Raw Format Standards Summary

This is simply a summary of my testing various raw formats from various cameras. It is a “work in progress” and far from complete. I will post updates as the testing progresses. Consider all this information to be preliminary.

Basics				TIFF Tags		Other Tags				Exceptions
Mfg	Model	Ext	Format	TIFF	IFD	EXIF	MKNT	IPTC	CIFF	Count	Notes	endian
Canon	1Ds Mk II	CR2	TIFF 6.0	33	4	28	28			4	3	little
Canon	1Ds	TIF	TIFF 6.0	32	2	24	34	31		0	3	big
Canon	20D	CR2	TIFF 6.0	32	4	28	24			3	3	little
Canon	D30	CRW	CIFF	0	0	0	0	0	39		?	little
Canon	D60	CRW	CIFF	0	0	0	0	0	49		?	little
Fuji	S2	RAF	Fuji	19	2	38	16			0	4	big
Fuji	S3	RAF	Fuji	23	2	41	24			2	4	little
Kodak	SLR/n	DCR	TIFF/EP	86	3	0	0	1		9	2	big
Leaf	Aptus	MOS	TIFF 6.0	19	1	0	0	0		2	5	big
Leaf	Valeo	MOS	TIFF 6.0	18	1	0	0	1		1	5	big
Leica	Digilux 2	RAW	TIFF V85	34	1	15	15			25	6	little
Leica	AGR9	DNG	TIFF 6.0	44	2	20	15			1	6	little
Nikon	D100	NEF	TIFF/EP	41	2	32	32			1	1	big
Nikon	D1X	NEF	TIFF/EP	47	2	32	32			0	0	big
Nikon	D2H	NEF	TIFF/EP	41	2	32	39			1	1	big
Nikon	D2X	NEF	TIFF/EP	50	3	32	47			0	1	big
Nikon	D70	NEF	TIFF/EP	49	3	21	43			0	1	little
Nikon	D70S	NEF	TIFF/EP	50	3	31	43			0	1	big
Sigma	SD10	XCF	Foveon								7	n/a
Sony	F828	SRF	TIFF 6.0	24	2	20	1	0		0	8	little
Olympus	E300	ORF	TIFF ??	27	2	28	27	0		1	9	little
Adobe	D1X	DNG	TIFF 6.0	80	3	13	0	0		0	10	little

The Headings:

The “Format” will show the vendor name if the TIFF header did not start at the first byte of the file or could not be found. The TIFF/EP designates a special tag, so that was used to separate TIFF 6.0 from TIFF/EP. The TIFF version should be “42” for either.

The TIFF IFD is an Image File Descriptor. Many files contain various preview images, some with different preview qualities. The TIFF/EP standard uniquely identifies the primary image. the TIFF 6.0 standard does not.

The count of tag exceptions includes both invalid tag identification or value. The utility shows “unknown” tag values that relate to image quality and color metrics. These are the ones sometimes missing, that make it difficult for other software vendors to extract a high quality image.

For more information about this utiity and the report options see the ReadMe link.

Exception Notes:

1 Nikon The D100 and D2H each have an unknown EXIF tag (40964). Private compression is noted where applicble.
2 Kodak Nine invalid TIFF IDs(33424) & (65000-65003), seem to be private tags. The image file descriptors (IFDs) do not seem to be following the standard. Private Compression is noted. The TIFF/IPTC data tag is totally hosed. It cannot be used to find the IPTC data.
3 Canon The 1Ds has an invalid image size, the others have none. The 20D has 3 invalid TIFF IDs(50648, 50649, & 50656). The 1DS MkII has an additional invalid TIFF ID(50752) and the final data offset pointer is suspicious.
4 Fuji TIFF 6.0 header at offset 120 for S2 and 160 for S3. S3 has invalid TIFF ID(50341) and EXIF(42240).
5 Leaf Many basic metrics such as camera make++ are missing. Valeo: One invalid TIFF ID(56128). Aptus: Using XMP and one invalid TIFF ID(34310)
6 Leica 25 invalid TIFF IDs(< 254), all MKNT unknown. Technically, this is an unknown TIFF version.
7 Sigma The Foveon ToolKit is needed to parse XCF files. If there is a TIFF header, it is compressed; against the rules.
8 Sony Very unusual Makernotes.
9 Olympus One invalid TIFF ID(50341). This might be Print Image Matching Information (PIM)? This same tag appears in the Fuji S3 and Sony JPG images. Unknown TIFF version.
10 Adobe DNG Two thirds of the EXIF tags and all MKNT tags are gone from the D1X image. Some of these are in the DNG private area? How do the standard EXIF readers and photo indexing tools access these now? The imbedded NEF file is 1/2 its original (already compressed) size.

If you are interested in helping with this project by testing other cameras please send me an email.

Rags Gardner
Rags Int., Inc.
204 Trailwood Drive
Euless, TX 76039
(817) 267-2554
Send Email
www.rags-int-inc.com
June 20, 2005

This page last updated on: Thursday April 12 2007
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1	Nikon	The D100 and D2H each have an unknown EXIF tag (40964). Private compression is noted where applicble.
2	Kodak	Nine invalid TIFF IDs(33424) & (65000-65003), seem to be private tags. The image file descriptors (IFDs) do not seem to be following the standard. Private Compression is noted. The TIFF/IPTC data tag is totally hosed. It cannot be used to find the IPTC data.
3	Canon	The 1Ds has an invalid image size, the others have none. The 20D has 3 invalid TIFF IDs(50648, 50649, & 50656). The 1DS MkII has an additional invalid TIFF ID(50752) and the final data offset pointer is suspicious.
4	Fuji	TIFF 6.0 header at offset 120 for S2 and 160 for S3. S3 has invalid TIFF ID(50341) and EXIF(42240).
5	Leaf	Many basic metrics such as camera make++ are missing. Valeo: One invalid TIFF ID(56128). Aptus: Using XMP and one invalid TIFF ID(34310)
6	Leica	25 invalid TIFF IDs(< 254), all MKNT unknown. Technically, this is an unknown TIFF version.
7	Sigma	The Foveon ToolKit is needed to parse XCF files. If there is a TIFF header, it is compressed; against the rules.
8	Sony	Very unusual Makernotes.
9	Olympus	One invalid TIFF ID(50341). This might be Print Image Matching Information (PIM)? This same tag appears in the Fuji S3 and Sony JPG images. Unknown TIFF version.
10	Adobe DNG	Two thirds of the EXIF tags and all MKNT tags are gone from the D1X image. Some of these are in the DNG private area? How do the standard EXIF readers and photo indexing tools access these now? The imbedded NEF file is 1/2 its original (already compressed) size.