A company called AstroJargon has created two pieces of software for this very reason: Windows users will utilize EOSInfo and Mac users can rely on 40D Shutter Count. The first is downloading a freeware program that will pull this information for you. However, there are several ways to easily get the shutter count for your photo-taking machine. Unless you’re using a few select models such as the 1Dx, the aforementioned online resources will not be able to help you.
While Nikon and Pentax make your life simple by storing the shutter actuations in the photographs, Canon swoops in and makes life a little bit tougher (as a Canon user, I say this in the most endearing way possible). The number that pops up is your shutter actuation. Then proceed to type:Įxiftool source_jpeg_file.jpg | find “Shutter Count” (replace “source_jpeg_file.jpg” with the name of your actual JPEG file) Once the program is installed, you can open up the command prompt on your Windows computer or the shell terminal for your Mac computer. EXIFTool is one that’s available for both Mac and Windows users. What you will need is a program that shows you the entire expanse of the EXIF data. Unfortunately, most default image viewers only show you generic and basic EXIF data.
If you’re not comfortable uploading an image to a third party, you can download a program to help access the full EXIF data and find the actuation number that way. Some great websites to do this through include: All you have to do is upload the last photograph you took with your camera, and all of the shutter count information is yours.
This makes your life much easier if you own either of these brands, as there are plenty of fantastic online freeware to quickly let you know the shutter actuations of your camera without needing to plug the camera body into the computer. What do Nikon and Pentax have in common? Both of these manufacturers store the shutter count details in the photograph EXIF data. Shutter Actuation for Nikon and Pentax Cameras A camera that is near its maximum might not be a good choice. Note : if you are going to purchase a used camera also check the shutter actuations before making a decision. This is where our helpful article comes in to aid you in quenching your thirst for knowledge.
To avoid a mishap or malfunction during a photo shoot because you’ve reached or exceeded the shutter life expectancy, it’s important to know how to check your count. In laymen’s terms, the shutter actuation (or count) is the number of photographs your camera has taken. The best way to predict when this maintenance will be necessary is being aware of your current shutter actuations. Although a camera will not “die” per say if you’ve reached the expectancy (much like a car won’t necessarily break down once you’ve hit a certain mileage), the camera will likely stop working properly and need maintenance.
Once you know the expectancy, it is time to find out how your actual camera is doing. It is a great idea to peruse photography forums and read individual reviews on your camera brand to see if the shutter life expectancy rings true for your model, or if the actual expectancy is much lower than promised. However, the machinery does not always follow suit with the promises laid before it. However, if that yields no results, punching your camera model into a search engine followed by “shutter life expectancy” should prove fruitful. By looking up the model of your camera, you should be able to find the company’s information on its shutter life expectancy. To figure out the shutter life expectancy of your camera, you can begin by going to the brand website of your camera company. All moving parts will quit performing at some point, and the shutter is certainly no exception: Especially since the shutter does a lot of work, as, without it, photography would not be possible! How to figure out the shutter actuations of your camera It may range from 30,000 releases to hundreds of thousands of releases. Every camera brand and body have their own shutter life expectancy numbers. In cameras, this comes out in the form of your shutter life expectancy – or the approximate amount of times your shutter will function before it begins to hit the fan. This is similar to your car needing some repair help after driving an incredible amount of miles, as predicted based on car model. Upon crossing this threshold, maintenance may be required to get these beautiful pieces of equipment in tip-top shape for the next photography adventure. Like all machinery, the mechanics of our cameras have their limits.