Internal database to recognise lenses?

I was looking through some exif data - as you do - when I realised my K20D doesn't recognise my Pentax 100mm WR macro lens as such.

The camera 'knows' it's a Pentax lens, and the exif shows 100mm, but reports it as 'Unknown DA or DA* lens Id: 7 58'.

I assume there's an internal database in the camera body, updated via firmware? Anyone know? Or is it that the exif software can't 'translate' the lens data into a name/model?

Doesn't seem to affect the ability to find tune AF fortunately.

I guess that's possible as the K20D pre-dates the WR lenses. But the camera doesn't have a method of showing you which lens is attached, or have I missed something?

But it must have a database of some kind included so it can apply dedicated lens correction to Pentax lenses. Certainly the K-5 dos that, maybe the K20D does too.

If the OP's comment relates to software to check that detail, maybe the program hasn't picked up on that newish lens.

John

Thanks John.

I use PhotoMe to read exif. Updated it to-day. Not sure where it gets the lens specification - from the camera or from within it's own internal database. Others lenses I used in the same shoot were older models, but precisely described.

PhotoMe declares the lens to be 'Unknown DA or DA* lens Id: 7 58'

There's a reasonably full list of the Pentax Lens ID numbers here:
http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/%7Ephil/exiftool/TagNames/Pentax.html#LensType

Your 100mm is included in it.

Can only presume PhotoMe hasn't got round to including it yet. Is there a way of finding out when it was last updated?

John

Thanks John. I suspect the answer to my question may be partially in the link - 'Note that newer series numbers may not always be properly identified by cameras running older firmware versions.'

It appears, then, that some form of meta-data translation is done in the camera's firmware, but whether the various exif readers also 'translate' is soemthing I'll continue to explore.

But, I'll need to look for a newer exif tool, as PhotoMe states that the latest version is dated '2009/05/03'.

As an up-date. I've found and loaded an exif reader into Lightroom as a plug-in....and it correctly identifies the lens!

So, my conclusion is that the camera gathers and exports the meta-data, and in my case the lack of full lens identification was down to PhotoMe.

Kept me quiet for a few hours

I wonder if the in-camera lens database gets updated with firmware updates. I cannot remember ever seeing that it has but it seems more than just the stated changes are made.

That said, I doubt the camera knows the lens by name, just its allocated number and it is that which gets translated by EXIF reader software. If the last update given on the PhotoMe home page is correct, PhotoMe hasn't been updated since 3rd May 2009. PhotoMe link.

John