SceneCaptureType value for HDR photos from Samsung

[francois]

I found out that tag 0xa406 EXIF:SceneCaptureType with value 4 means HDR capture mode on Samsung GT-I9300 (Galaxy S III), for both original image and HDR image. Probably for other Samsung devices? ExifTool currently reports Unknown:

Code Select Expand

$ exiftool -EXIF:SceneCaptureType -ext jpg *
======== 2014-04-15 00.53.44-1.jpg
Scene Capture Type              : Unknown (4)
======== 2014-04-15 00.53.44-2.jpg
Scene Capture Type              : Unknown (4)


[Phil Harvey]

Thanks.  I'm not exactly sure what to do about this because it is a non-standard use of a standard EXIF tag.  I have to be careful because I don't want people to think this is an accepted use of this tag.

Various Samsung models also write a non-standard value of 3 for EXIF:ExposureMode, but I don't know what this means.

- Phil

[francois]

Thanks.  I'm not exactly sure what to do about this because it is a non-standard use of a standard EXIF tag.  I have to be careful because I don't want people to think this is an accepted use of this tag.

I don't have a strong opinion. If ExifTool doesn't have special treatment of standard EXIF tags used in non-standard ways by some manufacturers, it may indeed be better not to start doing so. At least, you can mention this value in code comments or in the documentation?

[Phil Harvey]

Hi François,

For now, I will just put a comment in the code.  Thanks.

- Phil

[Jaff]

For SM-J100H (Samsung Galaxy J1) and SM-J500F (Samsung Galaxy J5), value 4 is used for Panorama capture. You may consider this as "other" than standard/landscape/portrait/night.

[Phil Harvey]

Thanks.  I'll add this as 'Other' then.

- Phil