Changing File Number in Nikon Coolpix Cameras?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I use three Nikon cameras (the Coolpix 8800, 8700, and the 4300), and have
several GB of memory cards. Keeping track of the images is becoming a
problem, even with the "folders"
created in the cameras.

We would like to change the image file number to something more significant,
preferably to a 6-digit date based on date in camera, followed by a 3-digit
sequence number.

This would allow filing by date, and since I hardly ever use two different
cameras the same day, would ease handling large groups of a couple thousand
pictures (e.g.: 091605xxx).

I know, I can do a batch renumbering in the computer, but would like to
avoid that route.

Does anyone know if the number can be changed in the camera? Are there any
firmware upgrades from Nikon that can do that (already upgraded the firmware
in the 8800 for something else)?

--
Graybeard

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I have a 5700.

In the camera, I can record the images to a custom folder on the CD-card.
The default is NIKON, but, I could make one called C5700 and then tell the
camera to use that one. When I then download the images, they get stored in
the image file area under the C5700 folder and then further in there by date
and time.

rtt


"David J Taylor"
<david-taylor@blueyonder.co.not-this-bit.nor-this-part.uk.invalid> wrote in
message news:UOQWe.110212$G8.15975@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Graybeard wrote:
> > I use three Nikon cameras (the Coolpix 8800, 8700, and the 4300), and
> > have several GB of memory cards. Keeping track of the images is
> > becoming a problem, even with the "folders"
> > created in the cameras.
> >
> > We would like to change the image file number to something more
> > significant, preferably to a 6-digit date based on date in camera,
> > followed by a 3-digit sequence number.
>
> This isn't allowed by the specifications of the picture file system all
> cameras use. (From memory DCIF).
>
> > This would allow filing by date, and since I hardly ever use two
> > different cameras the same day, would ease handling large groups of a
> > couple thousand pictures (e.g.: 091605xxx).
> >
> > I know, I can do a batch renumbering in the computer, but would like
> > to avoid that route.
> >
> > Does anyone know if the number can be changed in the camera? Are
> > there any firmware upgrades from Nikon that can do that (already
> > upgraded the firmware in the 8800 for something else)?
>
> I use and would recommend Picture Information Extractor - PIE from:
>
> http://www.picmeta.com/
>
> (I know you didn't want a computer solution, but you may be stuck with
> that). My own naming "standard" is:
>
> yyyy-mm-dd-hhmm-ss
>
> David
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Hi Richard:
Yep, I'm familiar with the folders. Just returned from a months vacation in
Japan china and Hong Kong. I created a folder numbered Day1, Day2, etc, for
the 26 days that we were there. It worked great until had to put them
together for a DVD. I had close to 2000 images of four 1G memory cards and
several smaller cards. However, I guess that is the system that I will have
to use.
Thanks for the reply.
--
Graybeard

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

David J Taylor <david-taylor@blueyonder.co.not-this-bit.nor-this-part.uk.invalid> wrote:
>Graybeard wrote:

>> Thanks David. Yep, that's about what I expected. I like your
>> numbering system. I worked with an industrial photographer (big 8x10
>> negs) about 40 years ago in Chicago who used the same system. The
>> date is the best way - it never comes around twice!
>
>The one time you might have problems is when you have multiple cameras in
>use at the same time. If the clocks aren't well synched, you may get two
>images supposedly taken at the same time. Of course, you can always shift
>one by a second when renaming it.
>
>"By date" works particularly well for me because I tend to photograph
>events rather than people or objects.

A program (on Macs) called ExifRenamer automatically renames image
files to the date/time the photo was taken, takes care of multiple
photos taken at the same time, will do a hundred photos in a couple of
seconds, and is pretty much free.

When I discovered that I was losing track of photos because so many
had the same name, I switch over to using the date/time as the file
name. Makes it easier to find photos, too.

--
Ray Fischer
rfischer@sonic.net