Whether you’re just getting started in photography or read this as an old pro, the Exif data stored within photographs can prove a useful source of information.
Exif — “exchangeable image file format” — data is embedded into images taken by virtually all digital cameras, smartphones and tablets. For novices looking to learn the secrets of great shots the wealth of information provided can be a huge source of help, detailing everything from camera model to specific lens settings.
And all of this can come in super handy for the professional wanting to check settings before making a tweak or well calculated adjustment.
Exif Viewer for Chrome
‘Exif Viewer’ for Chrome is a small desktop app that allows you to peek at the metadata embedded within a jpg image.
The interface is clean and the way Exif tags are presented is clear and readily browseable. In fact, you can even filter through to find the specific settings you want, including:
- Exposure Time
- Aperture
- Focal Length
- ISO Speed Rating
- Brightness
- Shutter speed
While there’s no support for geolocation features at present the app is built on a robust open-source library, so it may be added in the future.
Of course, Exif data is dry, so this app is not going to be useful for everyone. It’s not a photo editor; you can’t apply filters or make on the fly adjustments to images, nor can you edit the Exif data itself.
For the on-the-go photographer Exif Viewer is one app well worth adding to the toolbox. Grab it for free from the Chrome Web Store.