Retaining File timestamps when trasferring from CF

[blackD200]

When I transfer files from my CF cards to my machine the timestamp on the files becomes the time I copied it to say my c: drive ???

what my issue is that I shoot with 2 cameras at a time. one wide and one with standard zoom.

Cam1 files are called
AD1_0001.jpg
AD1_0002.jpg
etc etc

Cam2 files are called
AD2_0001.jpg
AD2_0002.jpg
etc etc

when copied to my desktop
cam1 files will be stamped say 11:33am
cam2 files will be stamped say 11:38am

I just want to order the pics cam1 and cam2 based on the time they were shot so that they stay in sequence of the event, but if I loose the timestamp during the copy of the files from CF to desktop - how else can I do it ???

Anyone have a way around this ???


Thanks PPS.

[gstark]

There's a couple of utilities around that can rename your files, in a batch mode, to the files' timestamps.

Or whatever other parameters you care to use.

Just Google for them ... shouldn't be too hard.

And remember to name them in a YYYYMMDDhhmmssss sort of format if you're doing this, in order to ensure that you get them properly sorted.

[blackD200]

There's a couple of utilities around that can rename your files, in a batch mode, to the files' timestamps.

Or whatever other parameters you care to use.

Just Google for them ... shouldn't be too hard.

And remember to name them in a YYYYMMDDhhmmssss sort of format if you're doing this, in order to ensure that you get them properly sorted.

so do you guys run this third party program (program name ???) directy on your CFs... Ideally I want to copy the files to my desktop first before manipulation.

Maybe the program looks into the imbeded data on the jpg..
I'll need to search for them and see how it is done.

Thanks Gary..

[ATJ]

How are you copying them to the hard disk?

I have exactly the same timestamps for the files on the CF card and where they are transferred to the hard disk.

e.g. CF Card

Code: Select all

 Volume in drive D is NIKON D70
 Volume Serial Number is 888E-E0E0

 Directory of D:\DCIM\100NCD70

02/09/2007  10:40 AM    <DIR>          .
02/09/2007  10:40 AM    <DIR>          ..
02/09/2007  10:40 AM         6,380,046 DSC_1084.NEF
02/09/2007  10:40 AM         5,850,733 DSC_1085.NEF
02/09/2007  10:40 AM         5,888,917 DSC_1086.NEF
02/09/2007  10:40 AM         5,788,000 DSC_1087.NEF
               4 File(s)     23,907,696 bytes
               2 Dir(s)   4,070,572,032 bytes free


Hard disk:

Code: Select all

 Volume in drive C has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is 4465-D9C9

 Directory of C:\alTables\NikonD70\200709

02/09/2007  10:42 AM    <DIR>          .
02/09/2007  10:42 AM    <DIR>          ..
02/09/2007  10:20 AM         6,167,863 DSC_1072.NEF
02/09/2007  10:20 AM         6,086,557 DSC_1073.NEF
02/09/2007  10:23 AM         5,048,678 DSC_1074.NEF
02/09/2007  10:24 AM         5,064,250 DSC_1075.NEF
02/09/2007  10:24 AM         5,042,469 DSC_1076.NEF
02/09/2007  10:25 AM         5,068,709 DSC_1077.NEF
02/09/2007  10:25 AM         5,055,220 DSC_1078.NEF
02/09/2007  10:25 AM         5,056,186 DSC_1079.NEF
02/09/2007  10:26 AM         5,059,923 DSC_1080.NEF
02/09/2007  10:26 AM         5,337,392 DSC_1081.NEF
02/09/2007  10:26 AM         5,533,375 DSC_1082.NEF
02/09/2007  10:26 AM         5,820,690 DSC_1083.NEF
02/09/2007  10:40 AM         6,380,046 DSC_1084.NEF
02/09/2007  10:40 AM         5,850,733 DSC_1085.NEF
02/09/2007  10:40 AM         5,888,917 DSC_1086.NEF
02/09/2007  10:40 AM         5,788,000 DSC_1087.NEF
              16 File(s)     88,249,008 bytes
               2 Dir(s)   2,043,080,704 bytes free


And when I copy them to the backup disk, using XCOPY, they retain the same date/time.

[ATJ]

Note the actual times the four photos were taken were

DSC_1084.NEF 02/09/2007 10:40:06 AM
DSC_1085.NEF 02/09/2007 10:40:22 AM
DSC_1086.NEF 02/09/2007 10:40:37 AM
DSC_1087.NEF 02/09/2007 10:40:51 AM

And this is preserved through every copy.

[stubbsy]

One useful program that will do what you want is Nikon Transfer which is part of Nikon View (free from Nikon). To get it click HERE for the windows version or HERE for the mac version

[olrac]

doesnt windows have an attribute date created and another one date modified.

The mod date is the default one in the file explorer and this will be the time of import.

The date created should be the original image shooting time.

if you want to see the date created in file explorer right click the column title and ensure that date created is checked.

EDIT - There is a date picture taken too this is in the More.. section of the right click thing.

[ATJ]

One useful program that will do what you want is Nikon Transfer which is part of Nikon View (free from Nikon). To get it click HERE

Which is what I use.

[blackD200]

doesnt windows have an attribute date created and another one date modified.

The mod date is the default one in the file explorer and this will be the time of import.

The date created should be the original image shooting time.

if you want to see the date created in file explorer right click the column title and ensure that date created is checked.

EDIT - There is a date picture taken too this is in the More.. section of the right click thing.

You might be right - I will check this out tonight...

thanks everyone. otherwise I'll just do it via XCOPY or NIKON view...

I might checkout the dates in in the command prompt too. - I've just checked them via explorer..

thanks...