Photographer recovers $9k stolen camera

interesting article on how a photographer reunited with his stolen equipment.

Link

Interesting article. I just tried the service, using my T2i serial number, and it turned up nothing, not even the photos I've posted on Flickr, so I'm not sure it actually works.

I know for a fact that some of my photos have been posted on blogs without my authorization, so it makes me wonder why they haven't shown up.

All in all though, if this is true, it's a very good thing.

Interesting link. If faced with a loss couldn't hurt to try.

I just tried it, but apparently my exif info doesn't show my serial number on my T2i. I wonder why..... and wonder if there's a way to fix that.

Mine doesn't show either. I find it surprising that the serial # is included in the "standard" EXIF data - I mean what is the use of that (unless you are searching your stolen camera)? And I guess that's why it's not printed anymore.

alpha_1976 wrote in post #13023754
Mine doesn't show either. I find it surprising that the serial # is included in the "standard" EXIF data - I mean what is the use of that (unless you are searching your stolen camera)? And I guess that's why it's not printed anymore.

Well, other than recovering a stolen camera, for some of us who are now licensing photos through stock houses, it would be useful for finding where our photos are being used illegally. Even without selling your photos, do you want others to just help themselves to them and claim them as their own? I certainly don't. I may not be the best photographer in the world, but I work hard at learning this craft, and I don't want anyone using my photos without my permission. Having the serial number of the camera embedded in each photo is just another layer of protection as far as I'm concerned.

If the camera allows us to embed copyright info (which it does), I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to also embed the serial number if we so choose.

I've just dashed off an email to Canon through their site, and hopefully they'll come back with an answer soon.

Wow.. very fast reply from Canon. Here's what they said:

Guess I'd better go try and find the software. I generally use lightroom and CS2, and I'm not even sure which software he's talking about, since there were several options on the disk.

He's talking about Zoom Browser or whatever it is called. And I see your point.

I actually found it in DPP, but it was way down at the bottom of the exif. Problem is, it doesn't seem to transfer to my CS2, which is where I prefer to do my editing.

I did discover however, that when I right click on one of my saved photos, and open the exif, there is a box for the serial number. It stays blank though, but I also discovered that I can click on it and then it gives the option to add the information. Not so sure that's practical when there are a lot of shots involved, but at least it's doable.

I did a Google search for my cameras name (it's in alphanumeric characters unique to me) "BINGO" it worked.
..would that work if photos were uploaded without the canon software on another pc, i.e. using a card reader?

Vincent. Just guessing here, but I'd say probably not. That was (and basically still is) my problem. I always use a card reader and generally don't use DPP, but use Lightroom3 and CS2 instead. The option there is to do your general editing; save the photos; and then, right click and open the exif. I just discovered yesterday, that if you click on each field, you can edit that info or type in stuff (like serial numbers).

Kind of time consuming, but I guess it can be done with a copy and paste in batches pretty quickly.

Thanks Anne, I'll test it on another pc and report back. ..cheers

Well, I download with Breeze Systems' Downloader Pro from a card reader, and I get all the Canon-specific fields included. Good-quality download software should not alter or remove EXIF data unless you specifically stipulate you want it to. What you may be seeing, though, is Adobe's tendency to consider that since you did some post-processing using their software they should get the "credit" for the image creation. And don't forget that "Save for Web" strips EXIF information.

Jon wrote in post #13029338
Well, I download with Breeze Systems' Downloader Pro from a card reader, and I get all the Canon-specific fields included. Good-quality download software should not alter or remove EXIF data unless you specifically stipulate you want it to. What you may be seeing, though, is Adobe's tendency to consider that since you did some post-processing using their software they should get the "credit" for the image creation. And don't forget that "Save for Web" strips EXIF information.

Thanks Jon. I learned years ago never to use "save for web." I just use a "save as." I'm going to look at that software you mentioned and see if that helps. Of course, it probably isn't a huge issue......just annoying that the T2i at least is not including that in the camera exif settings, and from the response from Canon, I still don't know why.

What Canon puts in the EXIF data seems to vary. I noticed my 1D3 includes the camera temperature(!); the 5D did also, but the value in that field is not to be believed. And that field wasn't in any of my other cameras' EXIF.