Lightroom Classic 14.4 changing capture date/time in raw files

[Oliver Andrews]

Running LrC 14.4 on MacOS Sequoia 15.5, with the option "Write date or time changes into proprietary raw files" enabled, LrC is automatically modifying the capture date/time in my raw files without me using Edit Capture Time.

Initially noticed that all files imported since 14.4 had the file modification date/time changed to when they were imported, whereas it's always previously stayed the same as the capture time from the camera. I then noticed that some older files were also showing the raw file as having been modified after I'd been editing them. After a bit of investigation I discovered it's modifying the capture time in the raw files for some reason.

I've been testing with new and old files, some taken in GMT timezone, others taken whilst BST is in effect (+1 hour). They almost all get modified on import or editing, but the ones taken during BST the time is changed back an hour, whereas the ones taken in GMT nothing changes, so the "modification" seems to just be the same time being set again. There's also odd files that don't get modified, but I can't see any obvious reason why those are left alone.

What's strange is that when the time is shifted that change isn't reflected within LrC, the time shown there stays correct, it's only changed in the raw file.

So expected result is the capture date/time in the raw file gets left alone unless I specifically change it, actual result is it gets changed automatically. This doesn't happen in 14.3.1.

Hopefully that all makes sense!

Let me know if you need any more information or testing. For now I've reverted my main computer to 14.3.1 and restored all the modified raw files, but I have an old one I can test on where I've confirmed the same thing happens.

[johnrellis]

If you share a problem raw, I can put it under the microscope to see what might be going wrong and possibly file an actionable bug report. If the forum won't let you attach the file here, upload it to Wetransfer, Dropbox, Google Drive or similar free service and post the sharing link here.

[Oliver Andrews]

Hi @johnrellis, do you mean a raw from before or after LrC has modified it? They're just Canon CR3 files from an EOS R but I can easily share one.

[johnrellis]

"do you mean a raw from before or after LrC has modified it?"

From before, preferably before it's been imported into LR.

[Oliver Andrews]

OK, I took some uninspiring test shots earlier when I was investigating, and kept a copy of the unimported files, so here's one of them. I can't see a way to attach a file directly here, but this link should download it from OneDrive:
https://1drv.ms/u/c/6a9967169ad9f1a0/EZeyT8Jo8t1NiUXRFNIMG-oB9xDEWqLu4UUqr5uxaEjYOQ?e=eVCQ39

[johnrellis]

OK, I'll take a look later tonight.

[johnrellis]

I filed a bug report here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/save-metadata-to-file-incorrectly-changes-cr3-...

I observed that when you enable the option Write Date Or Time Changes Into Proprietary Raw Files, and then do Metadata > Save Metadata To File (or do it implicitly with the option Catalog Settings > Metadata > Automatically Write Changes Into XMP), LR 14.4 incorrectly shifts the EXIF capture date in your .CR3, but not in a test .ARW.

Some options for handling this until Adobe fixes the bug (who knows if or when):

- Disable either Automatically Write Changes Into XMP or Write Date Or Time Changes Into Proprietary Raw Files.

- After Adobe fixes the bug, use Exiftool to discover and fix EXIF:DateTimeOriginal in all your .CR3 files, using the DateTimeOriginal values stored in the .xmp sidecars (which appear to be unaffected by this bug).

[Oliver Andrews]

Thanks @johnrellis! One minor update - I've just tested with some of my older CR2 files from 70D and 40D cameras, and the same thing happens with them. So it looks like it's all Canon raw files rather than just the newer CR3s.