After shooting with 35mm film for more than 25 years, I recently acquired my first digital camera. Just foolin' around and taking a few family snaps, I'm amazed at the sharpness and color saturation of the images.

One problem I have had with film taken while touring: when we get back and I look at the prints, I don't always remember where or what I was taking a picture of. I shoot about 75 frames a day and don't always remember which castle (or village or whatever) is which. If the exposure was bad, I don't know why.

I found out just a couple of days ago that digital images have a "secret" file as part of the original image-an EXIF file. Your image managing software recognizes the file but generally doesn't display it (although I think there is a special plugin available for some high end packages).

The EXIF file records, among other things, the focal length, the aperture, shutter speed, the ISO setting, and THE EXACT TIME AND DATE OF THE EXPOSURE. Now I will know when I took the photo, if I just remember where I was on that date.

There are programs that will display the EXIF file. I found a free one on the internet that will provide the info as well as previews and some limited ability to change the image. Use any search engine and look for EXIF.

This digital stuff is neat.

Glenn

You're right about digital being neat. I for one will never use film again!

My Canon produces .jpg files that copy straight to P.C. - using Win2000 or WinXP, you just need to do a right-click on a file to show all the advanced file properties that Glenn describes (don't need the EXIF software)

is this the case for other digital camers's file formats?