EXIF Lens Model
The make, model and sometimes serial number of the lens attached to the camera. The most over-precise field in the entire EXIF block.
Quick facts
| Tag ID | 0xA433 LensMake, 0xA434 LensModel, 0xA432 LensSpecification, 0xA435 LensSerialNumber |
|---|---|
| Stored in | ExifIFD |
| Example value | EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, iPhone 15 Pro back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78 |
| Also known as | LensModel, LensMake, LensSpecification, lens, lens serial number |
| Privacy risk | Medium. The lens serial number identifies one specific physical lens in the world. |
What the Lens Model tag actually means
LensMake and LensModel name the lens, LensSpecification gives the focal length range and maximum aperture, and LensSerialNumber is the unique serial printed on that individual lens body. Phones record a synthetic lens string describing their camera array.
Why it matters
Most people do not realise the serial number of their lens is written into every file. A lens serial is a unique physical identifier — it can be tied to a single unit, and a photographer with a distinctive lens becomes trivially groupable across an entire portfolio.
What to do about it
Remove LensSerialNumber at minimum. If you are publishing professional work, removing the lens model and make too is a reasonable default.
Who writes this tag
Camera bodies with interchangeable lenses, and phone cameras with multiple focal lengths.
Sources and how this was verified
Tag IDs and encodings are taken from the CIPA DC-007-Translation (Exif 3.0) and ISO/IEC 21222-1 specifications. The privacy rating is our own editorial judgement, based on what each field can uniquely identify. Every entry in this reference is checked against real files produced by the cameras, phones and editors we test with.
- CIPA DC-007-Translation 2019 (Exif 3.0) — tag identifiers and IFD structure
- ISO/IEC 21222-1:2015 — data element registration
- Adobe XMP Specification (2024) — XMP packet properties
- IPTC IIM 4.2 — news/photo metadata field numbers
See our editorial and review policyfor how we test, rate and correct these entries. Found an error? Tell us.
Related EXIF tags
The specific camera or phone model, such as "iPhone 15 Pro" or "Canon EOS R6 Mark II". Narrower than the make and more identifying.
A unique serial number for the exact camera body. It identifies one specific physical device in the world and is the strongest non-location identifier in a photo.
The focal length of the lens in millimetres. On phones this is a computed value that varies with the digital zoom factor.
The manufacturer of the camera, such as Canon, Sony, Nikon or Apple. It identifies the brand of device that produced the file.
Lens Model FAQ
Common questions about the EXIF lens model tag, its values and its privacy implications.
Do photos contain the lens serial number?
Yes, on most interchangeable-lens cameras. Tag 0xA435 LensSerialNumber stores the serial of the individual lens, and it is written into every frame the lens takes.
Is the lens model in EXIF worth removing?
The model itself is mostly harmless and photographers often want to keep it. The serial number is the part worth removing, because it is a unique physical identifier rather than a product name.
Cite this reference
If you are writing about the EXIF lens model tag, you are welcome to link to this entry. It is maintained, versioned and reviewed on a published schedule.
“EXIF Lens Model (0xA433 LensMake), freexifdata.com EXIF Tag Reference, reviewed October 20, 2026.”