Problem with copying Nikon Z8 makernotes

[pemiwi]

Hello,
Within my development process my Nikon raw-files loose parts of their exif data.
Therefore, I copy the makernotes from raw-files to the resulting jpgs using the following command:
exiftool(-tagsfromfile %d%-.8f.NEF -MakerNotes -overwrite_original -k).exe
(jpg-name is 8 letters longer than raw-name)

Tool-version is 13.27

If I observed correctly, this worked with my former Nikon cameras but not with the current Z8.
Here I get always the warning:

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Warning: [minor] Writing large value for MakerNotes - D:/EigeneDateien/EigeneBilder/_unsortiert/2025/02/Oman_2025/Originale/Oman_25-001_LR-plus.jpg
    1 image files updated
With the Z6.2 I got the message:

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Warning: [minor] Writing multi-segment EXIF - D:/EigeneDateien/EigeneBilder/2023/09_17-22_Dresden/Originale/Dresden_2023-001_LR-plus.jpg
    1 image files updatedBut this was not a problem for me since I saw the result in exif data I wanted...

Could you please help to fix my problem?

Many thanks in advance!
Peter

[StarGeek]

Try adding the -m (-ignoreMinorErrors) option to see if that will allow the copy.

Otherwise, if you can provide a sample RAW image to test, that would be helpful.

[StarGeek]

But this was not a problem for me since I saw the result in exif data I wanted...

Re-read this after doing some searching of the forums. Are you saying that the data is copied or that it isn't copied?

If it is still copied, then you don't need to worry about it. It's only a minor warning and the above option will suppress the warning.

The Writing multi-segment EXIF simply means that there is more data in the EXIF block than the JPEG format allows (max chunk size is ~65K). Exiftool is forced to split the EXIF data into two separate JPEG chunks. Some software may have a problem with this. For example, Windows might not be able to display a thumbnail of the image because of this.

[pemiwi]

Hello,
Thanks for the quick reply.
Tool version is 13.27
OS is win11 pro, 24H2

Nikon NX-Studio shows the exif data of the raw file like "Exif-raw.png"
After processing the exif data of my jpg is shown like "Exif-jpg.png"
With Nikon Z6.2 raw files the command "exiftool(-tagsfromfile %d%-.8f.NEF -m -MakerNotes -overwrite_original -k).exe" copies makernotes so exif data of raw and jpg files are displayed identically by NX-Studio.
With Nikon Z8 raw files the command does not copy makernotes to jpg file, so jpg exif data are still displayed like exif-jpg.png, not like exif-raw.png.

I wanted to attach a Z8-raw file and the corresponding jpg which I want the makernotes to be copied to, but the raw file is 51 MB...

[Phil Harvey]

Your command should copy the maker notes provided the JPEG has the correct Make/Model.  I always recommend copying Make and Model when copying Makernotes (FAQ 8).

There is a new warning, so you need to use -a to see both:

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> exiftool test.jpg -tagsfromfile NikonZ8.nef -makernotes -make -model -a
Warning: [minor] Writing large value for MakerNotes - a.jpg
Warning: [minor] Creating multi-segment EXIF - a.jpg
    1 image files updated
You can use this command to see what was copied:

exiftool test.jpg -makernotes:all

It seems that most was copied, except the distortion and vignetting corrections, contrast curve and preview image were not.  The Preview isn't copied as a matter of principle, and the other tags aren't copied because they don't exist in out-of-camera Nikon JPEG's.

I can't say for sure why NX-Studio doesn't like the new maker notes, but it is likely due to the multi-segment EXIF.

- Phil

[pemiwi]

Hello Phil,
Thanks a lot for your clarification!
So I have a NX-Studio problem, not a exiftool problem 
-> Now I know which direction to investigate further (i.e. looking for a different viewer...)

Thanks,
Peter

[herb]

Hello,

sorry that I hijack this thread.

There is a new warning, so you need to use -a to see both:

It is unclear to me why and when in addition the option -a has to be used.

Is it because of the size of all makernotes?
Has option -a then also to be used in case of copying e.g. all EXIF tags?

Thanks for your comments in advance
herb

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Herb,

The -a only has to be used to allow duplicate tags to be reported.  The behaviour of the command is identical without -a, but the duplicate Warning tag is suppressed.

- Phil

[StarGeek]

It is unclear to me why and when in addition the option -a has to be used.

Warning (and Error) are just tags, the same as any other tag. See the Extra Tags page.