Changes: CameraVersion

Revision as of 17:02, 15 June 2010

CameraVersion is a small Windows tool that helps getting the 'real' firmware version of a Canon Powershot camera. Based on Phil Harvey's ExifTool, it shows the firmware version based on the EXIF data from a Canon JPG image.

Author: written & maintained by whim, released in January 2010
Forum link: Simple tool to get Canon firmware version

CameraVersionLarge — CameraVersion v1.1 Screenshot

Features

uses ExifTool, included in the SFX download file
multi input (FileSelect box, type, or drag 'n drop)
shows full camera name and version
ignores non-Canon JPG

Download

Latest Version: v1.1 --> dl link (mirror)

→ The forum post always has a link to the latest version, an alternative download location is at http://drop.io/chdksoft

The file is a self-extracting archive, it contains CameraVersion.exe (the executable file), CameraVersion.au3 (AutoIt source code) and exiftool.exe.

Usage

OS requirements: MS Windows OS (2000 / XP / Vista / 2003 / 2008 / Seven)
Start the tool (CameraVersion.exe), select your JPG image either with the "Browse JPEG" button or with drag & drop...

Links

Internals

CameraVersion is written in the AutoIt scripting language. More informations about this very powerful, free tool can be found on the AutoIt v3 Homepage.

The download archive is a self-expanding file. When it is started it creates a sub-folder on the selected folder, then it copies its source code and the helper tools into this folder.

The firmware version number is stored in the JPEG's EXIF Data (MakerNotes) by the original Canon firmware like this:

Firmware Revision               : 1.01 rev 2.00

--> Firmware version 1.01B

the fw version number is the first part: 1.01

the fw revision char is the second number, coded this way: 1.00=A, 2.00=B, 3.00=C etc.

To read the MakerNotes, ExifTool is used:

exiftool IMG_NNNN.jpg -MakerNotes:FirmwareRevision

Linux/Unix

You need exiftool version 6.73 (released in 2007) or later to get the Firmware Revision line.

exiftool usually comes in a Linux package with a name like libimage-exiftool-perl, media-libs/exiftool, perl-Image-ExifTool or similar. If you can't find that (or your exiftool package is too old), you can try installing/updating it semi-automatically through Perl itself using CPAN:

cpan -i Image::ExifTool

Once exiftool is installed, use a command line like this:

exiftool IMG_NNNN.jpg -MakerNotes:FirmwareRevision

Note: If you used -MakerNotes:All instead, remember that "Firmware Revision" and "Canon Firmware Revision" are different lines! This line is not enough information:

Canon Firmware Version          : Firmware Version 1.01

This is the line you want instead:

Firmware Revision               : 1.01 rev 2.00

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 You need exiftool version 6.73 (released in 2007) or later to get the Firmware Revision line.
-exiftool usually comes in a Linux package with a name like <tt>libimage-exiftool-perl</tt>, <tt>media-libs/exiftool</tt>, <tt>perl-Image-ExifTool</tt> or similar.  If you can't find that (or your exiftool package is too old), you can try installing/updating it semi-automatically through Perl itself using CPAN:
+exiftool usually comes in a Linux package with a name like <tt>libimage-exiftool-perl</tt>, <tt>media-libs/exiftool</tt>, <tt>perl-Image-ExifTool</tt> or similar. If you can't find that (or your exiftool package is too old), you can try installing/updating it semi-automatically through Perl itself using CPAN:
  cpan -i Image::ExifTool
 Once exiftool is installed, use a command line like this:
  exiftool IMG_NNNN.jpg -MakerNotes:FirmwareRevision
-Note that, if you used "Firmware Revision" and "Canon Firmware Revision" are different lines!  This line is not enough information:
+Note: If you used <tt>-MakerNotes:All</tt> instead, remember that "Firmware Revision" and "Canon Firmware Revision" are different lines! This line is not enough information:
  Canon Firmware Version          : Firmware Version 1.01
 This is the line you want instead: