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Nikon cameras are one of the best that can shoot sharp and bright real estate photos in a wide range of lighting conditions. Knowing how to check the Nikon shutter count can help you know the lifespan to expect from your Nikon DSLR or mirrorless camera.
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To check your Nikon shutter count, you can extract data from websites or apps that count shutter actuations, including PhotoMechanic, Opanda IExif viewer, and ExifTool. Another option is to view data using Photoshop, Mac's built-in preview window, and Nikon's service center.
The shutter is a mechanism that controls the amount of light reaching the camera sensor. It acts as a curtain or a door that opens and closes to expose the sensor to light, capturing the image. In most traditional Nikon DSLRs, the shutter is a mechanical component that moves to open and close.
However, some modern cameras come with mechanical and electronic shutters. Unlike the mechanical shutter, the electronic shutter powers the camera sensor on and off without physical movements that cause wear and tear. As a result, shutter count involves the mechanical shutter, not the electronic one.
One of the most straightforward ways to check the shutter count of your Nikon camera is to take a JPEG or NEF photo and then upload it on the myshuttercount.com website. The website extracts the image data from the photo file you upload, checks the shutter count, and displays it in a couple of seconds.
The website automatically deletes the photo file from their site once you leave the page or close the tab, and you don’t have to worry about your data.
The website offers the service for free, making it the best option for beginners on a tight budget. It also saves you the hassle of downloading and installing additional applications on your PC. However, you will need an internet connection to use this option.
Photoshop is an advanced photo editing application that allows you to open and view the data contained in the EXIF files. JPEG and NEF images have EXIF files. Before going into the steps, let’s first understand an EXIF file.
Since shutter count is one of the hardware-related data, Nikon cameras usually embed it in the EXIF file. You can then use Photoshop to view the shutter count information embedded in the file using the following steps:
PhotoMechanic is software for viewing, tagging, managing, organizing, and exporting photos. It's a paid application and might not be the best choice if your aim is only to find your camera's shutter count.
However, if you have a large collection of real estate photos and have already paid for the software to help you with organization, you can use it to check your Nikon camera shutter. Simply go to the Info Panel of the photo under the Frame Number to view the count.
Macs have a Finder window or preview pane that shows a small view of what an image looks like or what a document contains and a list of the metadata in the file. This information panel can reveal essential information about the image, including the shutter actuation of the camera.
Simply open your NEF or JPEG image using the mac preview application, navigate to Tools and choose Inspector. Alternatively, you can press the keyboard shortcut keys Command + I. Usually, a screen will pop up, showing the general information about the opened image.
Click on the small "i" button encircled by a dark label, and then click on the Nikon tab in the pane that shows up. Generally, this tab contains information regarding the camera manufacturer that shot the image, including the shutter actuation.
Even if Windows doesn't come with the preview panel like the Mac, you can install Opanda IExif viewer and view the metadata of your NEF or JPEG image. You don't need to pay for this application as the free version allows you to check the shutter actuation.
Exiftool is a platform-independent Perl library developed by Phil Harvey. That means you can use the application on both Mac and Windows PC. The tool allows you to read, write and edit meta information from a wide range of files.
This tool is available in packages depending on your operating system. For instance, there is a package for Mac, a package for Windows, and a package for UNIX.
However, this tool doesn't have a user interface, and you need to operate it using command-line tools such as the command prompt if using a Windows PC or the Terminal if using a Mac. This makes it complicated and might not be the best option for beginners.
If you are planning to buy a used camera, checking the shutter actuation using the above methods might not reveal the true condition of the camera.
The following are some benefits of getting a Nikon service center or professional to determine the shutter actuation and evaluate how much service life you can expect from the camera.
Even if the above methods let you know the count of shutter actuation, you might need to know the count remaining. For instance, if the built-in preview window in mac shows the count to be 56,000, you can know how much service life to expect if you need to know the specified limit.
