Can it be done?

[BBTM]

If lens or body been stolen, the serial number can be alter and the set can be sold at a low price etc.

What if the serial number data is with the photo exif and so, whoever used that stolen lens or camera, their photo will have 2 serial number in it. A software to check every photos that uploaded and if it's the stolen one, still got chance to track it down?

Some time when we are overseas, no matter how careful we are, gears might still be stolen. Good for phone too, at least we know the person who taking selfies

 

[daredevil123]

Problem is photo exif can be modified, and many photos online do not come with exif. So it is close to impossible to track.,

 

[thoongeng]

Sure can be done, according to this website these camera models do store their serial numbers in exif and the website also allows you to search:

Stolen Camera Finder

stolencamerafinder reunites people with lost or stolen camera equipment by searching the web for the serial numbers embedded in jpegs.

www.stolencamerafinder.com

However as mod daredevil123 said, many websites recompress the image and strip away exif data on upload, so not a foolproof way

 

[BBTM]

Problem is photo exif can be modified, and many photos online do not come with exif. So it is close to impossible to track.,

Maybe lock the exif for future photos but will they do it or not? Or need password access to exif etc, making it harder for them to do so. All uploaded photos will contain exif by default. Just that not worth to have our gears stolen under our nose.

I think if you are alone overseas, best not to take photos for other when got not much people around. It's the best chance for them to steal your gears when you been distracted

 

[Octarine]

Maybe lock the exif for future photos but will they do it or not? Or need password access to exif etc, making it harder for them to do so. All uploaded photos will contain exif by default. Just that not worth to have our gears stolen under our nose.

I think if you are alone overseas, best not to take photos for other when got not much people around. It's the best chance for them to steal your gears when you been distracted

For any decent and respectable protection you would need signature and encryption methods to verify whether exif data have been modified.
Now imagine (and let's assume such a standard would be developed) where encryption methods need to be implemented / added to make this an end-to end solution... It might be worth doing for the flagship models, but not the consumer / hobby models.

 

[BBTM]

For any decent and respectable protection you would need signature and encryption methods to verify whether exif data have been modified.
Now imagine (and let's assume such a standard would be developed) where encryption methods need to be implemented / added to make this an end-to end solution... It might be worth doing for the flagship models, but not the consumer / hobby models.

Maybe for those items that cost 2k sgd and above should be having this feature. Those spending between 1k to 2k, esp like those rx100 mk6/7, could request too. Other than that, most will get a new one. Last but not least, those iphone/phone which cost over 1k, should have the option too, target of thieves worldwide

 

[ricohflex]

I have changed the EXIF of some of my photos, just for fun. And to prove it can be done. Many EXIF editors are available.
Many EXIF strippers are available. They remove ALL of the EXIF and this can be done on a batch basis for a large number of photos.
But then again, cameras and lens thieves are not in love with photography. To them it is merely an object to be quickly sold away in exchange for money.
Most camera thieves won't be taking photos with a stolen camera for years and uploading them to Flickr or Facebook.
The stolen camera/lens may have changed hands several times. From thief to Fence (a middleman who trades in stolen goods) to dubious 2nd hand shop to unsuspecting buyer. That buyer may later sell the camera to one of his friends.
Such ID technology cannot prevent the actual theft.
It may only indicate the camera/lens used to take a particular photo, is one of your stolen equipment.
Whatever technology can be invented and implemented to identify a stolen camera, is a matter of statistics and cost.
If only a minuscule percentage of all cameras manufactured and sold, are subsequently stolen, then manufacturers conclude it is not meaningful to implant that technology. The statistics do not justify.
Such super technology (yet to be invented) will add to the cost, making the camera more expensive for all the other buyers who did not have their camera stolen.
Buying insurance to cover against theft of camera equipment is one way to protect against financial loss, but that is another story.

 

[daredevil123]

Maybe lock the exif for future photos but will they do it or not? Or need password access to exif etc, making it harder for them to do so. All uploaded photos will contain exif by default. Just that not worth to have our gears stolen under our nose.

I think if you are alone overseas, best not to take photos for other when got not much people around. It's the best chance for them to steal your gears when you been distracted

When there is a will, there is a way. iphones can be jail broken, bank systems can be hacked... nothing is ever lockable for good. Even with exif locked, theft will still happen. Thieves steal and resell, they don't exactly keep the cameras and continue using it and post photos online.

 

[Octarine]

Thieves steal and resell, they don't exactly keep the cameras and continue using it and post photos online.

Exactly. There are two different topics here: theft of cameras and integrity of images. For the second topic there are already solutions in place.

 

[BBTM]

The photo just like DNA lah, at least know who are you belongs to, right?