ExifTool output from a Sony A1 Raw fileĪ cross-platform graphical frontend for ExifTool called jExifToolGUI also exists. Some other programs also display partial EXIF information, and when the shutter count information can be retrieved this way, it is indicated in the camera-specific sections below. Although it is a command-line utility, it is very easy to use. The most powerful one is Phil Harvey’s ExifTool. So if you do shoot Nikon, Sony, Fuji, or Pentax, a good way to find the shutter count is an EXIF reader.

If you use a Canon camera, you may need to travel to another dimension. If you use a Panasonic or Olympus camera, you will need to use the methods described later in the article to find your shutter count. Basically, your camera writes all exposure-related information such as date, time, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and a bunch of other important information into the header of each file. If you do not know what EXIF is and what it is used for, check out my “ What is EXIF” article. Nikon, Sony, Fuji, and Pentax cameras put the shutter count in file metadata known as EXIF. Tools for Shutter Count Programs to Read EXIF Data

Nonetheless, you may still be interested in finding out the shutter count, which is a proxy for how much the camera has been used. If you use a mirrorless camera and have it on electronic shutter mode, then there is no mechanical part wearing down, and the shutter count is not as important.Ī few cameras like the Nikon Z9 don’t even have a mechanical shutter. But this applies to the mechanical shutter. Thus, checking your shutter count can tell you on average how much life is left in your shutter, which is especially useful for selling your camera. Thus, I am only 15% of the way to the expected shutter life of 200,000. This is image 31,073 taken on my Nikon D500. With most higher-end cameras, the shutter can last for hundreds of thousands of shots, and there are a few cameras that have even reached a million actuations without failing. Mechanical shutters have a finite life and eventually break down.

Why Should You Check Your Shutter Count?.

Exif data viewer online