that right now. LOL!!!

BTW... Both of Neil's suggestions are on the mark!

I think (with LR 2) you can import from one catalogue into another.

Hope so... I have LR v2.2

Or maybe I could just copy the catalog from the laptop or mobile HD along with the actual pictures and my desktop could be made aware of it by just looking for the catalog after the copy.

I just hope they fix the infamous LR "memory leak" problem before I independently discover it. :)

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

01/16/2009 04:22:16 PM · #18

Originally posted by Artifacts:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by Artifacts:
Also, there is another library dilemma I'm unsure how to solve. I have two computers to deal with. One is my desktop computer where I do my primary post processing and permanent image storage. But I also have a fully calibrated laptop configured with LR and PS for field post processing when out on the road on photo safaris. I will have to learn how to merge that back to my desktop machine when I return. I have no idea how to do that right now. LOL!!!

BTW... Both of Neil's suggestions are on the mark!

I think (with LR 2) you can import from one catalogue into another.

Hope so... I have LR v2.2

Or maybe I could just copy the catalog from the laptop or mobile HD along with the actual pictures and my desktop could be made aware of it by just looking for the catalog after the copy.

I just hope they fix the infamous LR "memory leak" problem before I independently discover it. :)

It looks like the ability was there in LR 1 as well. Anyway, this forum may answer your question.

Nikolai1024

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-4.0D

01/16/2009 04:37:19 PM · #19

I have my d300 naming images with 300_00000.jpg and D70 DSC_0000

Prof_Fate

01/16/2009 04:37:48 PM · #20

I copy the images to folders per card

Weddings 2009
... -01_03 Jen and Bob Smith
.... -RAW
..... -Card01
..... -Card02
..... -Card03
... -JPG from LR
... -Proofs for web
etc (...case the spaces aren't staying for formatting)

Then in LR I import a folder (card01) and pick the best and put them in a collection. delete the bad ones off the HD.
I then do card02, card03, etc.
I don't have LR move the files, I see no need.
Been doing this for months, since LR2 came out - I shoot 3 40Ds and have had second shooters -never a problem, LR does what it does (so I don't have to)

Message edited by author 2009-01-16 16:38:44.