A camera needs an explicit menu setting for “Date Stamp” or “Date/Time” that burns visible text into the photo, not just EXIF metadata.
Many cameras record the date invisibly in metadata only. What most people want is numbers sitting permanently in the frame. Check the manual for a real imprint function before buying — a retailer’s spec sheet won’t distinguish the two.
What Separates a Real Date Stamp From EXIF Metadata
A visible date stamp is burned into the image’s pixels during capture; EXIF metadata is a hidden tag stored alongside the file. Canon’s support documentation is blunt: once an in-camera stamp is recorded, it cannot be deleted from the photo.
That drives the buying decision. An EXIF date travels with the file and can be read by software, but disappears the moment someone prints the picture or views it in an app that ignores metadata. A rasterized stamp shows up everywhere — on paper, on screen, in a text message. The trade-off is permanence: you cannot strip the numbers out later.
Cameras that write a stamp usually offer date only or date and time. Canon documents [Date] and [Date & Time]; Sony lists DATE, DAY & TIME, and OFF on supported models.
How to Verify the Feature on a Specific Model
Pull up the manufacturer’s manual for the exact model and search for “Date Stamp,” “Date/Time Imprint,” or “EFFECT.” If the term appears only as a playback or printing option, the camera does not imprint dates during shooting.
- Check the exact model and regional name. Features differ by market; the same camera can ship as a PowerShot in one region and an IXUS in another.
- Confirm the mode support. Canon warns that not every shooting mode allows date stamping.
- Watch for a resolution lock. On at least one Canon Date Stamp mode, resolution is fixed at 1600 × 1200 pixels with Fine compression — fine for postcard-size printing, thin for anything larger.
- Note the customization limits. Canon states the stamp’s font, color, and position cannot be changed on its documented PowerShot models.
- Confirm the clock option exists. The setting can stay grayed out until the date and time are set.
How the major manufacturers compare:
| Brand / Documented Option | What It Imprints | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Canon PowerShot (Date Stamp menu) | Date, or date and time | Permanent once shot; font and position fixed |
| Canon (older Date Stamp mode) | Date, or date and time | Resolution locked to M1, 1600 × 1200 |
| Sony (DATE/TIME menu) | Date, or day and time | Model-specific; switch must be set to STILL |
| Interchangeable-lens cameras (typical) | EXIF metadata only | No visible imprint during capture |
| Print-time date overlay | Date added at printing | Original file stays clean; needs PictBridge, DPOF, or Canon software |
| Post-processing text overlay | Date added in software | Manual placement; no camera support needed |
| Combined in-camera + print stamp | Two dates on one photo | Canon warns this produces duplicate dates |
To skip the manual-hunting, our tested roundup of the best cameras with date and time stamp covers models already confirmed to imprint visibly.
Setting the Date Correctly and Keeping It Accurate
The stamp is only as good as the clock behind it. Canon notes the built-in backup battery holds date and time settings for roughly three weeks after the main battery is removed. A dead backup cell, a wrong daylight-saving setting, or a long stretch without power all produce wrong numbers on otherwise good photos.
Set year, month, day, time, and daylight-saving before your first shot — Canon records these values in the image properties and uses them for image management and printing, so an error compounds across every file. If you travel across time zones, reset the clock on arrival. A used camera deserves a fresh test image before anything important, since batteries, firmware, and regional menu behavior on secondhand units rarely match a new one exactly.
Canon’s documented PowerShot workflow runs: menu button > Shooting tab > Date Stamp > choose Date or Date & Time > confirm. A date indicator should appear on screen, and a test shot should show the imprint. Canon’s full write-up on inserting the date into images covers mode restrictions, and Sony’s date and time menu documentation shows the equivalent path through EFFECT > DATE/TIME.
Common Questions
Can I remove a date stamp after the photo is taken?
No — once the camera writes the numbers into the image, they are part of the picture. Canon states plainly that an in-camera stamp cannot be deleted. If you want a clean copy later, shoot an unstamped version alongside the stamped one.
Why is my camera’s date stamp option grayed out?
The most common cause is that the date and time have not been set, which Canon notes can keep the option unavailable. It can also mean the current shooting mode does not support stamping. Set the clock, switch modes, and check again.
Do modern mirrorless cameras stamp dates visibly?
Usually not. Interchangeable-lens models generally record the capture date in EXIF metadata only, leaving visible imprinting to compact cameras and print-time software. Buyers who need a visible stamp should confirm the function in the exact model’s manual before purchasing.
Sources
- Canon USA Support. “Inserting the Date into Images (Date Stamp).” Confirms permanent imprinting, mode limits, resolution lock, and the print-time alternative.
- Canon USA Support. “How to Add Date and Time Stamps to Photos on Canon PowerShot.” Lists the PowerShot menu workflow and affected models.
- Sony Support. “Date/Time” menu information.” Documents DATE, DAY & TIME, and OFF options.