Writing serial number in Nikon NEFs

Posted on 2006-05-17 02:30:35-07 by dlu

I'd like to be able to write the serial number tag of NEFs from a D200. When I try and do it exiftool -serialnumber=123456 foo.nef exiftool reports "1 image files updated," but exiftool -serialnumber foo.nef returns Serial Number : with no value for the serial number. I'm using exiftool 6.17. Thanks in advance, Doug

Direct Responses: 2316 | Write a response

Posted on 2006-05-17 12:07:35-07 by exiftool in response to 2313

Re: Writing serial number in Nikon NEFs

Hi Doug,

This is FAQ number 3. Use the "-a -G1" options and you will see where your serial number information was written. You can also use the "-v3" option when writing to see what is happening.

Unfortunately, the Nikon serial number for the D200 is not writable (see the Notes for SerialNumber in the Nikon Tags documentation). This is because it is used as a key for the decryption of other information. So you are instead writing XMP-aux:SerialNumber, but you need to use the "-a" option to see this duplicate information when you try to read it back again.

- Phil

Direct Responses: 2329 | Write a response

Posted on 2006-05-20 18:49:05-07 by dlu in response to 2316

Re: Writing serial number in Nikon NEFs

My apologies for missing the FAQ, and my thanks for the prompt answer. I really appreciate it.
- Doug

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