20D Files

[frequency08]

I have a question relating to the way my 20D creates new folders after a certain amount of images have been captured, giving me a series of sub folders containing my images. I have been told this happens each time the camera settings are changed or lens changed. Is there a way to avoid this so that all images are written to one folder only? Would just make things tidier in post. Appreciate any feedback, Cheers.

[PacAce]

I have a question relating to the way my 20D creates new folders after a certain amount of images have been captured, giving me a series of sub folders containing my images. I have been told this happens each time the camera settings are changed or lens changed. Is there a way to avoid this so that all images are written to one folder only? Would just make things tidier in post. Appreciate any feedback, Cheers.

I'm not sure if the 20D is set up the same as the 10D as far as folders go, but on the 10D, you could only get 99 files in a folder before a new folder is created. And that has nothing to do with the changes in settings or lenses. At least with the 10D and 20D, the folders are being created automatically for you. With the 1DmkII, the camera stops working when the folder gets full and you have to go out of your way to create a new folder for the camera to write to. However, on the plus side, you can get 9999 images on a 1DmkII folder before it fills up.

[elbirth]

There really is no way around this inherently in the camera. However, you CAN alter how it works in some way. In order to do so, you have to use the ZoomBrowser software that comes with your camera and download you images through it. When doing so, you have a few options, 1 being to group them by the day they were taken- so all pictures taken that day will be grouped together, etc.

You might give this a shot, but otherwise the way they're put into folders is just how it is.

[pcasciola]

Yeah, this bugs the hell out of me too. I actually just finished writing a script for Photoshop CS that will scan the CF card for pictures and copy them over to my hard drive pictures folder and put them in sub-folders by the date the picture was taken. Works pretty well, and I get to do it right from within Photoshop with just a couple of clicks of the mouse.

[Jon]

The 10D and 20D handle the folders the same. If you're set to continuous numbering, you'll get a new folder (based on the JEITA Design rule for Camera File - DCF) spec. This spells out the DCIM root folder and the ###ABCDE subfolder format. It allows up to 1000 images (0000-9999) in each subfolder; Canon chose to restrict this to 100 in the PowerShot and D30-20D family. They're allowing 1000 in the 1D mk II; I have no experience with any of the other "1" family. The D30-20D family and PowerShots also use a file naming system that's less multi-camera-user friendly, since all JPegs are called IMG_3333.JPG, regardless of the camera. The 1D Mk. II uses a unique camera identifier as the first 4 of the file name, and you can create folders of any desired name within the DCF spec.

[OviV]

I wrote a little application that lets you download your images from your card to your computer. It will automatically create folders in your destination folder for camera model and shoot date. You can also have it prepend your image name with the photographer's initials stored in the camera. This comes in handy in situations like mine where my wife and I are both shooting the same camera models.

You can find information on it here (it's free)

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43292&highlight=

Ovi

[frequency08]

Cheers for all the feedback guys, better than what I could get out of Canon. I know its not a huge issue and will just make do by dragging them into one folder when downloaded and go from there. It was highligted to me because I will be shooting a whole bunch of sports over a weekend (plus three other photographers) and will be giving the CF cards directly to web designer who will do the downloading, so we are just trying to streamline things for him as much as possible. Apart from that I am stoked with the 20D and cant wait to really put it through its paces this summer! (over here in little old New Zealand).

[Jon]

Cheers for all the feedback guys, better than what I could get out of Canon. I know its not a huge issue and will just make do by dragging them into one folder when downloaded and go from there. It was highligted to me because I will be shooting a whole bunch of sports over a weekend (plus three other photographers) and will be giving the CF cards directly to web designer who will do the downloading, so we are just trying to streamline things for him as much as possible. Apart from that I am stoked with the 20D and cant wait to really put it through its paces this summer! (over here in little old New Zealand).

If all 4 of you are using Canons with the ###CANON folder structure, you may want to force each camera to start at a different folder, say 100CANON, 320CANON, 560CANON, 780CANON so the folders and files are all readily trackable.

[FlyingPete]

Cheers for all the feedback guys, better than what I could get out of Canon. I know its not a huge issue and will just make do by dragging them into one folder when downloaded and go from there. It was highligted to me because I will be shooting a whole bunch of sports over a weekend (plus three other photographers) and will be giving the CF cards directly to web designer who will do the downloading, so we are just trying to streamline things for him as much as possible. Apart from that I am stoked with the 20D and cant wait to really put it through its paces this summer! (over here in little old New Zealand).

You are in NZ AND have a 20D, must be one of the two that has been allocated to this country!

I have paid my way up the waiting list at Auckland Camera, but still waiting...

[frequency08]

Yo FlyingPete I work at Progear(Aucks), we just got two 20D kits(18-55mm lens) in today. Both available as we hav a couple of people waiting for body only. For an extra 2 hundy just get the kit and put yourself out of your misery man!

[FlyingPete]

Yo FlyingPete I work at Progear(Aucks), we just got two 20D kits(18-55mm lens) in today. Both available as we hav a couple of people waiting for body only. For an extra 2 hundy just get the kit and put yourself out of your misery man!

Thanks! But a little to late :(

It looks like everyone got theirs today, I was on three waiting lists and got called by two of them this afternoon, I had paid up for the one at Auckland Camera, so they won at the end of the day. It seems the most anyone got was four, the waiting list I jumped (by paying a third as a deposit!) has 23 people on it!

Perhaps if there are any other locals who are hanging out for one, they will know where to find them :wink:

The joke for the day (hope there aren't any employees of this shop listening) was from Camera & Camera in Queen Street (who's 20D was $150 more that I got it for) said the ones they got were a special deal they got from knowing people at the top of Canon NZ, and no one else had access to them. The Auckland Camera guys thought that was hilarious :lol:

Perhaps I should have visited you guys, it is so hard to find parking around there (if you are still above PCL that is)!

Camera and Camera have lost a customer, when you go in there, unless you open a wallet full of cash, they don't really take you seriously.

Pick mine up in the morning...