Can't assign a value MakerNotes:InternalSerialNumber

[Jom]

For some jpg-files, ExifTool cannot set value to MakerNotes:InternalSerialNumber.

I do:
exiftool -MakerNotes:InternalSerialNumber=ZA2561817 20120829_210434_100_0226.jpg
Result:
0 image files updated
1 image files unchanged

What can it be related to and how to fix it?

[StarGeek]

MakerNotes is a shortcut tag group that covers multiple propitiatory tags from the various camera manufacturers. Depending upon the file, it can include Canon, Nikon, Ricoh, Panasonic, etc.  These tags cannot be created or deleted.  They can only be edited if the underlying group already exists and even then may be limited to certain cameras.  See the EXIF tag page under MakerNotes for the full range of what might be covered.

So basically (checking the Tag Names page), if the image wasn't created by the appropriate Canon, Ricoh, Fuji, Pentax, Panasonic, Sony, Minolta, or  Olympus camera, then the tag doesn't exist and it cannot be created.

If you are looking for a place to put a unique ID string for each image, you might use EXIF:ImageUniqueID.

[Jom]

Thanks for explanation, Bryan.
Not so easy to create a file naming system, constantly different surprises.

But I have some jpg-files which have a MakerNotes:InternalSerialNumber and some don't.



Is that normal?

EDITED: all jpg was converted from cr2 that are was created by the same camera.
EDITED: I'm guessing it could be because of the software: one software keeps the MakerNotes tag and the other doesn't. I just don't remember how I converted, but I want to at least find the right guess.

If you are looking for a place to put a unique ID string for each image, you might use EXIF:ImageUniqueID.

No, MakerNotes:InternalSerialNumber I wanted to use in filenames to create their uniqueness, but probably MakerNotes:InternalSerialNumber is not suitable for this purpose.

[StarGeek]

But I have some jpg-files which have a MakerNotes:InternalSerialNumber and some don't.

Is that normal?

EDITED: all jpg was converted from cr2 that are was created by the same camera.
EDITED: I'm guessing it could be because of the software: one software keeps the MakerNotes tag and the other doesn't. I just don't remember how I converted, but I want to at least find the right guess.

As cr2 is a Canon format, it may have the InternalSerialNumber tag, but it might also be dependent upon the actual model of the camera used.  An earlier type of camera or possibly even a different version of the firmware might produce different results.  This is all in addition to the fact that, as you figured out, not all software will keep MakerNotes intact.

[Jom]

...even a different version of the firmware...

This is high-quality information for me.
Yes, I was updating the firmware.
Thanks.
I will try to reinstall the old firmware and compare.

[Jom]

No, it's not the firmware, these photos are from the same day and from the same camera.
Different data are missing from different photos with no apparent regularity.
The only difference I can testimony is that some jpg-photos were converted at different times by different programs.
Probably, it's all about programs of converting...
Can there are other assumptions, why so could happen (some jpg-files have an MakerNotes:InternalSerialNumber and others don't?

Code Select Expand

d:\history\2012\08\2012_08_29>exiftool -sort -G -s -Firmware -CanonFirmwareVersion -FirmwareVersion -InternalSerialNumber -SerialNumber -Software -ext jpg -ext cr2 .
======== ./20120829_194237.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_194250.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_194411_100_0010.cr2
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
======== ./20120829_194610.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_194637.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_194641.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_194716.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_194930.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_194940.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_195103.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_195218.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_195304.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_195523.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_195552.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200102.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200258_100_0065.cr2
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
======== ./20120829_200422_100_0071.cr2
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
======== ./20120829_200424.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200432.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200435.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200515.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200535.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200552.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200620.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200625.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200639.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_200955.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_201055.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_201104.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_201343.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_201608.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_201628.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_201853.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_201957.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_202002.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_202110.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_202217.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_202219.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_202800.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_202807.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_202813.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_202820_100_0143.cr2
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
======== ./20120829_202903_100_0145.cr2
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
======== ./20120829_204125.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204237_100_0154.cr2
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
======== ./20120829_204250.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204320.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204353.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204356.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204451.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204455.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204457.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204513.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204605.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204616.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204629.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204647.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204659.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204807.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_204854.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205006.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205018.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205021.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205037.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205104.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205123.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205345.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205356.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205418.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205503.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_205545.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[EXIF]          Software                        : Capture One 6 Windows
======== ./20120829_210434_100_0226.cr2
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
======== ./20120829_210434_100_0226.jpg
[XMP]           Firmware                        : 1.0.2
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
[EXIF]          Software                        : Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 11.1 (Windows)
======== ./20120829_212736_100_0229.jpg
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
[EXIF]          Software                        : ACDSee Pro 5
======== ./20120829_212807_100_0232.jpg
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
[EXIF]          Software                        : ACDSee Pro 5
======== ./20120829_212842_100_0235.jpg
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
[EXIF]          Software                        : ACDSee Pro 5
======== ./20120829_213100_100_0243.jpg
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
[EXIF]          Software                        : ACDSee Pro 5
======== ./20120829_213109_100_0244.jpg
[MakerNotes]    CanonFirmwareVersion            : Firmware Version 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    FirmwareVersion                 : 1.0.2
[MakerNotes]    InternalSerialNumber            : ZA2561817
[EXIF]          SerialNumber                    : 163066096287
[EXIF]          Software                        : ACDSee Pro 5
    1 directories scanned
   78 image files read

[Hayo Baan]

Hi Andrei,

That you have some jpgs from the same camera that have the internal serial number and some that don't really is down to differences in the software used as well as the options used when saving the raw file as jpg. You simply can not rely on non-raw files having all the metadata from the original raw file.

Side note: the internal serial number is not a tag that all camera makes (and even models of the same make) store in the metadata. It's not the best tag to rely on for uniqueness, you'll need at least some alternatives if that tag is not present (like you already ran into).

Hope this is helpful information for you,
Hayo

[Jom]

Hi, Hayo.
Thanks for the answer, but I can't understand the first sentence exactly, the sentence is too long.

That you have some jpgs from the same camera that have the internal serial number and some that don't really is down to differences in the software used as well as the options used when saving the raw file as jpg.

Write it again, please, but break it down into small sentences.

[StarGeek]

The software used to process the images might be the problem.
The options used when exporting from raw might be the problem.

[Jom]

Thanks, Bryan.
Glad that my assumptions coincided with yours (you and Hayo), it makes the situation easier.
The more I learn about metadata, the more I realize what a huge hive it is and just wonder how it can be controlled and maintained by several people (if I understand corectly about ExifTool)..
The naming system also becomes a complex and sensitive process, in which everything starts not after shooting, but before choosing the software and equipment.
In addition to everything and as a consequence, the naming system cannot be a set of specific rules, but can be a General algorithm.
This is a very interesting task for me, but the more I learn about metadata, the more I realize that I didn't know anything.
Also, I am gradually overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude to the manufacturers of equipment and software, who are trying their best to make our lives more complicated and saturation.