Metadata not showing correct focal length: I've just noticed while reviewing some of my photos that the focal length in the metadata always shows 38mm regardless of the setting used...

Foggy Loc: Near Oxford Uk

I've just noticed while reviewing some of my photos that the focal length in the metadata always shows 38mm regardless of the setting used, all other data seems to be correct.
I am using a Nikon D7000 and AFS 17-55mm f2.8 lens. (The focal length shows correctly on my AF 80-200 f2.8 D.) The info is the same whether reviewing in camera or in Lightroom. Is this a fault with the lens?

snowbear

Foggy wrote:

I've just noticed while reviewing some of my photos that the focal length in the metadata always shows 38mm regardless of the setting used, all other data seems to be correct.
I am using a Nikon D7000 and AFS 17-55mm f2.8 lens. (The focal length shows correctly on my AF 80-200 f2.8 D.) The info is the same whether reviewing in camera or in Lightroom. Is this a fault with the lens?

Can you post an example photo? Be sure to select "store original" and someone will go through the EXIF and try to sort it out.

Foggy Loc: Near Oxford Uk

This is a sample of a picture taken in Feb this year in Whitby, Yorkshire. The metadata shows it was shot at 38mm, not sure what it was actually shot at but I would think it would be more towards the 17mm end.

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Are you shooting JPEG or converting from RAW?

snowbear

This certainly was not taken at 38mm! If the 80-200 is reporting correctly, then I agree that something is wrong with the electronics inside the 17-55. I believe the other data originates from the camera body.

Foggy Loc: Near Oxford Uk

BigBear wrote:

Are you shooting JPEG or converting from RAW?

I shot this in raw and just did a quick conversion in cs5

Foggy Loc: Near Oxford Uk

snowbear wrote:

This certainly was not taken at 38mm! If the 80-200 is reporting correctly, then I agree that something is wrong with the electronics inside the 17-55. I believe the other data originates from the camera body.

This makes sense, apart from the focal range all other settings are on camera, I hadn't thought of that before

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Foggy wrote:

BigBear wrote:

Are you shooting JPEG or converting from RAW?

I shot this in raw and just did a quick conversion in cs5

See if the exif for the RAW file matches the JPEG file.
Maybe it's the CS5 converter.

Foggy Loc: Near Oxford Uk

The data is the same wherever I look, even the camera lcd screen shows the same.
It must have some communication with the lens as the correct lens shows in the data would you agree?

Granddad Loc: UK

Make sure your the pins on the camera lens are clean and they are not bent and it has nothing to do wether it is shot in raw or jpeg.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

Foggy wrote:

I've just noticed while reviewing some of my photos that the focal length in the metadata always shows 38mm regardless of the setting used, all other data seems to be correct.
I am using a Nikon D7000 and AFS 17-55mm f2.8 lens. (The focal length shows correctly on my AF 80-200 f2.8 D.) The info is the same whether reviewing in camera or in Lightroom. Is this a fault with the lens?

Just took a look at your metadata. It says that you are using a 17-55 f2.8 lens. The focal lenth of the shot is 57.0mm in 35mm film equivalent. The 38mm that you are seeing is the equivalent of 57mm due to the sensor size of your camera.

If you are not seeing the Focal Length in 35mm film, in Bridge click on Edit>Preferences and then click on Metadata. Scroll down to Camera Data and check the box that say Focal Length in 35mm film.

Still not sure if this is the problem. The photo certainly does not look like a 57mm shot.

Audwulf Loc: Golden State

Hey Foggy,
Ran the pic through CS2. I got Shutter: 1/800, F:11.0,
ISO: 250,FL 38. Hate to say it, but it appears to be in your lens. Check to see if the contacts on the lens are clean. Other than that, you might need a trip to the lens doctor.

CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

Foggy wrote:

I've just noticed while reviewing some of my photos that the focal length in the metadata always shows 38mm regardless of the setting used, all other data seems to be correct.
I am using a Nikon D7000 and AFS 17-55mm f2.8 lens. (The focal length shows correctly on my AF 80-200 f2.8 D.) The info is the same whether reviewing in camera or in Lightroom. Is this a fault with the lens?

Normally the metadata for Aperture which I use shows the lens and its full focal length as well as the actual focal length setting it was shot at. As an example it would list the lens as a 100-400mm and that the image was shot 240mm. What program are you using?

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

I have to agree with Audwulf {et al} above - - it's time for a trip to the lens doctor. All of the settings controlled by the camera are reported correctly - however the zoom setting - adjusted on the lens - is muffed up.
-
Control data being sent TO the lens is getting there - ie autofocus, and aperture. Read-back FROM the lens either is not being sent (lens not responding to querys) OR the return data path is Fubar (contact muffed, wire broken, etc).
-
The question will be - - is it worth whatever the repair guy will charge (unless, of course, the lens is still under warranty) to fix this single discrepancy ??
While it may be irritating - it does not compromise the functionality of the lens.
-
Also - - just a comment on the image: I think the dynamic range in the shot is too much for the in-camera JPG conversion. You might want to try either re-shooting in RAW and recompressing in post, OR take a 3-shot bracket (+ 2eV) and combine GENTLY using an HDR package.

Foggy Loc: Near Oxford Uk

Thanks for all your thoughts guys. I have to agree that the fault is in the lens and would need a specialist to fix it. I'm not sure it is worth the trouble as I have been using the lens for nearly a year and have only just noticed it . I have checked the data in CS5, Bridge, Lightroom 3 Irfanview and the camera itself and they all report the same focal length. The sample image was taken in RAW and converted in CS5