Bug 493388

Summary: Inconsistent timeline display due to timezone handling in videos vs. photos
Product: [Applications] digikam Reporter: MarcP <iwannaberich>
Component: Albums-MainViewAssignee: Digikam Developers <digikam-bugs-null>
Status: RESOLVED FIXED    
Severity: normal CC: caulier.gilles, iwannaberich, metzpinguin
Priority: NOR    
Version: 8.4.0   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: Microsoft Windows   
OS: Microsoft Windows   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed In: 8.5.0
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments: IMG_7934.JPG

Description MarcP 2024-09-19 23:07:05 UTC 
Created attachment 173900 [details]
IMG_7934.JPG

SUMMARY
I’ve noticed an issue with Digikam’s timeline when handling media from iPhones. Specifically:

    Videos recorded on iPhones (at least iPhone 13 mini) store the date and time in the XMP metadata, which includes timezone information.
    Photos, however, only contain EXIF metadata, which typically lacks timezone data.

As a result, videos appear several hours later than the corresponding photos on the timeline, even though they were taken around the same time.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Import both photos and videos taken with an iPhone into Digikam.
2. Browse the album to see the chronological order of the media.
3. Observe the placement of photos versus videos that were taken at roughly the same time.

OBSERVED RESULT
Videos appear several hours later than the corresponding photos on the timeline, even though they were captured at nearly the same time. This happens because the videos have timezone information stored in the XMP metadata, while the photos only contain EXIF metadata without timezone data.

EXPECTED RESULT
Both photos and videos should appear at the same point on the timeline, regardless of the presence of timezone information. Ideally, Digikam should provide an option to ignore timezone data in videos, so that both photos and videos are displayed consistently based on local time.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: Windows 10 22H2
Digikam 8.4.0

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As an example, see files IMG_7933.MOV and IMG_7934.JPG taken roughly at the same time.
IMG_7934.JPG has the EXIF DateTimeOriginal 2024:09:15 06:36:52
IMG_7933.MOV has the XMP CreationDate 2024:09:15 10:35:44 6:35:44 -4:00 and the CreateDate 2024:09:15 10:35:44
(couldn't attach video file due to size restrictions, find it attached to this link: http://158.101.198.126:9011/share/6AxPyi8H)
Comment 1 caulier.gilles 2024-09-19 23:30:35 UTC 
>Browse the album to see the chronological order of the media.

Using Table-view mode ? Please take a screenshot.

Gilles Caulier
Comment 2 Maik Qualmann 2024-09-20 06:05:07 UTC 
Problem is fixed in digiKam-8.5.0 with these bugs:

Bug 490552
Bug 493241

Maik
Comment 3 MarcP 2024-09-20 15:08:05 UTC 
Thank you. I can still provide screenshots or screen recordings if necessary. I'll wait for the next 8.5 release and I'll get back to you if this was still an issue.
Comment 4 caulier.gilles 2024-09-20 15:10:29 UTC 
Marc, 

As usual, this can be tested already with the 8.5.0 pre-release available here :

https://files.kde.org/digikam/

Best

Gilles Caulier