Canon Shutter Count Software

[Photon Hacker]

gphoto2, a command line utility for Linux and Mac OS X, can display shutter counter of Canon 500D
The command to use is:
gphoto2 --get-config /main/status/shuttercounter

The output is something like:
Label: Shutter Counter
Type: TEXT
Current: 85

(yes, she is really young )

In case you incur in an error like:
*** Error ***
An error occurred in the io-library ('Could not lock the device'): Camera is already in use.
*** Error (-60: 'Could not lock the device') ***

the simplest workaround I found under Linux is to extract the SD card before connecting the camera and running the command.

Possibly the software bundled with your distribution automatically runs a photo management software instance when the camera is plugged. Disable it or look for process named gphoto2* and kill them.

By the way, I suppose you mean for GNU/Linux. Thanks for the information.

[Yoddha]

Hi Ivo,

I gave it another try, but the software is saying "cannot detect camera" and the camera just flashes "busy" as soon as the connection is made.

Also, I'm pretty sure it won't return a valid shutter count; Apparantly Canon have locked it down pretty tightly.

Hi Colin,

I suppose that my method is the same as the one Sergey uses. There are no much possibilities in this this area...

It is interesting why you have problems with connection. I don't have much users with so advanced models. If you have some free time and want to help in resolving of this problem I'll be thankful

[Ollokot]

Hi Folks,
What would be (on average) a good or a bad shutter count on a used camera.
Pat

[Yoddha]

Hi Pat,

"Good" is very fuzzy thing. It depends on how you plan to use the camera. If you will shoot 20k per year the lowest you can find is "good", but if you will shoot 2-3k per year for example one 450D at 20-30k should serve you well for more than 10 years I tried to compile the expected life for all EOS models here: http://www.ideiki.com/astro/EOS.aspx

But the count is not everything. The overall condition is very important too...

[Colin Southern]

Hi Folks,
What would be (on average) a good or a bad shutter count on a used camera.
Pat

Hi Pat,

Less than 50,000 = "good"; more than 200,000 = "bad".

I do think it's one of those things folks worry about far too much though.

[PBelarge]

Anyone tried sergey's link, yet?

WW

I tried it, and it instantly provided me with counts for my 7D and 5DII.

[John MacLean Photography]

I had also faced a problem of finding the shutter count for my Canon when EOSInfo did not work. I solved the problem for myself and also shared it for others at www.eoscount.com. You can check the shutter count for free and without leaving the browser...

Hi, did you change this to a paid service, since posting here?

[Colin Southern]

Hi, did you change this to a paid service, since posting here?

What makes you think that might be the case John MacLean Photography?

[John MacLean Photography]

What makes you think that might be the case John MacLean Photography?

Colin, I went to the site and it requires payment. http://www.eoscount.com/FAQ.aspx#reading_process

[Adrian]

I have not read this whole thread, but I believe Magic Lantern shows shutter count within the hidden menus section.

[Colin Southern]

Colin, I went to the site and it requires payment. http://www.eoscount.com/FAQ.aspx#reading_process

Cool - thanks.

[Colin Southern]

I have not read this whole thread, but I believe Magic Lantern shows shutter count within the hidden menus section.

The last time I researched it, it was a veritable minefield - some are easy - some like the 1Ds3 impossible - and now the 1D X gives it to us in a menu, but only in thousands.

Gawd knows what Canon are thinking -- I can't for the life of me understand what the big secret is with it, especially since a tech center can/will tell you anyway.

[RustBeltRaw]

I'm afraid we are very likely to consider the above spam, since it does not read the 1Ds MkIII shutter count we've been discussing for two pages.

Fortunately, the 60D is apparently not locked down very well. Two weeks ago, Magic Lantern reported 85,711 shutter actuations on an 18-month-old camera. That's probably up to about 87,200 now. Needless to say, by the time I sell this one (if I do), I will not be able to call it "gently used."

[Donald]

I'm afraid we are very likely to consider the above spam,

Yep - we did!

The message to which Lex refers has been deleted.

[Jeremy04]

Great information, this is too difficult for me. I will use this tips.

[Polum2]

Hi everyone,
Well i just picked up this thread after a difficult search on the Internet to do the same thing. Find out what my Canon 1100D shuttercount is.(Digic 4 I believe). Thanks to Yoddha, I downloaded the astroplace software and out of all the software I have downloaded this morning I can tell you it works! Hooray!.
I tried the EOScount and various others, none actually worked and ended up with me having to remove bloatware from some of the downloads.

Thank you and BTW I have now registered and joined a great and informative looking forum.

Thank you

[Donald]

Hi everyone,
Well i just picked up this thread after a difficult search on the Internet to do the same thing. Find out what my Canon 1100D shuttercount is.(Digic 4 I believe). Thanks to Yoddha, I downloaded the astroplace software and out of all the software I have downloaded this morning I can tell you it works! Hooray!.
I tried the EOScount and various others, none actually worked and ended up with me having to remove bloatware from some of the downloads.

Thank you and BTW I have now registered and joined a great and informative looking forum.

Thank you

Annette

Very glad that the CiC forum was able to deliver an answer for you, even if it was from an old thread.

I hope you'll stick around and that you continue to find the forum (and the CiC tutorials) a useful source of information.

[Polum2]

Annette

Very glad that the CiC forum was able to deliver an answer for you, even if it was from an old thread.

I hope you'll stick around and that you continue to find the forum (and the CiC tutorials) a useful source of information.

Hi Donald,

Yes thank you I most certainly will. I have visited CiC before but not the forums, don't know how I missed them this last year.

I will continue to read and where I can possibly contribute, after all we all need to know that we are not alone with our cameras.

Terrifyingly I have committed 34,201 actuations on my humble instrument. I did travel across Central Asia and SE Asia for 14 mths (2012-2013)and as the camera was new 28 days before I departed on my journey I consider this to be a true figure.

Onwards and upwards!

[Donald]

Terrifyingly I have committed 34,201 actuations on my humble instrument.

Good grief, I'm only a beginner. Seeing the thread prompted me to check my trusty old 40D. As of today, it's at 18,809. That's since January 2009.