The Easy Way to Edit EXIF Data (Even for Film & Vintage Lenses)

Intro

A photograph carries more than light and composition.

The lens you used — and how you created the image — is just as important as the picture itself.

But with old lenses, LUT-processed images, or film scans, EXIF data is often missing or inaccurate.

That’s where a Mac app called MetaImage becomes incredibly useful.

Many modern cameras allow you to input camera names or focal lengths when using mount adapters. However, older bodies often lack this feature, meaning you must edit EXIF data manually after shooting.

Film scans have a similar issue: your scanner’s model name is recorded, but nothing about the camera, lens, or film stock you used.

For example, my FUJIFILM X-H2 / X-H2S can record some adapter information, but my Nikon Z6 doesn’t write focal lengths into EXIF at all.

My former Leica M Monochrom had the same problem when using Cosina lenses.

So for the past 5 years, I’ve relied on a paid Mac-only tool called MetaImage, which lets me add or clean up EXIF info easily.

Here’s what it can do.

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What MetaImage Can Do

1. Edit EXIF Data (including manufacturer-specific fields)

MetaImage allows you to manually delete or edit any EXIF field.

These are the values I most commonly modify:

For film scans

• Camera Make

• Camera Model

• ISO

• Focal Length

• 35mm Equivalent Focal Length

• LensMake

• LensModel

• A short description containing the film stock used

When using mount adapters

• Focal Length

• 35mm Equivalent Focal Length

• LensMake

• LensModel

When using LUTs

• I write the LUT name in the “Image Description” field.

MetaImage can also edit each brand’s MakerNote, which stores proprietary information (must be enabled separately).

There aren’t many reasons to modify it, but you can insert lens data there if you really want — just be cautious, since MakerNote editing is always at your own risk.

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2. Add GPS Location Data

MetaImage allows you to manually add GPS coordinates to your images.

It uses Apple Maps, so you can search by place name.

Perfect when you remember roughly where you shot something and want to attach accurate location data afterward.

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3. Create Presets for Frequently Used Lenses/Cameras

If you often use the same lenses or camera settings, you can store them as presets.

With a single click, the selected metadata will instantly fill in.

It takes time to build your preset library, but once set up, it speeds up your workflow dramatically.

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Final Thoughts

For cameras or workflows that don’t automatically record metadata, adding EXIF information while you still remember the details is essential.

It helps when organizing your archive, searching past photos, or using apps that depend on EXIF to generate tags or frames.

There are many ways to edit EXIF data, but for Mac users, MetaImage is a solid and reliable option worth considering.