Resetting or changing the image number

[HowDidIGetIntoThis?]

I use two Canons - a G10 and an A710 - one topside and the other for diving. Unfortunately, the image numbering format for each is the same, and the number sequences are overlapping (e.g. both will produce a jpg file named IMG_3339.JPG in the same week), which causes havoc when I download them and try to organize the pictures.

Is there some way to either reset one camera's counter or, preferably, change the prefix to, say, "G10_" ?

Thanks.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I would recommend batch converting your file names prior to importing them into your photo management/editing software. In fact, some programs allow you to change file names during the importing process. Then you can change "IMG_" to "G10_" or "A710_".

Alternatively, you could use the same SD card in both cameras. It can be a pain in the butt to switch the card between the cameras, but it guarantees non-overlapping image names.

Another solution is to change the highest image file number to "IMG_5000.JPG" on one of the cameras using an SD card adapter on your PC. The camera should automatically increment from that number on, e.g., "IMG_5001.JPG", then "IMG_5002.JPG", etc. Then you shouldn't have any problems with overlapping file numbers until you take 5000 shots on the other camera.

 

[flareside]

Is there some way to either reset one camera's counter....

Yes, it's in the menu structure under the wrench and hammer tab. Change file numbering from continuous to auto reset, then do a card format, and then change file numbering back to continuous. It'll take the camera to back zero and start counting up again.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Yes, it's in the menu structure under the wrench and hammer tab. Change file numbering from continuous to auto reset, then do a card format, and then change file numbering back to continuous. It'll take the camera to back zero and start counting up again.

flareside is absolutely correct. You can reset the file numbering by navigating through the Menu options. The specifics of this should be discussed in the instruction manual. However, then you'll have to deal with duplicate filenames immediately. That's kind of suboptimal in my book. I prefer to incorporate file-renaming into my workflow.

 

[Maurice]

I use two Canons
...
Is there some way to either reset one camera's counter or, preferably, change the prefix to, say, "G10_" ?

Thanks.

I use three canons (G5 G12 and EOS550d)

Indeed this often is a pain in the butt... BUT your standard Canon software (zoombrowser EX and the other stuff on that CD) allow you to change filenames when importing. I use that feature to distinguish between the camera's and it seems to work great, as long as you remember to set the correct filename.

Problems I have relate to the same issue but then importing using different software/computers. I like to backup my pics immediately to an external drive... and I have a laptop running on Ubuntu and an older PC that runs Ubuntu and Vista. Combining that into a workable solution for filenames and locations gives me some headaches every now and then.

 

[HowDidIGetIntoThis?]

Thanks to all of you for excellent advice. After I posted the query it did occur to me to change the file names as a batch operation during the download but, even then, I failed to recognize the potential pitfalls.

I may end up writing a set of procedures to follow, and hanging it on the side of the monitor until it does become routine.

The ideal solution would be to convince Canon to give us an option to pick the file name prefix from a list under the wrench and hammer tab. Just six choices is likely to be more than enough for all but the most ambitious Canon user.

 

[Gilligan]

If it is of any help to you I use a freeware program from Kelly Software called Rename4u.

It not only does batch renumbering but also allows for prefix and/or suffix additions and a few other functions.

I download my photos to a temporary folder and after editing/deciding which ones to keep I use Rename4u to renumber and add a prefix and suffix to my photos before storing them.

You can download it HERE

 

[Maurice]

If it is of any help to you I use a freeware program from Kelly Software called Rename4u.

yeah... that might work just as well.. But if we're talking about freeware to rename files, you might just want to consider the neat little thing that exists on these microsoft platforms ever since MS-DOS started... called Rename.

REN

Rename a file or files.

REN [drive:][path]old_filename new_filename

RENAME is a synonym for REN​

It can do batches, just as well, it might just do the trick just as well... before you start installing stuff

 

[Charlie99]

I have a couple of Canon SD1100 point and shoots.

To adjust the filenames I just pop the memory card into a reader, then go into the DCIM directory, then into the folder below that, and change the numeric part of one of the files to something like xxx5000.jpg on one of the cameras. The next photo will be numbered xxxx5001. Leave the file numbering menu setting on continuous and that camera will just keep going up from 5000. I then use the menu setting to reset the pic count on the other camera, and once it is reset, turn it back to continuous.

Unless I take 5000 more pictures on one camera than the other, the filenames won't overlap.