Most service centers are informed of the maximum shutter actuation limit for different Nikon camera models, and they can advise you on the number of shutter movements left before replacing the shutter.
Usually, applications and online sites must consider the camera's overall physical condition. A professional can help evaluate the physical condition and give you a more realistic estimation of the service life to expect from the camera.
For instance, a camera used in dusty and moist conditions might not have much service life left even if the shutter actuation is lower than a camera used to shoot real estate interior photos in clean and dry environments.
Shutter count refers to the number of shutter actuations in a camera, which is the number of times the shutter opens and closes to capture a photo. Since shutter actuation is a mechanical thing, the shutter is prone to wear and tear over time.
Shutter count is akin to the odometer reading on a car. Just as the mileage can give you an idea of a car's wear and tear, the shutter count can provide insights into a camera's usage.
It can help you gauge how much life the camera might still have, as shutters have a maximum number of actuations they are typically rated for before failure becomes likely.
A high shutter count on a Nikon camera depends on the specific model, as different models have varying shutter life expectancies based on their build quality. For instance, models like the Nikon D3300, D3400, and D5500 have shutter life expectancies of around 100,000 actuations. A count nearing 80,000 might be considered high.
Cameras like the Nikon D7100 and D7500 have a shutter life expectancy of around 150,000, and a count of approximately 120,000-130,000 can be considered high. On the other hand, high-end models like the Nikon D5, D810, and D850 are typically rated for 200,000 to 500,000 actuations.
For these cameras, a count of 350,000 might be considered high. If you are buying a used Nikon camera or have used your DSLR for some time, you can use the following tips to know how many photos the camera has taken.
EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format, a set of metadata tags used by Nikon digital cameras to handle image and sound files recorded by the camera. When you take a photo, the camera embeds this information into the image file itself. In most cases, this information includes:
Checking the number of shutter actuations in cameras is akin to checking the odometer on a used car—it provides an indication of how much the camera has been used. Checking the count is important because the shutter is expected to fail after a given number of actuations.
You can estimate how much life might be left in the shutter by checking the current count. Just as cars with lower mileage often command higher resale values, cameras with lower shutter counts might be sold at a higher price than those with high counts.
Knowing the count can help you to negotiate a fair price. It also lets you know how long you want to budget for shutter replacement or buying a new camera.
Finding the actuation count on an Olympus camera can vary slightly based on the specific model of the camera. You can generally find it using the following steps.
Unlike Olympus, Canon does not provide an easy, built-in method for checking the count for most of its cameras. However, you can get the count by uploading an image to a website such as camerashuttercount.com.
If this website doesn’t provide the count for your Canon model, you can try to download software known as EOS Info. Again, this program comes with a limitation, as it doesn’t run on Mac and doesn’t support certain models, such as the 500D series.
If you are using a Mac, use the older program, the 40D Shutter Count. Again, this program has a limitation as it doesn’t support the 1D series. When using downloaded software, run the program on your computer and connect the DSLR to the computer using a USB cable.
You may need to replace your Nikon unit after 100,000 actuations on entry-level cameras, 150,000 for mid-range cameras, and 300,000 for high-end cameras. Remember that the number of shutter actuations before replacing your Nikon DSLR depends on the model’s rated shutter life expectancy.
Since most Nikon cameras have a shutter actuation limit of 100,000 to 300,000, the best shutter count when buying a used Nikon camera is 30,000 to 50,000. Typically, buying a used camera with a count exceeding half the specified maximum value is not advisable.
The shutter release of a new Nikon camera is not zero because the manufacturer needs to test the camera for quality control before it’s shipped out. The shutter might be actuated several times down in the assembly line to ensure the mechanism works properly.
You can check the Nikon shutter count using online sites such as myshuttercount.com, viewers such as the Mac preview panel, or by installing applications such as Exiftool, PhotoMechanic, or Photoshop on your computer. If you are buying a used camera, it's advisable to get a professional to check it.
