Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - does it write InternalSerialNumber?

[dpr99]

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

[StarGeek]

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, 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.

[Phil Harvey]

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

[dpr99]

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.

[Phil Harvey]

You can use the new -diff option to compare two files.  Maybe also add -u just in case to extract unknown tags.

- Phil

[dpr99]

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

[StarGeek]

It would be a bit more difficult, but maybe check the FileNumber tag?

[dpr99]

It 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.

[StarGeek]

I was talking about the FileNumber tag that is embedded in the files. Using the samples I grabbed

Code Select Expand

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.

[Phil Harvey]

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