File naming when you have more than one Pentax

tclausen · 05-08-2013, 04:12 AM

Originally posted by kerrowdown

I think as long as they're fairly close to each other it'll be good enough to work out fine.

Don't stop short of anything but perfection - isn't that why we use Pentax in the first place?

(Or, were you talking about relativistic effects?

)

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-08-2013, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by kerrowdown

As long as you synch the clocks on the actual cameras prior to the shoot, you could then sort the images by capture time in the likes of Lightroom.

But in many programs, including PSP, you only see in the browser photos in one directory, therefore the need to have unique file names per image, as opposed, to keeping shots from each camera in different directories.

That was the context of the comment, not about having the clocks perfectly synchronized.

tibbitts · 05-11-2013, 08:13 AM

It would be nice if there was an option for the camera to use an actual shutter count serial number (but with 6 digits) in the filename, instead of worrying about putting the wrong card in the camera and changing the numbering, or having a camera that outlasts the 100k shutter life.

Paul

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-13-2013, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by tibbitts

It would be nice if there was an option for the camera to use an actual shutter count serial number (but with 6 digits) in the filename, instead of worrying about putting the wrong card in the camera and changing the numbering, or having a camera that outlasts the 100k shutter life.

Paul

Actually I disagree, many shooters want to reset the counter on a job by job basis, the fact that others do not, should not impose a forced file name, additionally there are file name length issues potentially which is why I suspect we are limited in total characters, although I would really love an additional digit. After 100k (99999 actually) I would not care about roll over, but after 9999 it is problematic

**Just1MoreDave** · 05-14-2013, 07:40 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

Actually I disagree, many shooters want to reset the counter on a job by job basis, the fact that others do not, should not impose a forced file name, additionally there are file name length issues potentially which is why I suspect we are limited in total characters, although I would really love an additional digit. After 100k (99999 actually) I would not care about roll over, but after 9999 it is problematic

This is what happens after a series of many perfectly logical small decisions. Still stuck with DOS 8.3 file names, 18 years after DOS stopped requiring them.

**ramseybuckeye** · 05-18-2013, 06:56 PM

I have Lightroom rename the files as they are imported, Bridge will do this too. I have used the same naming convention for several years, at work and at home. Here is a typical file name: 20130504004, First four digits are year, 5 & 6 are month, 7 & 8 are day of the month, and last three are sequential series number (it can be set for more digits than that). The import subfolder is created the same way, o this goes into subfolder 20130504 (which is created in folder 2013). With this method I can look at a photo file that is anywhere (even on-line) and know when I took it without having to take the extra step of viewing EXIF.

I recently got a Q so for the first time have two Pentax cameras. I may set the sequential digits to start at 1001 for the K-30 and 2001 for the Q. I would have to change that before each import. Currently is is set to start at 001, but if I have already loaded photos from one camera in a day I have to change that before import of I will get the same numbers with a -2 on the end of the name. The only problem with this is that you have to remember to do it. I'll have to make sure there is no way to have Lightroom add another digit using camera EXIF which would be better yet.

**ramseybuckeye** · 05-27-2013, 05:49 PM

I just got Lightroom 4 (this may be possible in 3 too) and have changed my naming of files. This is a file just imported from the camera, Lightroom renames the files on import to my specs: 20130527PENTAX K-30-0003.dng. The first 8 digits are date: YYYMMDD, obviously the next part is the camera name, the last 4 digits are the sequence. Many parts of the exif data can be used in the file name including camera serial number, lens name. You could get into pretty long fikle names if you want to.

Here's two files in the same folder:
20130526PENTAX Q-0001.dng
20130526PENTAX K-30-0001.dng
Before I added the camera name to the file name I would either have to tell Lightroom to start at a different sequence number (on imports from a second camera on the same day) or Lightroom would add a -2 to the file name. If you had two of the same camera using the serial number would be an easy way to distinguish the files from each.

There is a lot of freedom to set this up however you want. I've used the date and sequence for years and it has worked well. Now with a second camera adding that camera name has simplified things.

