Using ExifTool to Extract Metadata from Video Files

Curious to know what shutter speed you used for a video? Or maybe what aperture, image profiles, etc. have been used ? ExifTool is a great free program that allows you to view all the metadata of your files. While this will work with just about any file type, we'll focus specifically on using ExifTool to run video files and provide some examples from a real-world use case I had recently.

You can download ExifTool here: https://www.exiftool.org/

0:00 – Intro, thoughts for the channel
0:30 – My recent problem (finding information about shutter speed)
1:59 – How ExifTool could solve this problem
2:34 – Installing ExifTool on macOS
3:36 – Running ExifTool on Canon files
4:17 – Count metadata items using wc
4:45 p.m.: Canon metadata inspection
5:11 – Parse return output using grep
6:35 p.m.: Obtaining metadata from Sony files
7:12 – Sony Metadata Inspection
7:40 – Added LargeFileSupport to retrieve more metadata
8:48 – …and adding ExtractEmbedded for even more metadata
9:33 – Sony extended metadata inspection (using grep)
11:30 a.m. – Conclusion

Some example commands used in the video, executed in my macOS terminal (macOS running zsh). File path syntax varies for users on Windows. Make sure to replace the example file path with the actual path of the file you are targeting (and your username, etc.):

To get metadata about a specific file:
exiftool /Users/username/path/to/your/file

Count the number of metadata items returned by ExifTool:
exiftool /Users/username/path/to/your/wc-l file

For some files (e.g. Sony) add the LargeFileSupport option to recover more data:
exiftool /Users/username/path/to/your/file -api largefilesupport1

…and/or, also add the ExtractEmbedded option for more metadata values:
exiftool /Users/username/path/to/your/file -api largefilesupport1 -ee

My current kit:

Cameras and lenses:
Sony a7S III: https://amzn.to/3Gd87kK
Sony a7 IV: https://amzn.to/3g3Ipoq
Sony a7 III: https://amzn.to/3GcEX5x
Sony 20mm f/1.8 G: https://amzn.to/3AE7pMt
Sony Zeiss Sonnar 55mm f/1.8: https://amzn.to/3r6Lo5M
Sony 24-70 f/2.8 GM: https://amzn.to/3HfLIoy
Sony 70-200 f/2.8 GM: https://amzn.to/3He70Ts

Audio:
Rode VideoMic NTG: https://amzn.to/3AJwTrW
Tascam DR-10L: https://amzn.to/3AIRA7l
Zoom H6: https://amzn.to/32HCgep

Lighting:
Aputure LS 60x: https://amzn.to/3Gc04og
Aputure Amaran P60c: https://amzn.to/3ob7qm6
Aputure Amaran AL-F7: https://amzn.to/3g3IzMy
Aputure MC: https://amzn.to/34l8DzS

Tripod/Monopod:
Manfrotto 290 Xtra 128RC: https://amzn.to/3o8bPpV
iFootage Cobra C180-II: https://amzn.to/3r8kfPY

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