topic Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10 in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Isac — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 02:31:36 GMT

I'm looking for the shutter count on the 7Dii but am having a problem finding something that works. I would also like to know why Canon try their best to keep this a secret. This confuses me, as other manufacturers are onboard with having this important information easily available. Why would they be hesitant to share this vital information? It's extremely puzzling to me. Cheers.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

ebiggs1 — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 16:26:07 GMT

The shutter count is there. It is just buried deeper in the exif and most readers don't show that much detail.There is a freeware program that will pull up the count. Windows is EOSInfo, simply connect the camera to your computer using a cable and run the program. Best way is to stop by any Canon-authorized repair shop and ask them to check for you.

I really don't see a lot of interest in knowing the count so I suspect Canon doesn't see the need or benefit either. One reason, I guess, software developers don't offer a lot of software to check it. Plus how do you count a video shot or time? It is just one click but it is far more than just one click. So, a 1000 shutter count may have been 900 videos! Or, perhaps, the photographer was shooting the night time sky and all or most of the shutter count was for 10, 20, 30 seconds. What I am trying to say is shutter count is really a meaningless number unless you actually know the history of the camera.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Isac — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 01:31:04 GMT

Thanks for your reply. I'm sure video recording on a DSLR including mirrorless, is only one shutter opening. In video mode or during a live mode photoshoot, video frames are not affected by the mechanical shutter but controlled by software which acts as an "electronic shutter" just like a video recorder, which as we know doesn't have a mechanical shutter. I'm noy quite understanding of your statement "I really don't see a lot of interest in knowing the count". If you had the choice of purchasing one of two used cameras (both in excellent condition) and knowing that one had 120,000 actuations and the other had only 25,000 actuations, it would safe to assume that the camera having the lower amount of actuations would form part of the decision as to which camera you would consider. Just like when buying a car, the odometer reading could be a part of your decision in whether you make the purchase or not. Imagine the uproar if vehicle manufacturers decided that it's not important enough to have an odometer new vehicles. I respect your opinion in saying it's not important, but in my opinion, I think it's very important to know the shutter count and I'm sure I am not the only one. Others here may wish to voice their own opinions. BTW, EOSInfo does not work for the Canon 7Dii.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

ebiggs1 — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 15:09:51 GMT

What I meant is, if there is a need Canon and third party software creators would respond. I think the want for shutter count is low.

"...knowing that one had 120,000 actuations and the other had only 25,000 actuations,..."

And the 25K camera only shot vids, I would go for the 120K camera. However, how am I going to know that? Reason, the action of a video is far more stressing on the camera than just a shutter click.

"Just like when buying a car, the odometer reading could be a part of your decision in whether you make the purchase..."

Let's assume one car was a police car and had 100,000 miles on it but it sit and idled for hours every day. No miles are added to the odometer but it is surely harder on the engine. The other 100k car drove from KC to Denver on I70 twice a week.

Which 100K is better? Shutter count can be helpful to a degree if you know the history of the camera.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Waddizzle — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 17:53:50 GMT

“Others here may wish to voice their own opinions. BTW, EOSInfo does not work for the Canon 7Dii.”

I do not think shutter count is useful, either. Video cameras can measured by hours of use.

Without knowing how many hours are on the sensor, the shutter count can be very misleading. I think that this is what Ernie is trying to say.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Isac — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 09:35:38 GMT

Hi, If you read the original post, I wasn't asking for individual opinions about whether or not Shutter Count was important to anybody, I was asking if there was a way to read it - that's all. I know for a fact that it is important to some users. I am an administrator on a photography forum and it comes up regularly for users of our "Market Place". Nikon have it inbuilt. I'm sure owners of all sorts of modern cameras don't use all available features - it's up to the individual. Cheers, I'll keep searching.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Waddizzle — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 10:03:05 GMT

@Isac wrote:
Hi, If you read the original post, I wasn't asking for individual opinions about whether or not Shutter Count was important to anybody, I was asking if there was a way to read it - that's all. I know for a fact that it is important to some users. I am an administrator on a photography forum and it comes up regularly for users of our "Market Place". Nikon have it inbuilt. I'm sure owners of all sorts of modern cameras don't use all available features - it's up to the individual. Cheers, I'll keep searching.