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05-08-2013, 04:12 AM	#31
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	Originally posted by kerrowdown I think as long as they're fairly close to each other it'll be good enough to work out fine. Don't stop short of anything but perfection - isn't that why we use Pentax in the first place? (Or, were you talking about relativistic effects? )

05-08-2013, 04:15 AM	#32
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	Originally posted by kerrowdown As long as you synch the clocks on the actual cameras prior to the shoot, you could then sort the images by capture time in the likes of Lightroom. But in many programs, including PSP, you only see in the browser photos in one directory, therefore the need to have unique file names per image, as opposed, to keeping shots from each camera in different directories. That was the context of the comment, not about having the clocks perfectly synchronized.

05-11-2013, 08:13 AM	#33
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,196	It would be nice if there was an option for the camera to use an actual shutter count serial number (but with 6 digits) in the filename, instead of worrying about putting the wrong card in the camera and changing the numbering, or having a camera that outlasts the 100k shutter life. Paul

05-13-2013, 01:53 PM	#34
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	Originally posted by tibbitts It would be nice if there was an option for the camera to use an actual shutter count serial number (but with 6 digits) in the filename, instead of worrying about putting the wrong card in the camera and changing the numbering, or having a camera that outlasts the 100k shutter life. Paul Actually I disagree, many shooters want to reset the counter on a job by job basis, the fact that others do not, should not impose a forced file name, additionally there are file name length issues potentially which is why I suspect we are limited in total characters, although I would really love an additional digit. After 100k (99999 actually) I would not care about roll over, but after 9999 it is problematic

05-14-2013, 07:40 AM	#35
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge Actually I disagree, many shooters want to reset the counter on a job by job basis, the fact that others do not, should not impose a forced file name, additionally there are file name length issues potentially which is why I suspect we are limited in total characters, although I would really love an additional digit. After 100k (99999 actually) I would not care about roll over, but after 9999 it is problematic This is what happens after a series of many perfectly logical small decisions. Still stuck with DOS 8.3 file names, 18 years after DOS stopped requiring them.

05-18-2013, 06:56 PM	#36
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	I have Lightroom rename the files as they are imported, Bridge will do this too. I have used the same naming convention for several years, at work and at home. Here is a typical file name: 20130504004, First four digits are year, 5 & 6 are month, 7 & 8 are day of the month, and last three are sequential series number (it can be set for more digits than that). The import subfolder is created the same way, o this goes into subfolder 20130504 (which is created in folder 2013). With this method I can look at a photo file that is anywhere (even on-line) and know when I took it without having to take the extra step of viewing EXIF. I recently got a Q so for the first time have two Pentax cameras. I may set the sequential digits to start at 1001 for the K-30 and 2001 for the Q. I would have to change that before each import. Currently is is set to start at 001, but if I have already loaded photos from one camera in a day I have to change that before import of I will get the same numbers with a -2 on the end of the name. The only problem with this is that you have to remember to do it. I'll have to make sure there is no way to have Lightroom add another digit using camera EXIF which would be better yet.

05-27-2013, 05:49 PM	#37
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	I just got Lightroom 4 (this may be possible in 3 too) and have changed my naming of files. This is a file just imported from the camera, Lightroom renames the files on import to my specs: 20130527PENTAX K-30-0003.dng. The first 8 digits are date: YYYMMDD, obviously the next part is the camera name, the last 4 digits are the sequence. Many parts of the exif data can be used in the file name including camera serial number, lens name. You could get into pretty long fikle names if you want to. Here's two files in the same folder: 20130526PENTAX Q-0001.dng 20130526PENTAX K-30-0001.dng Before I added the camera name to the file name I would either have to tell Lightroom to start at a different sequence number (on imports from a second camera on the same day) or Lightroom would add a -2 to the file name. If you had two of the same camera using the serial number would be an easy way to distinguish the files from each. There is a lot of freedom to set this up however you want. I've used the date and sequence for years and it has worked well. Now with a second camera adding that camera name has simplified things.