Overview

FilmTracker LR Plugin is a comprehensive solution for analog photographers who want to maintain detailed metadata about their film photography in Adobe Lightroom Classic. Document your cameras, lenses, film stocks, and shooting parameters with precision and style.

Camera Icon

Camera Management

Track multiple film cameras with detailed information including make, model, and serial numbers. Perfect for collectors and professionals.

Lens Icon

Lens Database

Comprehensive lens tracking with focal length calculations, 35mm equivalent conversions, and aperture management.

Film Icon

Film Stock Library

Organize your film stocks by format, type, and manufacturer. Support for 35mm, medium format, and large format films.

Installation

Download & Install

  1. Download the Plugin
    Download the latest version from the navigation menu above and extract the ZIP file to a location you'll remember.
  2. Install in Lightroom
    In Lightroom Classic, go to File → Plug-in Manager, click Add, and navigate to the extracted FilmTracker_LR_Plugin.lrplugin folder.
  3. Configure ExifTool
    The plugin includes ExifTool for metadata writing. On first use, you may need to grant permissions for the tool to run on macOS.
  4. Access the Plugin
    Once installed, find FilmTracker options in Library → Plug-in Extras. Select some photos and start tagging your film!
Pro Tip: Create a dedicated folder for your Lightroom plugins to keep everything organized. The plugin will remember your ExifTool path and other settings between sessions.

Getting Started

Your First Film Tags

FilmTracker Main Interface

FilmTracker's main interface for tagging your film photos

Main Interface Fields Explained

Film Information
  • Film Preset: Quick-select from saved film stocks
  • Film Make: Manufacturer (Kodak, Fuji, Ilford, etc.)
  • Film Type: Specific stock (Portra 400, HP5+, etc.)
  • Film Format: 35mm, Medium Format, Large Format
  • Save Film: Create preset from current settings
Camera Information
  • Camera Preset: Quick-select from saved cameras
  • Camera Make: Brand (Nikon, Canon, Leica, etc.)
  • Camera Model: Specific model (F4, AE-1, M6, etc.)
  • Serial Number: Camera body serial for tracking
  • Save Camera: Create preset from current settings
Lens Information
  • Lens Preset: Quick-select from saved lenses
  • Lens Name: Full lens description with aperture
  • Focal Length: Actual focal length used (mm)
  • 35mm Equivalent: Auto-calculated based on format
  • ƒ Button: Insert aperture symbol (ƒ/1.4, etc.)
  • Save Lens: Create preset from current settings
Output Options
  • ExifTool Path: Location of metadata writing tool
  • Add to Keywords: Include metadata in Lightroom keywords
  • Write XMP Sidecar: Create external metadata files
  • Tag Your Film: Apply all metadata to selected photos
Import From FilmTracker App

This feature will be available when the FilmTracker mobile app launches. You'll be able to export your film data from the app and import it directly into the Lightroom plugin.

  • CSV Path: Path to exported FilmTracker app data
  • Browse: Select CSV file from your computer
  • Import: Process CSV and apply data to matching photos
  • How to Import: Open detailed import guide
  1. Select Your Photos
    In Lightroom's Library module, select the film photos you want to tag. You can select multiple photos to batch-process them with the same metadata.
  2. Open FilmTracker
    Go to Library → Plug-in Extras → Update Selected Photos to open the main FilmTracker dialog.
  3. Fill in Your Details
    Enter your film stock, camera, and lens information. The plugin will automatically calculate 35mm equivalent focal lengths and suggest compatible film formats.
  4. Tag Your Photos
    Click " Tag Your Film" to apply the metadata to your selected photos. The information will be written to both Lightroom's catalog and XMP sidecars.
🎉 Success! Your film photos now contain rich metadata that will help you organize, search, and preserve the details of your analog photography for years to come.

Features

Comprehensive Metadata

Track film type, camera details, lens information, exposure settings, and more with industry-standard EXIF, IPTC, and XMP metadata.

Format Conversion

Automatic 35mm equivalent focal length calculations for medium format, large format, and other film sizes with accurate crop factors.

Preset Management

Save and organize presets for your cameras, lenses, and film stocks. Quickly apply common configurations with a single click.

Batch Processing

Apply metadata to multiple photos simultaneously. Perfect for entire rolls or shooting sessions with consistent equipment.

Smart Suggestions

Intelligent film format suggestions based on camera compatibility, and automatic field population from your preset library.

Professional Tools

Built-in ExifTool integration, XMP sidecar support, and compatibility with professional photography workflows.

Supported Metadata Fields

Category Field Standard Description
Film Film Make IPTC:Source Manufacturer of the film stock
Film Film Type XMP:Source Specific film stock name and type
Film Film Format IPTC:SourceType Film format (35mm, Medium Format, etc.)
Camera Camera Make & Model XMP:Camera Combined camera identification
Camera Serial Number EXIF:SerialNumber Camera body serial number
Lens Lens Name XMP:Lens Complete lens identification
Lens Focal Length EXIF:FocalLength Actual focal length used
Lens 35mm Equivalent EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat Calculated 35mm equivalent focal length
Film
Film Make
IPTC:Source
Manufacturer of the film stock
Film
Film Type
XMP:Source
Specific film stock name and type
Film
Film Format
IPTC:SourceType
Film format (35mm, Medium Format, etc.)
Camera
Camera Make & Model
XMP:Camera
Combined camera identification
Camera
Serial Number
EXIF:SerialNumber
Camera body serial number
Lens
Lens Name
XMP:Lens
Complete lens identification
Lens
Focal Length
EXIF:FocalLength
Actual focal length used
Lens
35mm Equivalent
EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat
Calculated 35mm equivalent focal length

Preset Management

FilmTracker includes powerful preset management to save time and ensure consistency across your film photography workflow.

