book

Mavica tips

Converting .411 files

These are thumbnail files. I’ve had luck using XnConvert to do the conversion.

Field vs frame

Field: slightly worse image, no interlacing artefacts

Frame: slightly better image, interlacing artefacts (moving things get shredded)

Battery is stuck or won’t go into the battery bay

Put a ribbon or floss around the battery first so you can pull it out later. If it’s already stuck inside, take glue and stick a ribbon on it, then pull it out.

The ribbon is really annoying so I filed the batteries down to size.

Checking and fixing floppy disks

On Windows

format a: /u

Use /u for unconditional format. After a couple of minutes

Insert new disk for drive A:
and press ENTER when ready...
The type of the file system is FAT.
Verifying 1.44M
Initializing the File Allocation Table (FAT)...
Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)?
Format complete.
       1.4 MB total disk space.
      274,432 bytes in bad sectors.
       1.1 MB are available.

          512 bytes in each allocation unit.
        2,311 allocation units available on disk.

           12 bits in each FAT entry.

Volume Serial Number is 0A42-5677

274,432B of bad sectors is really bad! It went down to 36,352 after the second format.

Other things to try

erasing with ImageDisk first
manually resetting/wiping floppy with a strong magnet (eg, dead HDD magnet)
use a different floppy disk drive
take photos multiple times

See: https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=84771

Applying EXIF

exiftool \
  "-datetimeoriginal<filemodifydate" \
  -make="SONY" \
  -model="MAVICA MVC-FD7" \
  -EXIF:OffsetTime*=+8:00 \
  .

If you have a GPS track

exiftool -geotag track.gpx \
  . \
  -api GeoMaxIntSecs=1800 \
  '-geotime<${DateTimeOriginal}+08:00'

exiftool \
  "-datetimeoriginal<filemodifydate" \
  -make="SONY" \
  -model="MAVICA MVC-FD7" \
  -EXIF:OffsetTime*=+8:00 \
  . \
&& exiftool \
  -geotag track.gpx \
  . \
  -api GeoMaxIntSecs=1800 \
  '-geotime<${DateTimeOriginal}+08:00'