The shutter count of your camera or shutter actuation count is the amount of times the shutter was utilized to take a photograph. In mirrorless cameras this number is typically listed to the shutter that is mechanical.
You might be interested in the complete shutter count to determine the possibility for selling the camera. Perhaps you’d like to know the distance you’re within manufacturers’ shutter life rated by the manufacturer that is usually in many thousands. Here, I’ll describe how to determine the shutter count on most kinds of cameras.
Why Should You Check Your Shutter Count?
Mechanical shutters have a limited lifespan and will eventually fail. In the case of most cameras with higher quality shutters will last for hundreds of thousands of shots. And there are some cameras that have reached one million actuations and not failed.
This is the image 31,073 I captured by my Nikon D500. This means that I am only 15 percent of the way towards the anticipated shutter lifespan of 200 000.
So, a quick check of your shutter count will inform the average amount of time is left in your shutter. This is particularly useful when marketing your camera. This isn’t the case with the mechanical shutter. If you are using an electronic camera that is mirrorless and you have it in the electronic shutter, there’s no mechanical part that is wearing out, so the shutter count doesn’t matter as crucial.
Certain cameras, such as Nikon Z9 Nikon Z9 don’t even have mechanical shutters. But, you could be interested in knowing the shutter count as a proximate for how frequently the camera is utilized.
Tools for Shutter Count
Programs to Read EXIF Data
Nikon, Sony, Fuji Sony, Nikon, and Pentax cameras record the shutter count into metadata for files, referred to by the name of EXIF. If you aren’t sure the meaning of EXIF is or what it’s used for you can read the ” What is EXIF” article. In essence, your camera records every exposure-related data like dates, times, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and many other important information to the header of every file.
If you are using the Panasonic or Olympus camera, you’ll have to follow the steps that are described in the next article to calculate the shutter count. If you are using an Canon camera, it could require to move to another dimension.
If you are a photographer using Nikon, Sony, Fuji or Pentax an effective method to figure out the shutter speed is using an EXIF reader. The most efficient option is the Phil Harvey’s ExifTool. Although it’s a command-line utility, it’s simple to use. Other programs can also show incomplete EXIF information. When the information about shutter count can be found in this manner, it’s displayed by the specific camera sections that follow.
ExifTool output of an Sony A1 Raw image
A cross-platform graphic frontend for ExifTool known as jExifToolGUI can also be found.
Uploading to a Website
Another alternative to Nikon, Sony, Fuji and Pentax cameras is to use an online shutter count tool such as Camera Shutter Count which simply reads the shutter count information from the EXIF information contained in the Raw or JPEG file. This is the simplest method since it doesn’t require the download of any software or utilizing the command line.
If you choose to make use of the JPEG file, ensure that you’re using one straight from the camera. Output JPEGs generated by Lightroom or a different Raw editor could have EXIF information deleted.
Because these methods require that the shutter count be saved into the EXIF field Canon, Olympus, and Panasonic cameras are not compatible.
Shutter Count For Each Camera Brand
Nikon
Nikon is among the most straightforward brands to determine shutter count since Nikon cameras incorporate their shutter count information in EXIF fields. In addition to the method that I described, you can look up”Shutter Count” or “Shutter Count” field in your EXIF viewer, or run the following commands in ExifTool:
exiftool NikonFile.NEF | search grep –i Shutter.Count
For Nikon Mirrorless Cameras, users can receive two outcomes The shutter count and an actual count of shutters. The latter is only counting images made using that shutter mechanism.
For MacOS users The native preview application will also display the shutter count on Nikon cameras which includes the latest Nikon Z9. To show it, you need to you can open a Raw or JPEG using Preview. If the Inspector isn’t opened, click tools > show inspector. After you’ve done this you can select”Nikon” on the “Nikon” tab. The shutter count will be displayed.
The Preview app on MacOS can display the shutter count on Nikon cameras.
While Sony, Pentax, and Fuji have shutter numbers in the EXIF data, this is however not available in the Preview application.
Pentax
Pentax is like Nikon in the sense that its shutter counts are listed on the “Shutter Count” field in the EXIF information. If you’re using ExifTool it is possible to use the exact same command with Nikon cameras:
exiftool PentaxFile.DNG | grep -i Shutter.Count
Sony
Sony also records an amount of shutters actuated into”Shutter Count” “Shutter Count” field, which is obtainable by using this command:
exiftool SonyFile.ARW | grep -i Shutter.Count
There could exist several “Shutter Count” field, such as “Shutter Count 2” however the numbers in these fields must be identical.
A good alternative to Sony cameras would be the SONY Alpha shutter counter. I like this website since it doesn’t upload images to servers. Instead, it makes use of an application in the browser to determine the shutter actions taken from the Sony Alpha camera. This is not only slightly more secure than other sites but it’s also faster, particularly if are uploading an Raw file.
Fuji
Fuji is following Nikon, Pentax, and Sony by including the shutter count into the EXIF metadata. However, Fuji cameras employ an option called “Image Count” instead of “Shutter Count”. With ExifTool:
exiftool FujiFile.RAF | Grep Image.Count
Canon
It’s a lot more difficult to locate the shutter count for the shutter count of a Canon camera. The majority of Canon cameras do not include shutter count information in the EXIF information. Instead, it’s only recorded by the camera. Canon hasn’t disclosed any information about how to read it.
However, a few third parties such as ShutterCheck have reverse-engineered Canon’s protocols and their programs are able to show your camera’s shutter speed even when you connect your device to the computer.
The latest Canon mirrorless cameras offer counts of shutters that are increments to one thousand. Check if your camera model is supported prior to buying the application.
Olympus
Olympus cameras come with a hidden menu which displays their shutter counts. Here’s how to gain access to the hidden menu of Olympus cameras:
- Switch off your camera
- Hold the menu button until you switch on the camera.
- Do not press the Menu button, and then press it once more.
- You can go to the wrench (setup menu)
- Click on the option to alter the temperature and brightness of the rear display.
- Click these buttons in this order: left, information OK
- Enter this sequence to move up, down left, right shutter up (this will display you the menu that is secret)
- Press left to reveal another page from the menu.
Mechanical shutter counts will be displayed as a number that follows “MS”.
Holding down the Menu button when you turn on the camera triggers the menu hidden in the camera.
Panasonic
Panasonic is similar to Olympus with regard to the fact that users have access to a hidden menu to check your shutter’s count. To gain access you have to set your camera in maintenance mode.
Before you begin this procedure, please note that some users who have VLOG installed have experienced issues. Therefore, if you’re using VLOG installed, it might be wise to not be concerned about the shutter number.
Make sure that there is a memory card inside the camera, and then follow these steps:
- Select only one shooting mode
- Change the mode dial to aperture priority or select an other photo mode, but not video.
- The camera should be turned on, and take a photograph
- Switch off the camera
- Hold and press the play button as well as the button to lock the AE/AF.
- The camera should be turned on.
- Select the menu option and then click on the wrench icon.
- Click on Page 5 of the menu
- Go to ERR CODE DISP
- Double press the menu key
This camera’s shutter time will be displayed in the field SHTCNT.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve been capable of determining your shutter’s count, particularly when you shoot using an DSLR. Mirrorless cameras come with an electronic shutters for silent shooting, this means that for most using mechanical shutters, the mechanism in your camera can be even more durable. Are you concerned about the longevity that your shutter is going to last? Tell me in the comments your most traumatic experiences in how to determine the shutter count.