CRW-RAW save EXIF data?

[Tracker00]

Is the EXIF data stored inside the .THM file or the .CRW file or both?

Basically, is it safe to delete the THM if I still want to keep EXIF data?

[Scottes]

Yes, the EXIF is in the .THM, which is really a re-named JPG.

How do you want to get at the info? For info storage and programming I use a set of command line utilities called ExifUtils (http://www.hugsan.com/EXIFutils/). It outputs a whole buncha text that I can parse for programming. It's free to a point, like only 10 files can be parsed at once, and I think there are limitations on editing EXIF info. Paying opens all features fully.

If I just want a piece or two of info, like shutter & aperture, I use IrfanView (http://www.irfanview.com/), an excellent freeware image viewer. You'll need ALL the plugins if you get it. I don't think you can edit the EXIF with IrfanView. It will also read RAW.

[tofuboy]

I'm not too sure how true your statement is scottes about the thm being a renamed jpg. I just shot a picture, and the thm file is only 10k in size. As for the question about being able to delete the thm and still being able to get the exif data, the answer is yes, you can. The crw has the exif data in it.

let me edit this... I think scottes is partially right about the thm being a jpg. When I first read it, I thought scottes was talking about the jpg the camera saves in addition to the crw. I believe that one is embedded in the crw file as well. Anyways, I'm confused, but my answer as to being able to delete the thm file and still have exif data stands :)

[robertwgross]

Anyways, I'm confused, ...

Yes, Matt, I will agree with you.

The THM file is a re-named JPEG. Nobody said that it was a full-size JPEG. It is, in fact, a thumbnail JPEG (get it? THM).

Some of the file utilities in or out of the camera need the THM file to keep track of what is going on. The main file, like CRW, is the most important part. However, THM is there to be helpful.

---Bob Gross---

[Scottes]

Man, did I read this question wrong. I thought Tracker wanted to save the EXIF data somehow...

Oops.

But yes, keep the .THM, IMHO.

[Tracker00]

thanks guys. the reason i asked is if the CRW file holds all the same EXIF data as the THM then I should be okay deleting it.

i tried the ExifUtils program you recommended Scottes and when I read the EXIF from the THM it seems to hold a lot more EXIF data than a JPG saved from a CRW in Photoshop CS.

[PacAce]

I'm not too sure how true your statement is scottes about the thm being a renamed jpg. I just shot a picture, and the thm file is only 10k in size. As for the question about being able to delete the thm and still being able to get the exif data, the answer is yes, you can. The crw has the exif data in it.

let me edit this... I think scottes is partially right about the thm being a jpg. When I first read it, I thought scottes was talking about the jpg the camera saves in addition to the crw. I believe that one is embedded in the crw file as well. Anyways, I'm confused, but my answer as to being able to delete the thm file and still have exif data stands :)

Scott is right about the EXIF info being store in the .THM file. The .CRW file also contains some EXIF info but not all of them. you need to extract the rest from the .THM file.

BTW, the .THM file is a JPEG thumbnail image of the raw image. If you rename the .THM file to .JPG you'll be able to double click on the file and have it opened by your default jpeg viewer app. I have my Windows registery set up so that Windows recognizes all .THM files as JPEG files so that even without renaming these files, i can view the thumbnails in Windows Explorer and also double click on them to open with my jpeg viewer.