Setting the correct time on the DJI Spark?

[Ezlivin]

When I shoot photos the time is perfectly correct. But when I shoot videos the time is off by eight (8) hours. If I shoot a photo, then immediately shoot a video the problems still persists.

Photos have the correct timestamp, but not videos.

Is there a solution?

 

[tomchipps]

I am not sure that it makes any difference but are you viewing from phone cache or direct from the Spark.

 

[Ezlivin]

When I import my photos/videos to my computer is when I notice the time shift. I never view images on my iPad; these are the times stamped on the files which are then imported.

 

[Ezlivin]

I used the exiftool to check the EXIF data on the file. I noticed that the file had the correct date, but somehow the application that I used to import it subtracted time! So the DJI app is supplying the correct data and that is being changed on import. Hmmm.

 

[Pinthenet]

I'm guessing this has something to do with timezones, where are you in the world? The Spark probably uses the GPS time (normally GMT) and may adjust it for photos but not videos based on the location it finds itself. I'm not sure how the data is stored in the videos - I found a lot of utilites can't read EXIF from the Spark videos. Also some SW automatically adjusts the time based on the PC/Mac time settings. I just checked some of my files created last year at different locations (Switzerland & Australia) and they show similar times for video & images using exiftool

 

[Pinthenet]

I checked some more files: DJI uses several metadata items for times, and different ones for videos & photos.

Photo:

File Modification Date/Time     : 2019:02:18 17:09:22+01:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2019:02:18 17:44:46+01:00
File Creation Date/Time         : 2019:02:18 17:44:46+01:00
Date/Time Original              : 2019:02:18 17:09:23
Create Date                     : 2019:02:18 17:09:23

Video:

File Modification Date/Time     : 2019:02:18 17:10:54+01:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2019:02:18 17:44:51+01:00
File Creation Date/Time         : 2019:02:18 17:44:51+01:00
Track Create Date               : 2019:02:18 17:10:54
Track Modify Date               : 2019:02:18 17:10:54
Media Create Date               : 2019:02:18 17:10:54
Media Modify Date               : 2019:02:18 17:10:54

The 'File*' values are misleading - they even show the creation date as later than the modification date. In this case I flew near home and uploaded the files about 30 minutes later - the File timestamps (except modification)are when I loaded them to the PC.

 

[Ezlivin]

I discovered that video files do not have an official EXIF. I also discovered that MacOS Photos has a bug which causes it to subtract several hours from the EXIF data supplied in MP4s. The problem lies with the application used to import the videos, not the videos themselves.