The alpha shutter count tool

Guy wrote: ...

Okay then... so when you said 'I guess this also explains how my A55 has ~25k total shutter actuations and about 17k images taken' do we assume that means you have taken a LOT of multi-exposure shots? (A LOT in this case just means more percentage-wise than I have. My A55's internal counter reads 28,000+ actuations... that's only a few thousand different from my personal image count, which I have maintained pretty accurately.)

Another minor question: Do custom WB actuations get recorded as actuations in the camera?

@sybersitizen:
You have misunderstood me a bit
I will give an example with the panorama mode (but it works the same with other multiple exposure modes).
The camera only needs an extra shutter movement at the start of the panoramic burst and at the end. During the burst it only makes regular shutter cycles since live view is not needed (it would even be impractical). So the actual shutter actuation number would only be exactly 2 times the amount of pictures made if you were to only take regular pictures. Any multiexposure modes reduce this ratio.
Basically I called the counter incorrectly in my tool. It should be called number of exposures, not images The shutter actuation counter is however correct.

I hope I have cleared the mess up a bit.

Regards,
Borut

just to report

the tools work with my A37 and A330, test it out and the shutter count seems pretty accurate.

Guy wrote: version 2b ...The difference here is that for each image made there is one extra shutter actuation if using live-view... This can be easily seen with the 560 and 580

The 580 has two live modes. The one that uses a separate small sensor that doesn't require any different shutter cycle. The main sensor live view mode requires the mirror to lift and the first curtain to open to expose the sensor. To record an image the mirror could stay up, but the first curtain has to close before the timed exposure starts. No reason for the second curtain to do anything different - it stays open all the time until it ends the timed exposure. So in this mode there is an extra first curtain cycle, but not two full shutter cycles. A better description of the two counts would be first curtain cycles versus second curtain cycles. Second curtain cycles the will be the lower number.   (Assuming I have the mechanics correct.)

Guy wrote: version 3...Since these cameras also use live view (and you can enable/disable electronic first curtain in some of them) I suspect that they have a separate shutter actuation counter as well (like version 2b). I will test for this during the weekend with an A77.

If that turns out to be the case, the meaning may be the same as for 580 or different depending on how you look at it.                   

With EFC=off the steps of the SLT shutter sequence are exactly the same as in SLRs like A900, A700. The only difference is the parking spot. An SLR moves the first curtain back to closed at the end of the shutter cycle, while the the SLT waits until the start of the next shutter cycle to close it. So EFC=off matches the traditional definition of one shutter count. EFC=on only cycles the second curtain, while the first curtain remains parked at open. Sort of a half cycle.

In any case if there are two counts, then the definition in mechanical terms would again be first curtain cycles versus second curtain cycles. But in this case there are fewer first curtain cycles compared to a traditional SLR rather than more. The first curtain count will be the lower number.

Separately, the A900 has an intelligent preview feature that does a full shutter cycle, then displays the image on the LCD, where you can preview adjustments with camera controls. But it does not record an image to card or increment the image file name. You can do this many times before taking a regular image. I wonder whether live preview increments the metadata shutter count. ( I don't use this feature).

harveyzone wrote: Is the reason that the A100, A200, A300, A350 and A700 (and, indeed, 5D and 7D) are not supported because the count is stored there, or is there another reason?

Well, I am unable to locate the counter in those files.
I have a small helper program that quickly searches for increasing sequences in the makernotes, however I have been unsuccessful so far.
It is entirely possible that minolta did not plan for this to be included in the files and that SONY simply didn't include it until the A900 (which is the first model to sport this counter - in a field called FocusInfo )
Another possibility is that it is there, but encrypted. Since I sadly lack the time to even keep up with work I am unable to try to de-crypt this.

Photosopher wrote: Thank you Borut. Thank you Phil. You guys have provided a most wonderful gift to the Alpha community. Really incredible. Most appreciated. And thank you Minolta for designing it! And thank you Sony for building it so well, lasting well beyond the 100,000 rated life. We're just getting started here, now that she's warmed up! Yes, I've gone through old files from the beginning, running all the numbers. Everything seems in order.

Sounds like you need a new shutter :-). Joking of course, I'll be interested to see how long yours lasts. I wonder how long there will be parts for these cameras though? Any ideas?

Hi Borut,

Would it be possible for you to post a summary of your findings so that I can add this to ExifTool?

- Phil