What is EXIF data in photography?

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is metadata embedded in digital photographs that records the camera settings and conditions at the moment a photo was taken. When you press the shutter button, your camera automatically saves information like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal length, and the camera model directly into the image file.

This metadata travels with your photo wherever it goes, making it possible to review exactly how an image was captured—even years later. Professional photographers rely on EXIF data to analyze their shooting patterns, learn from successful shots, and troubleshoot exposure problems.

Why do camera settings matter?

Understanding camera settings helps photographers reproduce successful shots and diagnose issues with problematic ones. The exposure triangle—aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—determines how light enters the camera and affects the final image. Aperture (f-stop) controls depth of field, shutter speed affects motion blur, and ISO influences noise levels.

By reviewing these settings after a shoot, photographers can identify patterns in their work and make informed decisions about equipment and technique improvements.

Tool description

Photo Camera Settings Viewer extracts and displays EXIF metadata from your photographs in a clean, organized interface. Simply upload an image, and the tool instantly reveals the camera equipment used and all exposure settings recorded at capture time.

The tool processes images entirely in your browser—your photos never leave your device, ensuring complete privacy for your personal and professional photographs.

Features

  • Complete equipment identification — Shows camera body make/model and lens information including focal length with 35mm equivalent
  • Full exposure data — Displays aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation in standard photography notation
  • Camera settings extraction — Reveals metering mode, white balance setting, and flash status
  • Image metadata — Shows capture date/time and original image dimensions
  • Privacy-focused — All processing happens locally in your browser with no server uploads

Supported formats

The tool supports all common image formats that can contain EXIF data:

  • JPEG/JPG — Most common format for photographs
  • TIFF — High-quality format often used in professional workflows
  • HEIC/HEIF — Apple's modern image format used on iPhones
  • PNG — Supports EXIF in some implementations
  • WebP — Google's modern image format
  • GIF — Limited EXIF support

Extracted camera settings

Setting Description Example
Camera Make and model of the camera body Canon EOS R5
Lens Lens model or make RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM
Focal Length Actual and 35mm equivalent focal length 50mm (75mm equiv.)
Aperture F-stop value f/2.8
Shutter Speed Exposure time 1/250s
ISO Sensor sensitivity ISO 400
Exposure Compensation Exposure adjustment +0.7 EV
Metering Mode Light metering method Multi-segment
White Balance Color temperature setting Auto
Flash Flash firing status Did not fire
Date Taken Original capture timestamp 12/25/2025, 3:45 PM
Image Size Original pixel dimensions 8192 × 5464

Use cases

  1. Learning from successful shots — Review the settings of your best photographs to understand what worked and replicate those conditions in future shoots

  2. Troubleshooting exposure problems — When images come out too dark, too bright, or blurry, check the EXIF data to identify whether aperture, shutter speed, or ISO was the culprit

  3. Organizing photo archives — Extract capture dates and camera information to properly catalog and sort large photo collections

  4. Verifying image authenticity — Confirm when and with what equipment a photograph was actually taken, useful for journalism and legal documentation

  5. Comparing camera equipment — Analyze metadata from test shots to evaluate different cameras or lenses before making purchasing decisions