DA 18-55mm WR lens exif data issue

farfisa · 05-19-2010, 11:27 AM

I have the same problem with Lightroom with the DFA 100 WR, DA*55 and DA 15 (I don't currently have them all, but still have all the pics in a large "Unknown Lens" pile).

When I open files in Photoshop and look at the exif data, I see a lens like the FA77 will say:
aux:Lens: smc PENTAX-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited
aux:LensID: 4 24
aux:LensInfo: 770/10 770/10 18/10 18/10

whereas the DFA 100 WR will say:
aux:LensID: 7 58
and won't have the other fields.

So most likely PhotoMe is reading the LensID (at least when it doesn't find "Lens"). I've gotta assume that these lens ID's are unique, though the numbers seem pretty low...

Unfortunately Lightroom's pretty inflexible about how you search (you can't even search via focal length) so I'm not sure how to turn that info into anything.

But you're on to something

JeffJS · 05-19-2010, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Now that I come to think of it, it has to be the software. AFAIK the actual lens name is never stored in exif: only the focal length. The lens name then has to be decoded by the Pentax software.

Nice smiley! I though you were confused about the 82

No, I'm completely clear on that. If anything I'm confused as to why Photome (A FREE program) can correctly ID a given lens but a $1000 program like photoshop (bridge) CS4, cannot.

You may live to regret pointing me to the custom smiley link..

Marc Sabatella · 05-19-2010, 08:09 PM

It all depends on how recently the program was updated. Photome is a very small and simple program, and it's easy enough for the author to update it regularly. A large complex application like Photoshop is typically updated much less often. So you might have to wait a little longer before the next update to Photoshop to include support for the new lens ID's.

Naim Khan · 05-20-2010, 05:17 AM

Hi guys,
I'll refer you to a similar thread I started not long ago. Unfortunately we didn't get the answers we were looking for:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/95093-stupid-question.html

Cheers.

Andi Lo · 07-28-2010, 09:42 PM

Ok, I read up on the thread above, but still not sure on the answer to this question: "Will my 18-55 WR be recognized in Lightroom as 18-55 WR instead of "unknown lens" once adobe releases an update?"

I used K10d and K-x so I know the age of the camera is not the issue...

Marc Sabatella · 07-29-2010, 01:24 PM

Assuming Adobe's update included the necessary code to handle that lens, then sure.

penkat · 01-12-2012, 07:14 PM

Assuming it's even an Adobe issue…I've run into this probelm of missing lens info also, most recently with my Pentax 18-135 WR. The 18-55 lenses that came with my K-x and old *ist DS2 are recognized. So are F-series lenses and older A-series lenses. Is CS5 any better in terms of identifying more recent lenses? I'm using CS4 and won't be "upgrading" for a while yet.

creampuff · 01-12-2012, 07:27 PM

Alert! Old thread revived!

I have Lightroom 3.6 and Photoshop CS 5 Extended and I have no issues with both software identifying lens ID. The DA 18-135mm is a new lens and the lens database for Photoshop CS 4 might not be have been updated to show this particular lens info. CS 4 users with this lens would be able to verify this. Yes, CS 5 is definitely better than CS 4 as far as lens metadata is concerned.

penkat · 01-12-2012, 08:18 PM

creampuff, thanks for the reply, I wasn't sure if anyone would re-visit this thread.

sterretje · 01-12-2012, 11:39 PM

penkat, I don't have 'A' lenses. If you use a lens and the camera prompts for focal length (if you have SR on), then no PP software will identify them as the lens ID is simply not there. This applies to any lens.

penkat · 01-13-2012, 10:06 AM

I'm not using anything in the way you describe, though. The Pentax 18-135 is a pretty recent DA lens, more recent than CS4. It seems to be Bridge that is not able to identify more recent gear. And there is zero chance that this will be addressed by Adobe: they have no incentive to do so.

I've been including info about the "invisible" lenses in my folder titles, and will continue to do that.

