Why didn’t my shutter count change?
Updated
You read the shutter count, took a few test shots, read it again, and got the same number. Usually nothing is wrong. The most common reason is that the camera reports a counter value it captured earlier, not a live one.
The camera may only update the counter at power-on
Over USB, a camera answers questions about its state using values it keeps in memory. On some models the shutter counter in that memory is refreshed when the camera starts, not after every exposure.
We have seen this ourselves on a Canon EOS 60D with the open-source gPhoto2 tool: the camera reported 3887, kept reporting 3887 after three more photos, and reported 3890 only after it was switched off and on again. We don’t assume other models behave the same way until we’ve tested them.
To refresh the number:
- Select Disconnect on the shutter count page (or just close the tab).
- Switch the camera off, wait a couple of seconds, and switch it on again.
- Connect again and read the counter.
If the number still hasn’t moved after a power cycle, check the reasons below.
The browser session is still holding an old reading
Each reading on CamInfoLab asks the camera again; it never reuses an old number. But if the camera itself didn’t refresh its counter (above), asking again in the same session returns the same value. A full disconnect, power cycle and reconnect is the reliable way to get a new reading.
Not every shot moves the counter
What counts as an actuation is decided by the camera’s firmware. Depending on the model:
- Shots taken with a fully electronic shutter may not be counted, or may be counted separately.
- Live view and video can use the shutter differently from viewfinder shooting, and some cameras count those actuations differently.
- Shots that were cancelled (for example, the camera couldn’t focus and never fired) aren’t counted.
The shutter was replaced or the count was reset
When a service centre replaces a shutter, the counter may be reset or left as it was, depending on the camera and the repair. A low number on an old camera can be legitimate, so ask the seller about repair history rather than assuming the count is fake.
You’re looking at a file number
IMG_0457.JPG is a file number. It can be reset from the camera menu, starts again when you insert a new card on some settings, and rolls over after 9999. It tells you nothing reliable about how many times the shutter has fired.
Still stuck?
- Check whether your camera has been tested with this tool.
- Read the FAQ for connection problems.
- If your camera behaves differently from what’s described here, tell us so we can document it.