10,000 Exposures; That Could Be Troublesome

When I buy a new camera, I always go into the menu and custom configure the file names.  I don't think a lot of photographers rename theirs but I do.  Other photographers rename files upon import into their editing software (by job, assignment, date, subject, etc.) but since some of my image files and none of my backup image files go into (in my case) Lightroom Classic, I choose to rename them in-camera.  When I change the file names in-camera, I normally include some sort of reference to the brand and model camera I am using.  For example, with my Fujifilm X-T4, my file names start with a prefix of FX.  

So why do I change my image files names?

All (or almost all) digital cameras come with file names that start with “DSC” (Digital Still Camera) followed by 0001 (or 00001).  If you own multiple cameras over the years or use two cameras simultaneously and don’t rename your files before or upon import, you will have many duplicate files with the same name in your archives.  Not good.  I rename each of my camera's file names so I have no duplicate file names.

As I mentioned my Fujifilm X-T4’s file have been renamed to start with the prefix “FX” followed by 0001 and the camera records the images in sequence—FX0001, FX0002, FX0003 all the way up to FX9999.  This is when a problem arises.  When the camera reaches your 9999th exposure, it will then reset itself back to 0001.  This is a function of how the cameras and their internal systems are designed.  We can't change that.  I'm not sure if all cameras are designed this way but every digital camera I've owned has been.

Again, this is not good because I already have images named FX0001-FX9999 in my Lightroom database.  That is what happened to me recently. I knew I was getting close to the 10,000 file mark (but kind of forgot about it; my fault).  My X-T4’s shutter count reached 10,000 when out shooting recently.  Again, I had forgotten about it.  However, later when looking at my image file names in Lightroom, the camera recorded the last many images I made starting with FX0001.  What to do?

One solution is to not worry about renaming your files in-camera and just rename them in your computer by subject, date, job, location and adding a sequence number.  For example, if you were landscape photographer and visited Yosemite National Park, you might rename your files YNP-0001, YNP-0002 etc.  

You may also just give your files an entirely new number, in sequence, if that serves you better.  You may want to rename them by date and add a sequence number.  There are lots of ways to get around duplicating file names.  

However, problems may occur as some software doesn't have an import feature and just reads file names directly from your computer's file system.  You would also have to have some sort of reference as to where you left off with the last file sequence for every time you transfer files to your computer.

I like renaming my files in-camera and wanted to keep that system intact.  To do so, I found there are three things that I needed to do in order to fix the duplications.  First, I needed to go into Lightroom Classic and rename the errant files—the ones over 9999 that my camera had already recorded. It is not necessarily difficult but takes a bit of time to figure out and understand what Lightroom options there are for renaming files and what Lightroom makes you do to rename them exactly the way you want them renamed. Trial and error on just ‘one’ file is my recommendation before you try to rename all of them in sequence.  Get the new file name right on one file before trying to rename all of your files.  This is important as if you make a mistake when trying to rename a hundred or more files, you’ll have a real mess on your hands.  It took me a while to get mine named as I wanted it but once I figured it out, the process went smoothly.

At this stage, when renaming files already in Lightroom or on your computer, there is something not to forget.  If you shoot RAW + JPEG, you have to rename each file type separately otherwise the two file types will be in sequence and not have the same file name with different extensions.  If you don't rename them separately, you will have, for example, FX10025.RAF and FX10026.JPG rather than FX10025.RAF and FX10025.JPG for the same photo.  Separate them by using the Metadata tag at the top of the Library Module screen in Lightroom or separate them in your computer's file system by file extension.

Second, you have to go into your camera’s menu and change the file naming schema.  For example, instead of your file looking like this—FX0001 I changed mine to reflect that all of the images were in a sequence starting with 10,000 or FX10001.

Edit File Name screen in an X-T4.  Found in the 'Wrench'
menu item, under 'Save Data Setting,' page 1.

File naming screen in an X-T4.  There are two file naming screens offered.
This is for Adobe RGB files and there is another for sRGB file.
The two are just a tiny bit different as the sRGB format allows you to
add one extra character than does the Adobe RGB file names.

Third, you now have to fool your camera into continuing to produce correctly named files starting with the next number in the sequence which left off with your last exposure. Hmmm. How do you do that?

It sounds more complicated than it really is.  After correctly renaming or renumbering your last incorrectly numbered file, you need to copy that last (now correctly numbered) file back onto your camera's memory card.  When you make the next exposure it will be in proper numerical sequence.  There are a couple of complications, however.

The SD card will not accept an image file if it has been freshly formatted.  Here is the work around.  Put your formatted card into the camera and make one exposure.  Now take the card out and copy the last correctly numbered image file back onto the card from your computer.  Place the file under the DCIM folder, not the root folder.  Put the card back into the camera and it will now record the next exposure in sequence after the one you just added to the card.  You're done.

I hope this isn't too obtuse.  I've tried to explain the process as best I can.  You may find other information on the Internet that is clearer if you haven't been able to follow along with me.

In any case, I am now back on track and all of my subsequent image files are numbered above 10,000.  What do I plan to do when I get to exposure #99,999?  Well, I think I'll have a new camera by then and this one will be the backup.  So, no worries.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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