The shutter count of your camera is an essential figure, but a Canon camera does not make it very easy to access it. You may get a general approximation of the number of photographs you have taken by looking at the shutter count on your camera. In addition to this, it tells you how much more time the camera has remaining in its lifespan, which is helpful information to have when shopping for secondhand equipment.
What exactly does “Shutter Count” mean?
Shutter count, to put it in the most basic words possible, refers to the number of photographs that a camera has taken. When you snap a picture with a camera, the shutter opens and closes to expose the image. The only exception to this is when you are using a mirrorless camera with the quiet shooting mode turned on.
It is helpful to get an idea of how many years of use you may anticipate from your Canon camera given the high cost of photography equipment.
Canon R5 Shutter life
| Camera Name | Expected Shutter Life |
|---|---|
| Canon EOS R5 | 500,000 actuations |
Why is the Number of Shutters So Important?
Every camera has a rating for how many times the shutter can be actuated. This means that there is a predetermined number of times that the shutter has to be actuated before a camera needs to be replaced. This measure is crucial when purchasing a secondhand camera, but it may also be used simply to determine how much wear and tear you have placed on your own camera, which can then be factored into the camera’s overall depreciation.
@CanonUSAimaging @CanonUSA Is there a way Canon recommends checking a Canon camera's shutter count?
— Andy Feliciotti 🔥 (@sup) March 7, 2022
Surprised the EOS Utility (or app) doesn't support it
How to Determine the Number of Shutters on Your Canon Camera
Unfortunately, establishing a shutter account for your Canon camera is more difficult than it is for other camera brands. Sending a camera into Canon’s facility is the method that the company recommends using to check the shutter count of a camera.
Making Use of ShutterCount on a Macintosh
Unfortunately, it is a premium app; but, based on my testing, it functions properly. The DIREstudios application ShutterCount is available for download from the Mac App Store. You will be presented with a user interface that is not overly complicated when you have successfully downloaded and installed the software.
You will need to connect your camera to your Mac in order to view the shutter count, and after the camera has been properly connected and turned on, the count will show. Since newer Macs and new Canon cameras both use USB C, accomplishing this task is not overly difficult with either device. You have the option of placing an order for the appropriate wire for your camera online if you are unable to locate it locally.
Another choice is to set up a wireless connection between your camera and your computer in order to use the app. After the camera has been linked to the Wi-Fi network, you should be prompted to ask to pair it after the camera has successfully joined the network.
The fact that the program also provides your estimated lifespan as a % is something else that I really value. It has come to my attention that the shutter count on more recent mirrorless cameras reads out in a less accurate manner, such as “25,000.”
The ShutterCount program will not only make charts but will also keep track of your shutter count over time.