ExifTool
ExifTool is essenially a platform-independent Perl library, but it is also available as a standalone application for Windows or Mac, for reading, editing and writing Exif and other metadata in media files. The emphasis is on "and other" because, despite its name, ExifTool also supports GPS, IPTC, XMP, JFIF, GeoTIFF, ICC Profile, Photoshop IRB, FlashPix, AFCP and ID3, as well as the makernotes of digital cameras from Canon, Casio, Fuji, JVC/Victor, Kodak, Leaf, Minolta/Konica-Minolta, Nikon, Olympus/Epson, Panasonic/Leica, Pentax/Asahi, Ricoh, Sanyo, Sigma/Foveon and Sony.
Using ExifTool you can write whatever information you require. It extracts thumbnail images, preview images, and JPEG images embedded in RAW files; it lets you add your own tags; and it recognizes thousands of different tags from thousands of different camera models.
Comment
Justifiably described as "the mother of all EXIF utilities" in Open Photography Forums, Phil Harvey's ExifTool is certainly the most powerful Exif tool available. However, some functions rely on a command line interface, which users may find archaic. Do not let this put you off. It shows the full Exif information if you simply drop an image file on to the program's icon (in Windows version). In fact, Richard A. Victor has written an interface for it called ExifAuto, so you do not need to use the command line at all (except for rarely used commands).
Tech info
- OS: (is platform-independent Perl library); (standalone executables) Windows 2000 onwards; Mac OS X
- Price level: FREE
Phil Harvey
Although Exif software development is a spare-time project for physicist Dr. Phil Harvey, all reviewers agree that his work is the ultimate solution, going beyond anything available elsewhere (including software from camera manufacturers themselves).
From the same developer:
- (no other software)
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