NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => Processing & Publication => Topic started by: David H. Hartman on March 13, 2026, 22:32:11

Title: Edit EXIF Data in NEF(s) on macOS?
Post by: David H. Hartman on March 13, 2026, 22:32:11

I need advice on an EXIF editor for NEF files on macOS. The Apple app store has more than 20 offerings. I'd like to know what people here use as I trust you advice over dumb luck.

Earlier I install Phill Harvey's Exif Tool and successfully navigated to a folder and exported an NEF files' EXIF data to a TXT file. The process is unworkable. I can deal with a command line as I started with DOS 2.1. I would not dare try to edit the TXT file and apply it to the NEF file. The chance of error is too high.

Dave

Happy Friday the 13th :)

Title: Re: Edit EXIF Data in NEF(s) on macOS?
Post by: Ian Watson on March 13, 2026, 22:59:48

What parts of the EXIF data do you wish to modify?

Title: Re: Edit EXIF Data in NEF(s) on macOS?
Post by: David H. Hartman on March 14, 2026, 19:36:04

Quote from: Ian Watson on March 13, 2026, 22:59:48

What parts of the EXIF data do you wish to modify?

I'm out of the habit of setting the non-CPU data so the EXIF will show 50mm f/1.2 where it should be 105mm f/2.5. The actual aperture used is not recorded. In some cases I might want to add GPS data.

Dave

Title: Re: Edit EXIF Data in NEF(s) on macOS?
Post by: Hugh_3170 on March 15, 2026, 00:44:27

Dave, slightly off topic, but your new Nikon Z8 can record voice clips. 

These voice clips may be handy for you if you do a voice  recording of what lens and aperture you are using so that you can go back and add the EXIF data later on.

Just a thought.   :)

Title: Re: Edit EXIF Data in NEF(s) on macOS?
Post by: Jürgen Pfeiffer on March 15, 2026, 16:32:04

It might be a bit overkill just to edit EXIF data, but why not have a look at NeoFinder? Although it’s primarily a digital asset manager, it’s also very handy for editing EXIF data. Geotagging works very well too. And, as said, it’s also a comprehensive catalogueing tool.

Title: Re: Edit EXIF Data in NEF(s) on macOS?
Post by: Ian Watson on March 17, 2026, 07:05:22

I am not sure what can edit the non-CPU data. Sorry. For GPS data I use ApolloOne. It is a handy image browser.

Neofinder would not show me star ratings for raw files, only TIFFs and JPEGs. The developer never responded to my query about it.

Title: Re: Edit EXIF Data in NEF(s) on macOS?
Post by: Jürgen Pfeiffer on March 17, 2026, 12:20:52

Ian, don't know whether you are referring to star ratings made outside of NeoFinder in another app, but inside NeoFinder (V 9.2) star rating of RAW files is no problem.

Title: Re: Edit EXIF Data in NEF(s) on macOS?
Post by: Ian Watson on March 17, 2026, 20:09:36

Jürgen, when I left Lightroom Classic I went to NeoFinder to manage my files. Everything for raw files was stored in .xmp sidecars. NeoFinder (version 8.something) would apply star ratings but not read the ones already assigned by Lightroom.

It was a good program otherwise and so I hope that the issue has been resolved.

Title: Re: Edit EXIF Data in NEF(s) on macOS?
Post by: David H. Hartman on March 17, 2026, 21:20:30

Thank you for all the replies. I'll review them a second time.

It seems there is no easy way to correct the non-CPU data in the EXIF data of a NEF file. It should be easy. Hopefully I'll find a way. :)

Dave