01-12-2012, 07:14 PM	#22
penkat New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New York Posts: 3	Is CS 5 better than CS4 at identifying lens info? Assuming it's even an Adobe issue…I've run into this probelm of missing lens info also, most recently with my Pentax 18-135 WR. The 18-55 lenses that came with my K-x and old *ist DS2 are recognized. So are F-series lenses and older A-series lenses. Is CS5 any better in terms of identifying more recent lenses? I'm using CS4 and won't be "upgrading" for a while yet.

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05-19-2010, 11:27 AM	#16
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	I have the same problem with Lightroom with the DFA 100 WR, DA*55 and DA 15 (I don't currently have them all, but still have all the pics in a large "Unknown Lens" pile). When I open files in Photoshop and look at the exif data, I see a lens like the FA77 will say: aux:Lens: smc PENTAX-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited aux:LensID: 4 24 aux:LensInfo: 770/10 770/10 18/10 18/10 whereas the DFA 100 WR will say: aux:LensID: 7 58 and won't have the other fields. So most likely PhotoMe is reading the LensID (at least when it doesn't find "Lens"). I've gotta assume that these lens ID's are unique, though the numbers seem pretty low... Unfortunately Lightroom's pretty inflexible about how you search (you can't even search via focal length) so I'm not sure how to turn that info into anything. But you're on to something

05-19-2010, 12:06 PM	#17
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by Adam Now that I come to think of it, it has to be the software. AFAIK the actual lens name is never stored in exif: only the focal length. The lens name then has to be decoded by the Pentax software. Nice smiley! I though you were confused about the 82 No, I'm completely clear on that. If anything I'm confused as to why Photome (A FREE program) can correctly ID a given lens but a $1000 program like photoshop (bridge) CS4, cannot. You may live to regret pointing me to the custom smiley link..

05-19-2010, 08:09 PM	#18
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	It all depends on how recently the program was updated. Photome is a very small and simple program, and it's easy enough for the author to update it regularly. A large complex application like Photoshop is typically updated much less often. So you might have to wait a little longer before the next update to Photoshop to include support for the new lens ID's.

05-20-2010, 05:17 AM	#19
Naim Khan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire Posts: 177	Hi guys, I'll refer you to a similar thread I started not long ago. Unfortunately we didn't get the answers we were looking for: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/95093-stupid-question.html Cheers.

07-28-2010, 09:42 PM	#20
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Ok, I read up on the thread above, but still not sure on the answer to this question: "Will my 18-55 WR be recognized in Lightroom as 18-55 WR instead of "unknown lens" once adobe releases an update?" I used K10d and K-x so I know the age of the camera is not the issue...

07-29-2010, 01:24 PM	#21
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Assuming Adobe's update included the necessary code to handle that lens, then sure.

01-12-2012, 07:27 PM	#23
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Alert! Old thread revived! I have Lightroom 3.6 and Photoshop CS 5 Extended and I have no issues with both software identifying lens ID. The DA 18-135mm is a new lens and the lens database for Photoshop CS 4 might not be have been updated to show this particular lens info. CS 4 users with this lens would be able to verify this. Yes, CS 5 is definitely better than CS 4 as far as lens metadata is concerned.

01-12-2012, 08:18 PM	#24
penkat New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New York Posts: 3	creampuff, thanks for the reply, I wasn't sure if anyone would re-visit this thread.

01-12-2012, 11:39 PM	#25
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	penkat, I don't have 'A' lenses. If you use a lens and the camera prompts for focal length (if you have SR on), then no PP software will identify them as the lens ID is simply not there. This applies to any lens.

01-13-2012, 10:06 AM	#26
penkat New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New York Posts: 3	I'm not using anything in the way you describe, though. The Pentax 18-135 is a pretty recent DA lens, more recent than CS4. It seems to be Bridge that is not able to identify more recent gear. And there is zero chance that this will be addressed by Adobe: they have no incentive to do so. I've been including info about the "invisible" lenses in my folder titles, and will continue to do that.