Canon shutter count

[DanK]

I'd like to check the shutter count of my 5D Mark III if I replace it and sell it online. Canon doesn't include the shutter count in EXIF. There are several utilities available to that will provide a shutter count, but I am nervous about downloading something from a source I don't know. The most commonly used seems to be EOSinfo. Has anyone had experience with this and know that it's safe?

Thanks

[Manfred M]

Dan - I have not looked at this in some time, but for Nikon I remember finding some online sites that could do that without downloading any software that had to be installed on the computer. One had to upload a JPEG to the site.

[LenR]

Dan - I have not looked at this in some time, but for Nikon I remember finding some online sites that could do that without downloading any software that had to be installed on the computer. One had to upload a JPEG to the site.

This method will only work with Canon cameras manufactured before 2011. Post 2011 its either from a Canon service facility or online software. I cannot comment on the safety of the online apps.

[DanK]

Right. I tried one of the sites that lets you upload an image, and it didn't work. I believe those sites just parse EXIF, and Canon no longer puts the shutter count in visible EXIF.

It's clearly not worth shipping this and paying Canon to find the count, as the camera probably won't fetch more than $800 in the end. One disadvantage of the constant improvements in camera technology is that they cause older models to depreciate a huge amount.

[Manfred M]

Right. I tried one of the sites that lets you upload an image, and it didn't work. I believe those sites just parse EXIF, and Canon no longer puts the shutter count in visible EXIF.

It's clearly not worth shipping this and paying Canon to find the count, as the camera probably won't fetch more than $800 in the end. One disadvantage of the constant improvements in camera technology is that they cause older models to depreciate a huge amount.

Sounds like a dirty approach from the Canon marketing department. It reduces the value of the used cameras on the market because there is no way to differentiate a low shot model from one that has been used a lot. That might get some folks to look at a new model rather than a used one.

[xpatUSA]

Maybe not what you're looking for but I use JPEGsnoop which seems to show a bit more than just EXIF:

https://www.impulseadventure.com/pho...html?ver=1.7.5

Never tried it with a Canon JPEG but if you post one, unsullied, I'd be glad to look at it for you.

[rpcrowe]

I had this problem with my Canon cameras and never resolved it despite downloading several different programs, one of which included a lot of extra baggage. Th Canon EXIF of later DSLR models doesn't include the shutter count. However, I once used a program with my Canon 30D and 40D with which I connected the camera directly to the computer via the USB connection. This, I learned was no longer an option with newer Canon bodies.

I sold the cameras without the shutter count!

With my Sony cameras, all I need to do is to open a JPEG shot with the camera in PIE Picture Information Extractor and it will give me the shutter count and my body temperature and heart rate when I shot the image

O.K. maybe the body temperature and heart rate isn't shown

[DanK]

Maybe not what you're looking for but I use JPEGsnoop which seems to show a bit more than just EXIF:

https://www.impulseadventure.com/pho...html?ver=1.7.5

Never tried it with a Canon JPEG but if you post one, unsullied, I'd be glad to look at it for you.

Thanks. Not sure what you mean by unsullied. SOOC? I almost never shoot JPEG, but I could take one for this. If one that has been created from a raw capture, here is a link to a recent full-size JPEG.

I sold the cameras without the shutter count!

I probably will too, if I get that far. BTW, my GAS has been redirected: I am thinking that a 5D Mark IV is actually going to turn out to be on balance at least as good for my purposes (I don't need 45 mpx and certainly don't need 8 K video), and while it lacks a few bells and whistles I'd like (eye AF), it will probably end up being not much more than half the cost by that time. It will give me 30 mpx, which is probably about the sweet spot for my mix of uses, and it has about 2 EV more dynamic range than what I now shoot. We shall see. Unless some super sale on the 5D Mark IV happens in the meantime, I'll just wait to see reviews of the R5.

[xpatUSA]

Thanks. Not sure what you mean by unsullied. SOOC?

Unsullied: some applications and even websites are known to mess with image meta-data. SOOC is about as good as you get.

I almost never shoot JPEG, but I could take one for this. If one that has been created from a raw capture, here is a link to a recent full-size JPEG.

Couldn't find a shutter count in your LR JPEG output, neither in JPEGsnoop nor in EXIFtool. Happy to look at an unedited small (if possible) SOOC.

[Manfred M]

Couldn't find a shutter count in your LR JPEG output, neither in JPEGsnoop nor in EXIFtool. Happy to look at an unedited small (if possible) SOOC.

This makes sense, if as Dan wrote, Canon does not write the shutter actuation count into the metadata. If it isn't there, it can't be read...

[William W]

. . . BTW, my GAS has been redirected: I am thinking that a 5D Mark IV is actually going to turn out to be on balance at least as good for my purposes . . . Unless some super sale on the 5D Mark IV happens in the meantime, I'll just wait to see reviews of the R5.

Ah! I bet that GAS was a fun feeling while it lasted ... you're probably addicted to the sound of the Mirror Slap. I am.

[DanK]

It’s true—I’ve associated mirror slap with serious photography for a very long time.

But I think the real issue is that when I thought about what I really want, it’s more dynamic range, better low light performance, and a modest increase in pixels for cropping when printing large. The Mark IV will get me all of those for a lot less money, and in a form factor almost identical to what I have been using for years.


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[xpatUSA]

This makes sense, if as Dan wrote, Canon does not write the shutter actuation count into the metadata. If it isn't there, it can't be read...

... except that we've only been discussing EXIF so far. There's more to meta-data than just EXIF. For example, there's no EXIF tabs for WB multipliers but my camera raw files won't work without them.

[William W]

It’s true—I’ve associated mirror slap with serious photography for a very long time.

. . . when I thought about what I really want, . . . [then the logic kicks in]

Yes. I get that. It's good to sleep on it for a few nights - the brain sorts it all out and separates the necessary from the non necessary. Good thinking. Well done.

[William W]

I'd like to check the shutter count of my 5D Mark III if I replace it and sell it online. . .

Check these out.

I haven't downloaded the program and I have no knowledge of the program - I've just found it, now.

LINK (video about program)

LINK (site to download program)

WW

[proseak]

Magic Lantern will show you.

[William W]

^
Thanks, I was wondering about that. The last time I looked ML, (like the one I linked to), didn't access "all" the Canon DSLRs, but that was a while ago, though.

[odds]

...The most commonly used seems to be EOSinfo. Has anyone had experience with this and know that it's safe?

Such a utility worked with a Windows PC to get the shutter count from my brother's Canon USB-connected camera. Alas I can not even remember which Canon camera he had back then, but I believe the utility came from Sourceforge. It worked with no visible issues, the PC still works. Safe or not is hard to tell these days. No guarantees...see https://sourceforge.net/projects/can...-digital-info/
--
Odd S.

[DanK]

Thanks. I just remembered that I have an old laptop waiting to be recycled. Maybe I’ll load it on that because I don’t care if it gets trashed.


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[loosecanon]

dslr controller will give you a shutter count for a 5D III. Android download.