Changing The File name Prefix in the Camera

[CoolToolGuy]

I have posted this same question in the G3 board, but the DSLR folks might not see it there.
I have a G3 and an A70 as well as a Digital Rebel, and I would like to know if there is a way to change the file names from IMG_9999 to something else (like G3_9999 or DRB_9999). What I want to get out of this is identification of the camera used for the image and I want to avoid seeing something like 'file IMG_0512.JPG already exists. Do you want to replace it?'
If I can do this, I would like to change it on all 3 cameras. I would rather not have to rename in my photo software, as I unload the images from the CF card to a directory, and I may not touch the images for some time.
Any thoughts?
Have Fun

[PeterS45]

Sorry, but that won't be possible.
One thing you can do is use Downloader Pro from BreezeSys (http://www.breezesys.com) to rename the pictures while downloading them to your PC.

[dtrayers]

I use Downloader Pro and had both a G3 and a 300D. I tried to use the camera name in the EXIF data as part of the file name. Unfortunately, the camera name in the G3 file is "Canon Powershot G3', and that combined with a serial number makes the file name too long.

So what I used was the 'job code' feature of DownloaderPro. When I insert the flash card, a window pops open and asks for a job code (it remembers the last one). If I'm using the 300D, I put '300D' in the field. I put 'G3' in the field for the G3. Then I use the job code as part of the file name. I just have to remember what camera the images are coming from.

It works well, but it's moot now. I sold my G3, so the 300D is the only camera I have.

[DAMphyne]

I use Thumbs+, the info tab has more information available than I'll ever use, including the camera make.
I just drop & drag to a folder and auto rename.
I do sports, sometimes 4 or 5 games a day, with 2 photographers and 2 cameras, it's a chore keeping them sorted.
Anyway, that's what I do.

[Motorsports Photo]

cooltoolguy wrote:
I would like to know if there is a way to change the file names from IMG_9999 to something else (like G3_9999 or DRB_9999).

The only "change" you can make is to reset the number back to "00000."

What I want to get out of this is identification of the camera used for the image and I want to avoid seeing something like 'file IMG_0512.JPG already exists. Do you want to replace it?'

If you have that happen you REALLY have a storage problem! 10,000 pics in one dorectory would be mind boggling!

I do have 3 Canon cameras and have yet to get conflicting names. If I do I'll just add a character to the end of the file name.

I found the batch renaming idea too time consuming, but it may work well for some people.

-Pete

[CoolToolGuy]

I download into a new directory with the date in the directory name, so I don't have to worry about the duplicate names there, but I may run into it later in the process. For example, I create CF cards for use in the digital picture frame I have at work - the family, vacation, car show, fall foliage, etc., and I might run into the problem if I try to include IMG511 from the G3 and IMG511 from the Digital Rebel on the same CF card. It is easy enough to rename one of them, but I am trying to avoid having the problem in the first place.
Seems like there are several options on the download side. Perhaps that's as close as I can come.
Have Fun

[David Wild]

I, too, use a directory system to identify my pictures. I have a G2 and a 10D, and my wife has just got an Olympus 400. I have a major directory called "pictures", and in there are sub-directories CanonG2, Canon10D and Olympus. Every time I transfer pictures from a camera, using a card reader, I create a new directory in the form 2003-11-03 and put the new pictures in there.

When the pictures are there I run a program which creates an HTML fil with thumbnails, and the picture taking information from the EXIF data.

When I want to do anything else with these pictures I take a copy to a working directory and do any manipulation there.

[CoolToolGuy]

David,
Do you rename the file from 'IMG9999' to anything else in this process? If so, is it done manually or with software?
Have Fun

[David Wild]

cooltoolguy wrote:
David,
Do you rename the file from 'IMG9999' to anything else in this process? If so, is it done manually or with software?
Have Fun

I haven't bothered to change any filenames **in the original storage**. When I copy them to another directory for treatment I will often change the file name to reflect the subject.

[CoolToolGuy]

David,
I have done that (renamed the file), and have considered it as the rule. But then I lose the knowledge of the source image that this cool shot came from (and where the other cool shots I took that day are!)
In my film days, I kept a log of each roll of slides I took, and marked each slide with the roll number. It worked very well - when I wanted to find a slide I could look it up, and when I took a slide out to make up a slide show or to have it printed I could get the slide back where it came from very easily. The issues are different here, but nonetheless valid.
Thanks, the quest continues...

Have Fun

[David Wild]

It occursa to mke that one way round the problem is to keep a simple database file of all the copies made for processing, showing the original file name (IMB1471.JPG), the directory in which it is held and the new file name. By sorting this file appropriately you could find where your new image came from and also which copies had been made from your original image.

[CoolToolGuy]

David,
A database would do it, but that's a lot of work. I just got Paint Shop Photo Album, and it has a cataloging function with a database. I'll have to look into that.
Trouble is, I'm a computer geek at work, and I know renaming in the camera would solve many issues. If I can just get Canon to listen and realize how folks with multiple cameras could benefit from such a capability by being able to id the images to the camera that took them...
Thanks for thinking about this issue.

Have Fun

[CoolToolGuy]

David,
A database would do it, but that's a lot of work. I just got Paint Shop Photo Album, and it has a cataloging function with a database. I'll have to look into that.
Trouble is, I'm a computer geek at work, and I know renaming in the camera would solve many issues. If I can just get Canon to listen and realize how folks with multiple cameras could benefit from such a capability by being able to id the images to the camera that took them...
Thanks for thinking about this issue.

Have Fun