Date format problem

[iratemonkey]

Hi,

When I use ExifTool to export all the metadata from my images to a csv file (using the command exiftool -r -csv "C:\Users\SAM\Desktop\1" >out.csv), the format of the data in the DateTimeOriginal field does not make sense.  It is in the following format:

56071:1536:3584 3840:9984:5888

I have tried the 'format cells' options in Excel but this does not change the format of the date.  I need to convert the date into a format such as

2011:06:14 17:22:51

Does anyone know if there is a way of converting the date to a readable format?

Thanks a lot

Sam

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Sam,

This is very odd.  Could you email me the image (philharvey66 at gmail.com) or post the output of exiftool -v3 for the image?

- Phil

[iratemonkey]

Hi Phil,

I have attached a sample image and csv file containing the metadata output from a couple of images.

If this doesn't work i can email them to you.

If it helps i can provide a bit more context.  I am using ExifTool on my camera trap (Reconyx) images for a scientific project monitoring leopards.  So I first run ExifTool to copy the date to the correct field (command exiftool "-DateTimeOriginal>DateTimeOriginal" -r -overwrite_original -ext .JPG "C:\Users\SAM\Desktop\TEST").  I then tag the images with the species (in the sample image this is just "vehicle") using Windows Live Photo Gallery.  Finally I export the metadata for analysis to the csv file as described. Perhaps the tagging process is causing this problem?

Thanks a lot

Sam

[iratemonkey]

By the way attached is the output of exiftool -v3 on 2 sample images as requested.

Thanks

Sam

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the sample.

What model of Reconyx camera is this?  I haven't seen this problem with the samples from models I have available.

The problem is that this camera is writing an invalid DateTimeOriginal in the maker notes.  For some reason, this particular value is stored in the opposite byte ordering to the rest of the maker notes.

The good news is that the DateTimeOriginal is also stored in the EXIF of this image, so you can add -a -G to your command and just ignore the Reconyx:DateTimeOriginal value.

But I will add a patch to ExifTool to allow for variable byte ordering of this information, so it will be read correctly with version 8.86 or later.

- Phil

[iratemonkey]

Hi Phil,

The camera model i use is Reconyx Hyperfire HC500. 

Thanks a lot for the advice - the date and time now make sense in the new EXIF:DateTimeOriginal field added by including -a -G to the command.  And thanks also for planning a patch for the next ExifTool release.

Thanks again

Sam

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Sam,

Interesting.  I have HC500 samples but they don't show this problem.  The difference is the firmware version: Mine are version 3.0.0, but yours is 3.3.0.  It seems that Reconyx introduced this bug in a firmware upgrade.

At any rate, ExifTool 8.86 will solve the problem at this end.

- Phil