ExifTool Forum

General => Metadata => Topic started by: dpr99 on November 03, 2024, 05:14:36 PM

Title: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: dpr99 on November 03, 2024, 05:14:36 PM

Can anyone confirm if the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS writes its InternalSerialNumber to jpg files?
I have one, but I can't display it.

The camera is listed in https://exiftool.org/TagNames/Canon.html#CameraInfoPowerShot
and I can display the Camera make, model etc from the file...but no serial number.
Thanks
Title: Re: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: StarGeek on November 03, 2024, 07:41:04 PM
Since MakerNotes are constantly changing between each and every camera model, many Canon tags won't appear in every camera.

I downloaded a couple images from DPReview's sample gallery (https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/6719866864/canon-powershot-sx50-hs-review-samples/9993028236), took a look at the unknowns with
exiftool -G1 -a -s "-MakerNote:Canon_*" file.jpg

and nothing stood out that looked like it might be a serial number.
Title: Re: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: Phil Harvey on November 03, 2024, 09:39:48 PM
Looking at my samples from the various PowerShot SX models, none of the has an InternalSerialNumber that ExifTool extracts.  Some do have an EXIF:SerialNumber, but not the SX50HS.

- Phil
Title: Re: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: dpr99 on November 04, 2024, 04:12:20 AM
Thanks to both of you for your prompt response!  It's not the answer that I hoped for, but it is consistent with my results.

The minor problem I'm trying to solve is that my wife and I both each owned the same model camera. It would be nice to be able to separate the two sets of photos. I was hoping that serial number would be available. Both cameras had the same firmware rev. Any ideas on what metadata to use? It's not a big problem, so no need to spend time on it.

And thanks Phil for exiftool and exif. Been using them both for many years.
Title: Re: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: Phil Harvey on November 04, 2024, 07:11:26 AM
You can use the new -diff option to compare two files.  Maybe also add -u just in case to extract unknown tags.

- Phil
Title: Re: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: dpr99 on November 04, 2024, 02:34:30 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. I used the -diff option to compare:
1. two files known to be from different cameras, nothing in the Canon area that looked like it was a serial number that was different
2. two files known to be from the same camera, nothing in the Canon area, that was the same value.

So, I think there's not much else to try.
Thanks again

dpr
Title: Re: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: StarGeek on November 04, 2024, 05:13:49 PM
It would be a bit more difficult, but maybe check the FileNumber tag?
Title: Re: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: dpr99 on November 07, 2024, 05:05:24 PM
Quote from: StarGeek on November 04, 2024, 05:13:49 PMIt would be a bit more difficult, but maybe check the FileNumber tag?

What's your thought on using FileNumber? https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART136321#:~:text=The%20four%2Ddigit%20file%20number,the%20file%20number%20is%20assigned. (https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART136321#:~:text=The%20four%2Ddigit%20file%20number,the%20file%20number%20is%20assigned.)


Title: Re: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: StarGeek on November 07, 2024, 05:55:15 PM
I was talking about the FileNumber tag that is embedded in the files. Using the samples I grabbed

C:\>exiftool -G1 -a -s -make -model -filenumber Y:\!temp\x
======== Y:/!temp/x/5498350621.jpg
[IFD0]          Make                            : Canon
[IFD0]          Model                           : Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
[Canon]         FileNumber                      : 100-1573
======== Y:/!temp/x/9993028236.jpg
[IFD0]          Make                            : Canon
[IFD0]          Model                           : Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
[Canon]         FileNumber                      : 100-1562

If you find a group of files numbered 100-1500 to 100-1600 and another group numbered 100-2200 to 100-2300, but they were all taken in the same time frame, then it's most likely that group one is from a different camera than group two.

Title: Re: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?
Post by: Phil Harvey on November 07, 2024, 08:53:55 PM
You may be able to bump the file number by artificially renaming a directory to say 500 on a memory card then inserting that back in the camera and taking pictures.  I have done this for other makes and the camera has picked up the new number and continued from there.  Then the other camera would have file numbers 100-xxxx and this would have 500-xxxx and on.

- Phil