P: Save Metadata To File incorrectly changes .CR3 when there are no changes to the photo
When the catalog setting Write Date Or Time Changes Into Proprietary Raw Files is enabled, Save Metadata To File will incorrectly modify a .CR3, changing its EXIF:DateTimeOriginal.
This bug was introduced in LR 14.4 -- it doesn't occur in LR 14.3. Tested on Mac OS 15.5. To reproduce:
1. Download and open this very small catalog:
Observe that the Metadata panel shows the .CR3 has Capture Date/Time: 6/29/25 1:26:10 PM.
2. Open the "pics" subfolder in the catalog folder in Finder with View > As List. Sort the view by Date Modified. Take note of the Date Modified for the .ARW and .CR3.
3. Select both photos and do Metadata > Save Metadata To File. Observe in Finder that the Date Modified of the two files hasn't changed and that there are now two .xmp sidecars (correct).
4. Set the option Catalog Settings > Metadata > Write Date Or Time Changes Into Proprietary Raw Files.
5. Do Metadata > Save Metadata To File again. Observe that the .CR3's Date Modified has changed to "now" (incorrect).
6. Remove the .CR3 from the catalog but not disk; delete its .xmp from the "pics" folder.
7. In the Folders panel, right-click "pics" and do Synchronize Folder to reimport the .CR3. Observe that the Capture Date/Time in the Metadata panel has changed from its original in step 1 (incorrect).
Diffing the output from Exiftool shows that step 5 incorrectly changed the EXIF:DateTimeOriginal, EXIF:ModifyDate, and EXIF:CreateDate of the .CR3:
$ diff before.txt after.txt
...
467c467
< [EXIF] Modify Date : 2025:06:29 13:26:10
---
> [EXIF] Modify Date : 2025:06:29 20:26:10
477,478c477,478
< [EXIF] Date/Time Original : 2025:06:29 13:26:10
< [EXIF] Create Date : 2025:06:29 13:26:10
---
> [EXIF] Date/Time Original : 2025:06:29 20:26:10
> [EXIF] Create Date : 2025:06:29 20:26:10
In this case, the new (incorrect) DateTimeOriginal has been shifted by +7 hours, corresponding to my time zone of UTC-7.
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