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File Extension Question


3 years 10 months ago #686393 by Brenda Dantzig
When renaming your RAW files in your camera to something different.  Let's say you take .NEF and change to .D750.  Are there any negatives or problems I might face?  I haven't done this, but was thinking about it, however wanted to check to see if any problems might come from this. 

The reason for doing this is so that I can separate files on my computer with out having to look at EXIF data.  
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3 years 10 months ago #686395 by fmw
Your software won't recognize the extension.  You will need to change it back to .NEF in order to edit.
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3 years 10 months ago - 3 years 10 months ago #686397 by Nikon Shooter
An extension may be changed but not in the camera. The ".NEF"
is the ID of the file and without it, it won't be recognised.

I use either my converter or a third party app to batch rename files
in my archive. For example, I work with four bodies and say that all
took shots that are all called XXX_1234.NEF on the same day. Their
respective names will be changed to

D3S   =   1234 DS.NEF or 1234 OS.NEF or 1234 BS.NEF
D3X   =   1234 DX.NEF
D810  =   1234 D1.NEF
D850  =  1234 D5.NEF

where the S, X, 1, and 5 identify the bodies. The "D" identifies me as
my two sons are "O" and "B".

This ways, all the files can be in the same folder eventually and may
be listed either by name, date, shooter or else.

DON'T CHANGE ANY EXTENSION, EVER
Light is free… capturing it is not!
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3 years 10 months ago #686409 by garyrhook
It's real simple: don't.

Because Windows (and maybe MacOS?) stupidly rely upon the name/extension to know what type of file it is. (N.B. Unix implemented magic numbers to identify file types, back in 1970. Another unfortunate failing of MS-DOS and Bill Gates to not adopt that concept. It has lead to nothing but trouble for years.)

Anyhoo...

If you're using LR, you can set up a custom naming rule and incorporate the camera type into the name. Although one wonders how much value that has when the EXIF data tells you about the camera.

And what happens if you have files from two bodies of the same type? Been there, done that. It takes more thought to organize then changing the extension.

Frankly, using the three character prefix in the camera is your best bet. It doesn't have to be "DSC". Make it "750" or "75A" or "C01" and keep a cheat sheet that translates the code to whatever it means.
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3 years 10 months ago #686414 by Brenda Dantzig
Oh wow, so glad I asked this!  Now does it matter if the extension name is simply smaller case vs capital?

You all are awesome, thank you!
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3 years 10 months ago #686422 by Nikon Shooter
Hi Brenda,

Nikon generate these files in caps, to stay out of
trouble, keep it that way.

The only time I've seen small cases was from re-
covered files of crashed card.
Light is free… capturing it is not!
Photo Comments
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3 years 10 months ago #686498 by garyrhook

Brenda Dantzig wrote: Oh wow, so glad I asked this!  Now does it matter if the extension name is simply smaller case vs capital?

You all are awesome, thank you!


Another failing of DOS/Windows: upper and lower case are equivalent. Therefore, no, case does not matter there. Do what you wish, although, again, I leave mine alone. I've found no reason to change it.
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3 years 10 months ago #686542 by Duncan K
+1, good advice I would recommend you follow.  No need in changing.  Set up seperate folders on your computer for each camera.  When you import the files, just save in the respected folder.  
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