The mystery of the EOS photo counter

[JasminGreenTea]

Hi,

I have a Canon EOS 450D (Xsi) for about one year. Two months ago, at my workplace --a university--, they purchased (upon my recommendation) the same model. Because the Purchase Dept had ordered the wrong card --it was a micro-SD with adapter, instead of an SD-- the camera was not used for almost two months.

Two days ago (having lost all hope that the micro-SD card could be replaced for a regular SD) we bought an SD card and I took a few photos. Upon downloading them, I was surprised to see their numbers starting at 100-3520! However, the camera had been kept under lock by our technician for all this time. In theory at least nobody could use it.

A camera whose first photos start at 3520, is this possible? I checked the counter option in the menu. It was set on Continuous.

Of course I was intrigued. And suspicious. My suspicions & my culprits:

1. The TECHNICIAN has used the camera, or has allowed someone to use it, unbeknowst to us. However, she protests, claiming that she never used the camera since it arrived. I also find difficult for someone to shoot 3500 photos on a camerra borrowed possibly on weekends.

2. Since the camera, along with other equipment, was purchased via auction, and it arrived with some significant delay, it might have been used by the SUBCONTRACTOR (the person/company who won the auction and mediated the acquisition of the camera). However: I have a distinct memory of the camera's package being in pristine condition, and of opening it, with that "new camera" smell on it. Plus, the transfer cables were still in sealed bags two days ago, when I trasnfered those first (?) photos on the PC.

3. The DEALER. Unfortunately, since the camera was purchased via auction, we had no control over the dealer chosen. It was not bought from my regular trusted dealer, but from I dealer I know nothing about (and it cost more there!). Since I leave in a country where such things may happen, it's not altogether unlikely that the dealer might have used the camera before. However, I would think that a photo camera dealer would know how to reset the counter to zero.

At this point our technician says that she remembers that, on the day the camera was brought, I took a couple of shots on a different card and that we watched those photos on a computer. Well, I remember watching some photos, but I do not remember bringing one of my cards at school. Moreover, I cannot find those pictures on any computer.

Now, I noticed that on one of my cards (a secondary one, that I have not used since November), the last photo number in May was around 3500. This brings me to a theory :

What if... the moment I inserted an SD card into this "virgin" Canon 450D (I assume nobody had used it before), this card's last photo was around # 100-3517 or so. When shooting the first photo, the camera has taken over this number and starting counting photos from # 100-3518, instead of starting from 100-0001.

Then I probably took a couple of photos, say # 3518 and # 3519, examined them on the PC, deleted them from the card, and brought the card home. (I assume those photos were deleted, because I find no trace of them on the card). Then, when the school camera was inserted a new card, it continued counting photos from # 3520.

Now, I would like to ask you if this theory is plausible. Would a virgin camera, if inserted a non-virgin card (i.e. a card that was shot on with another camera), take over the last number of the photos on the card, instead of starting the photo count from 0001 ?

Maybe someone on the forum has an experience with this kind of issue. I would appreciate some feedback, as it would help us realise if someone had used this camera before. Thnaks.

[KeithB]

Yes, it goes by the filename on the card, so it appears that you put in a card with images.  I think it is now inthe firm ware of the camera so even if you put in a blank card it will continue at 3500+.  I had this exact same thing happen.

[Bob Atkins]

Keith is correct. If you put a card in there on which the last shot taken was #3500 and you are in the continuous numbering mode, the next shot taken will be #3501.


You can actualy reset the counter using this proceedure:

Using the menu, select "Auto Reset" as the file numbering mode
Take a shot which will be named img_0001.
Go back to the menu and select "Continuous" file numbering mode
Put the memory card in your computer
Rename the file img_#### where #### is the number you want to start at.
The next image should be img_$$$$ where $$$$ = #### + 1

If you switch cards between cameras, there's a good chance you'll screw things up again, even if the cards appear to be blank (i.e. have had all the images erased). You may be able to totally reset a card by formating it in your PC.

[JasminGreenTea]

Thank you, Bob & Keith, for your answers thet confirm my theory!

Yes, the card I inserted first in that virgin camera had images on it. And its counter was set on "continuous". I assume the image count was around 3500.

Bob, thanks for indicating which way I should reset the counter to 0 and eventually put it to a desired number.

I will not switch cards between these cameras in the future.

I had not supsected anything, as I used to swich cards on my own camera and there was never any problem. But you're right, a second camera, with its own numberisng system, might mess things up.

So, now I can clear my suspects' list, and just blame it on the camera, rioght?