Apple mov metadata problem

[Tomiaaa]

hi
im transcoding some videos recoded by my iphone because the file size is too big
i use ffmpeg to transcode "source.mov" to "target.mov"
then i find the "target.mov" is missing metadata
i try to use EXIFTool to copy metadata
i use command  EXIFTool -tagsFromFile "source.mov" -all:all "target.mov"
then i find most tags are copied successfully,but some are still missing
i tried export json file ,and write the missing tags manually
but it says "Warning:Tag"xxxx" is not defined"
for example the tag is "CameraLensModel"
pls help
thank you all

PS:
I will attach a json content for reference，this json is exported from the "source.mov"

Code Select Expand

[{
  "SourceFile": "T:/raw/IMG_9235.MOV",
  "ExifToolVersion": 12.27,
  "FileName": "IMG_9235.MOV",
  "Directory": "T:/raw",
  "FileSize": "2.4 GiB",
  "FileModifyDate": "2025:03:28 21:38:56+08:00",
  "FileAccessDate": "2025:04:16 23:07:50+08:00",
  "FileCreateDate": "2025:04:16 22:51:23+08:00",
  "FilePermissions": "-rw-rw-rw-",
  "FileType": "MOV",
  "FileTypeExtension": "mov",
  "MIMEType": "video/quicktime",
  "MajorBrand": "Apple QuickTime (.MOV/QT)",
  "MinorVersion": "0.0.0",
  "CompatibleBrands": ["qt  "],
  "MediaDataSize": 2538644558,
  "MediaDataOffset": 36,
  "MovieHeaderVersion": 0,
  "CreateDate": "2025:03:28 13:38:56",
  "ModifyDate": "2025:03:28 13:42:52",
  "TimeScale": 600,
  "Duration": "0:03:55",
  "PreferredRate": 1,
  "PreferredVolume": "100.00%",
  "PreviewTime": "0 s",
  "PreviewDuration": "0 s",
  "PosterTime": "0 s",
  "SelectionTime": "0 s",
  "SelectionDuration": "0 s",
  "CurrentTime": "0 s",
  "NextTrackID": 10,
  "TrackHeaderVersion": 0,
  "TrackCreateDate": "2025:03:28 13:38:56",
  "TrackModifyDate": "2025:03:28 13:42:52",
  "TrackID": 1,
  "TrackDuration": "0:03:55",
  "TrackLayer": 0,
  "TrackVolume": "0.00%",
  "ImageWidth": 3840,
  "ImageHeight": 2160,
  "CleanApertureDimensions": "3840x2160",
  "ProductionApertureDimensions": "3840x2160",
  "EncodedPixelsDimensions": "3840x2160",
  "GraphicsMode": "ditherCopy",
  "OpColor": "32768 32768 32768",
  "CompressorID": "hvc1",
  "SourceImageWidth": 3840,
  "SourceImageHeight": 2160,
  "XResolution": 72,
  "YResolution": 72,
  "CompressorName": "HEVC",
  "BitDepth": 24,
  "VideoFrameRate": 59.972,
  "CameraLensModel-und-CN": "iPhone 16 Pro Max back camera 6.765mm f/1.78",
  "CameraFocalLength35mmEquivalent-und-CN": 25,
  "PurchaseFileFormat": "mp4a",
  "Balance": 0,
  "AudioFormat": "apac",
  "AudioChannels": 3,
  "AudioBitsPerSample": 16,
  "AudioSampleRate": 1,
  "Warning": "[minor] The ExtractEmbedded option may find more tags in the media data",
  "ContentDescribes": "Track 1",
  "MatrixStructure": "1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1",
  "MediaHeaderVersion": 0,
  "MediaCreateDate": "2025:03:28 13:38:56",
  "MediaModifyDate": "2025:03:28 13:42:52",
  "MediaTimeScale": 600,
  "MediaDuration": "0:03:55",
  "MediaLanguageCode": "und",
  "GenMediaVersion": 0,
  "GenFlags": "0 0 0",
  "GenGraphicsMode": "ditherCopy",
  "GenOpColor": "32768 32768 32768",
  "GenBalance": 0,
  "HandlerClass": "Data Handler",
  "HandlerVendorID": "Apple",
  "HandlerDescription": "Core Media Data Handler",
  "MetaFormat": "mebx",
  "HandlerType": "Metadata Tags",
  "LocationAccuracyHorizontal": 138.148137,
  "Full-frame-rate-playback-intent": 1,
  "GPSCoordinates": "31 deg 18' 24.84\" N, 120 deg 44' 46.32\" E, 18.811 m Below Sea Level",
  "Make": "Apple",
  "Model": "iPhone 16 Pro Max",
  "Software": "18.3.1",
  "CreationDate": "2025:03:28 21:38:56+08:00",
  "CameraLensModel": "iPhone 16 Pro Max back camera 6.765mm f/1.78",
  "CameraFocalLength35mmEquivalent": 25,
  "ImageSize": "3840x2160",
  "Megapixels": 8.3,
  "AvgBitrate": "86.3 Mbps",
  "GPSAltitude": "18.811 m",
  "GPSAltitudeRef": "Below Sea Level",
  "GPSLatitude": "31 deg 18' 24.84\" N",
  "GPSLongitude": "120 deg 44' 46.32\" E",
  "Rotation": 0,
  "GPSPosition": "31 deg 18' 24.84\" N, 120 deg 44' 46.32\" E"
}]


[StarGeek]

The missing tags are probably EXIF data, whereas most video data is Quicktime data. Use the command in FAQ #3 to see what group that data belongs to.

EXIF data is non-standard in video files and every camera company forces the data into the files in different ways. Sometimes different ways between two different models. Because of this, EXIF data cannot be copied.

If your file includes a GPS track, then that also cannot be copied.

The best you can do will be to copy the EXIF data to the corresponding XMP tags. This can be done using the exif2xmp.arg file. Download that and save it into the same directory as exiftool. Then you could run
exiftool -tagsFromFile "source.mov" -all:all -@ exif2xmp.args target.mov

But there is a subset of EXIF data called MakerNotes. These hold all the various camera setting and vary between cameras. There isn't a place to copy this data and it will be lost.