Dec 06 2008
What the Heck is EXIF?
Ok, this is too cool. Are you familiar with the Exchangeable Image File Format, or EXIF? You probably use it and don’t even know it. EXIF is a specification standard for storing information within digital image files. EXIF data is captured by most newer digital cameras. When you take a photo, information is embedded within each digital image file. The most commonly included information typically includes the camera model, date and time, exposure, etc. When you download your photos into your computer you see this information in your image viewer.
That’s not the cool part, that’s been around for a while. Products like the Sony GPS-CS1KASP GPS Receiver have been around for a while and can be used with any camera that marks the photos with the date and time. GPS satellites are used to calculate and record position data of captured digital photos and video. The supplied Image Tracker software matches GPS receiver time with digital camera time to write positioning data to photos. Additional capabilities are pretty cool too. It’ll work for up to 14 hours on NiMH batteries or about 10 hours with Alkaline batteries. You can store up to 1 month or 360 hours of data with 31MB internal memory. It’s compatible with all digital cameras and digital camcorders that have built-in time/date stamping. You can click the photo to go to TheNerds.net for more detailed information. They’re also the place I’d recommend buying one if you’re interested. If you’ve got a DSLR camera and want more capabilities, then the Jobo PhotoGPS unit may be your ticket. It’s more expensive and requires a compatible hot shoe, but it does mount on your camera.
The really cool part is the new digital cameras and attachments that capture your geolocation and store that in the EXIF data as well. Many and the major camera manufacturers like Canon and Kodak have announced plans to include GPS data in the EXIF photo information in upcoming models. They may already be out depending on when you’re reading this. Some Canon EOS system cameras can already be connected to an external handheld GPS to record GPS data in the EXIF. If you’re in the market for a new digital camera, you might want to do a little resaearch and see if you can find one with this capability built in. Never again would you go through your photos trying to remember exactly where each one was taken. The embedded EXIF GPS data would give you an exact location in addition to the traditional date and time.
Now, if they can just incorporate facial recognition so the camera even marks who’s in my photos.