Camera Manager

Access via Library → Plug-in Extras → Camera Manager. Store your camera collection with detailed specifications, serial numbers, and format compatibility.

Camera Manager Interface

Camera Manager - Organize your film camera collection

Camera Manager Features

Camera Details
  • Camera Make: Manufacturer brand name
  • Camera Model: Specific camera model
  • Serial Number: Unique identifier for tracking
  • Film Format: Compatible formats (35mm, 120, etc.)
Management Actions
  • Add Camera: Create new camera preset
  • Edit Selected: Modify existing camera details
  • Remove: Delete camera from collection
  • Preset List: Browse all saved cameras
Pro Tip: Include serial numbers to distinguish between multiple cameras of the same model. The format field helps FilmTracker suggest appropriate film formats automatically.

Lens Manager

Access via Library → Plug-in Extras → Lens Manager. Organize your lens collection with focal lengths, aperture ranges, and mount information.

Lens Manager Interface

Lens Manager - Catalog your lens collection with detailed specifications

Lens Manager Features

Lens Specifications
  • Lens Name: Complete lens description (e.g., "Nikkor 50mm ƒ/1.4")
  • Focal Length: Primary focal length in millimeters
  • Serial Number: Lens body serial for tracking
  • Mount Type: Camera mount compatibility
Management Options
  • Add Lens: Create new lens preset
  • Edit Selected: Modify existing lens details
  • Remove: Delete lens from collection
  • Preset List: Browse all saved lenses
Focal Length Tip: Use the ƒ symbol for aperture notation (ƒ/1.4, ƒ/2.8). FilmTracker automatically calculates 35mm equivalent focal lengths based on your film format selection.

Film Manager

Access via Library → Plug-in Extras → Film Manager. Catalog your film stocks by manufacturer, type, format, and shooting characteristics.

Film Manager Interface

Film Manager - Organize your film stock collection by type and format

Film Manager Features

Film Stock Details
  • Film Make: Manufacturer (Kodak, Fuji, Ilford, CineStill, etc.)
  • Film Type: Specific emulsion (Portra 400, HP5+, Vision3, etc.)
  • Film Format: Physical format (35mm, 120, 4x5, etc.)
  • ISO/ASA: Film sensitivity rating
Organization Tools
  • Add Film: Create new film stock preset
  • Edit Selected: Modify existing film details
  • Remove: Delete film from collection
  • Preset List: Browse all saved film stocks
Format Classification

35mm: Standard 35mm film cartridges (Full Frame equivalent)

Medium Format: 120/220 roll film (6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x9 variants)

Large Format: Sheet film (4x5, 5x7, 8x10, etc.)

APS: Advanced Photo System cartridges

Instant: Polaroid and Instax formats

Format Tip: Film format affects crop factor calculations. FilmTracker uses this to automatically compute 35mm equivalent focal lengths and suggest compatible cameras.
Workflow Tip: Set up your presets first before tagging photos. This makes the tagging process much faster and ensures consistent naming across your catalog.

Import Data

FilmTracker App Integration

FilmTracker App Integration

The import functionality will be available when the FilmTracker mobile app launches. You'll be able to log your shots on the go and seamlessly import that data into Lightroom Classic for comprehensive metadata management.

If you're using the FilmTracker mobile app to log your shots, you can import that data directly into Lightroom using a CSV file. This feature allows you to set detailed metadata for each photo based on filename matching.

Supported CSV Fields:
• Filename matching for photo identification
• Camera make and model
• Lens information and focal length
• Film stock and format
• Shooting date and time
• Exposure settings (shutter, aperture, exposure compensation)
• Metering mode and exposure mode
• White balance and flash settings
  • Prepare Your CSV
    Export your data from the FilmTracker app or create a CSV file with the required column headers and photo filename matching.
  • Import in Lightroom
    In the main FilmTracker dialog, use the "Import From FilmTracker App" section to browse and select your CSV file.
  • Review & Apply
    The plugin will match filenames and populate metadata fields automatically. Review the data and click import to apply.
    • How to Import Guide

    Troubleshooting

    Common Issues

    ExifTool Permission Issues (macOS)

    If you see permission errors, you may need to allow ExifTool to run:

    System Preferences → Security & Privacy → General
    Click "Allow" when prompted about ExifTool

    Plugin Not Appearing in Menu

    Ensure the plugin is properly installed and enabled:

    File → Plug-in Manager → Check that FilmTracker is listed and enabled

    Metadata Not Writing

    If metadata isn't being applied to your photos:

    • Check that ExifTool path is configured correctly
    • Ensure photos are not locked or read-only
    • Try writing to XMP sidecars if direct file writing fails
    • Check Lightroom's catalog sync if using cloud sync

    Reset Plugin Data

    To remove all FilmTracker metadata from selected photos:

    Library → Plug-in Extras → Reset Data on Selected Photos
    Important: Always backup your Lightroom catalog before making bulk metadata changes. The reset function will remove all FilmTracker-managed metadata permanently.

    FilmTracker App

    Coming Soon - Mobile & Web Application

    FilmTracker App

    We're developing a comprehensive mobile and web application that will extend the FilmTracker experience beyond Lightroom Classic.

    Mobile App for iOS & Android
    Cloud Sync & Backup
    Community Features
    Film Roll Tracking
    Analytics & Insights
    Social Sharing
    Coming Soon

    Sign up for updates to be notified when the FilmTracker App launches!