Incomplete Exif data problem: a question

John, I appreciate your confirmation of my conclusion and I'm glad IT is aware of the issue. It is no real hardship meanwhile to continue entering "Pentax KS-2" and to rely on the PU EXIF reader to fill in the balance of the vital data, as it has done so reliably ( save for lens info, but that is another issue entirely.)

Regarding the missing lens info in the exif, Pentax's don't write it to the exif metadata but to the maker notes instead and software has to be used to transfer it. However not all software being used is aware of recent lenses as it pre-dates them. The lens model in the maker notes exists purely as a number.
To transfer the missing lens info into the exif use an up-to-date tool such as Phil Harvey's exiftool link
Also see https://sourceforge.net/projects/exiftool/
If you had a windows PC I'd recommend using exiftoolgui (see this thread here) to transfer it immediately before any other processing is performed.
Fortunately a Mac variant exists named pyExifToolGUI at https://hvdwolf.github.io/pyExifToolGUI/ so that maybe worth investigating to perform a similar function (its based on the same code.)
If you haven't noticed, most gallery photos are missing the lens model unless its an oldish lens that's been used or a recent software version has been used to process the image. Exiftool fixes that missing info, though as you'll read in the linked to thread about it here, not everyone sees the point of it. Can't win 'em all!

John, you have provided me with really useful info on how to get Pentax's to properly load lens info into EXIF data and I will be pursuing your tips. Yes I knew PU's EXIF data rarely displays lens info for most of us.

I appreciate these forums--learning from each other and benefitting from members' willingness to go the extra mile to share their knowledge.

Let us know how you get on if you follow this up.

I shall do that, John, and thank you again.

This is for you, JAK: a report of my followup on your recommendation to move my lens data into my Exif so that it can appear in PU. In a word: one big frustrating failure. I downloaded the for-Mac GUI app, but after opening said app, it kept telling me I had to have an Exif Tool app on my computer as a prerequisite. Since I already have Exif as part of LR6, I could go no further in the process. I should also say the "instructions" that come with this free Gui drove me were minimal.

What its looking for is Phil Harvey's Exif tool. The GUI is just a front end to it!

The download is on this page:
http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/

The Exif Tool program is updated regularly for new cameras and lenses, that's the nuts and bolts of the system. If Pentax bring out a new camera or lens that program will include it (and if its missed one, just let Phil Harvey know via his forum and he will include it in the next update.) The GUI program only needs updating infrequently.

So you need both programs to get it to work which is the reason for the error message. The filename of the exiftool program also requires renaming (remove the version number from it); read the instructions or you'll never get it working!

If you have a current updated Lightroom version though I'd have hoped it would be aware of the new lenses and bodies. It costs enough! I just make do with old versions so having exiftool is a big help.

John, grazi mille! I shall download the Exif tool then. I see Phil Harvey is at Queens University in Kingston Ontario---not far from Toronto. But may I ask now: how do you actually use the Gui app to ensure lens data gets included in Exif data? I ask this because I can't find instructions on how to proceed. Thanks in advance.

Does this help?:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/when-the-lens-model-doesn-t-show-up-in-th...

John, I am giving up on this. It is all too strange and complicated. For example, I downloaded the Exiftool as you directed, installed it, but cannot find out where it is installed on my HD. I used Spotlight to locate it but it didn't show up there. I installed it again, and same thing happened. I have never had this happen with any installed app before: iot is not in Applications, not in Utilities, not anywhere on HD. Then I opened Terminal (which I do not know how to use), and typed in "Exiftool" as directed. Nothing happened. (I have latest Mac OS). So I tried opening GUI---which told me I have not installed Exiftool, or have not put it in same place as GUI. I give up!

You do need a bit of computer understanding to get it set up right. I'd be able to offer more help if you were setting it up on a PC rather than a Mac. Have another look another day, re-read the instructions and perhaps it will make more sense... it's getting late now!!
If its like the PC version, the GUI and exif tool programs have to be in the same directory and run from that directory, but the mac version could of course be different.
The instruction you need to follow are the pyExiftoolGUI ones which explains what to do with exif tool.
You could perform the process with just exif tool but having the GUI makes it so much simpler.

OK John, I shall take another look, focussing on the GUI as the master app. And yes, both apps have to be in the same directory (which is a PC term I believe, for the Mac term "folder").

Just a note before I report again on my installation woes: LR6--the stand alone version, as opposed to the pay-as you-go CC version, will not receive any updates after it is purchased!! This is a deliberate decision by Adobe to try to force people into the more expensive CC version. But of course, even the lenses included in LR and displayed there and in independent EXIF tools, do not get picked up by PU's tool, so I expect that my over-riding objective--to get them into PU--will not be achieved even if ALL lenses show in LR's Exif.

That's quite probable until the site exif extraction is fixed. If you use Firefox and install the Fxif extension, right clicking an image will bring up its exif, even the photos on PU. Well on a PC that is, can't see why the Mac would be any different.

As to paying a sub to use Lightroom, I wouldn't use it enough to justify it.