You were given the answer in the first response. Send the camera to Canon.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

lly3988 — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 12:55:50 GMT

Check out dire studio, pay a few bucks and you will have the tool. No free program can do the job.

I paid 2.99 when the 7D2 came out in 2015. Now it's a bit more.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Peter — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 19:04:59 GMT

@lly3988 wrote:
Check out dire studio, pay a few bucks and you will have the tool. No free program can do the job.

I paid 2.99 when the 7D2 came out in 2015. Now it's a bit more.

Perhaps APT or Canon EOS DIGITAL Info.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Isac — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 23:59:31 GMT

Thank you all for your responses and answers, much appreciated. I can advise my forum members of the options available so they can decide the best course of action to take. Cheers!

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

TCampbell — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 14:12:51 GMT

DireStudio's "ShutterCount" used to be availble for both Mac & Windows. I know it is still offerred on Mac, but I don't see it offerred on Windows (or maybe it's just not showing me that version since I'm viewing their webpage on a Mac).

Anyway, they now also offer a version that runs on iPhone & iPad. The software will give you the normal shutter count and they also have add-on packs that will also show you the number of videos *and* live-view activations.

It only costs a few dollars. I bought it years ago and it's worked on each of my cameras (but they supply a list on their website of all the cameras they support).

Canon's official answer is that they'll tell you the count if you bring it to one of their service centers (or if you send it for service or cleaning you can ask them to also provide you with the shutter count). They don't have any official method available to the consumer. I agree that it would be nice to have the info easily displayable on the camera without the need to do anything special.

If you are "selling" a camera, you can retrieve your shutter count and offer that info to perspective buyers. But if you're "buying" a camera, you can't easily check to see how heavily the camera was used (it would be up to the seller to send the camera in).

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Isac — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 00:00:24 GMT

Thank you for that Tim. I have been made aware of the various methods to get the shutter count and I am a PC operator and never use Mac anything. I agree it would be great to have it available via a menu function as a lot of other manufacturers do, because to me and many others I consider it an important piece of information. Obviously Canon don't think it's needed so why do they bother to rate their shutter actuations? Got me puzzled. There is one solution, and that's to upgrade to another maker. Cheers.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

stebo — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 01:21:56 GMT

Much discussion about "does shutter count matter".

Let the oldtimer fill you in, sometimes we are good for something:)

I read "when it comes to video only hours matter" Somewhat true. Back in the film days mechanical shutters where used. When you have mechanical moving parts hours or shutter counts do matter because the moving parts will wear down almost like clock work. For the 7D mark ii there are no moving parts when recoding video so video recording hours do not adversely affect the useful life span of the camera. For a still photographer on this camra the more actuations of the mirror moving out of the way of the sensor will wear those moving parts at the points of contact. The camera can be rebuilt but I would rather buy a camera used for video knowing the mechanical moving parts of the camera are still pristine. Sure electronic parts could fail but not likely vs mechanical parts will fail inevitably. So I think it it is still important for now. Give it a few years and it really won't matter when its all electronic mirrorless equipment. Some may still think so becuease it has been a point of concern in the past, but I would never ask how many hours did you watch this television if I were to buy a used TV.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Isac — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 02:11:27 GMT

Thanks for the reply stebo. I don't do video, I am a photographer. I still haven't got an answer to my original question, so I would assume it's a difficult problem to solve. After all it's only 2020 so I guess someone will come up with something in time. Cheers

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Waddizzle — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 16:19:01 GMT

@stebo wrote:
Much discussion about "does shutter count matter".

Let the oldtimer fill you in, sometimes we are good for something:)

I read "when it comes to video only hours matter" Somewhat true. Back in the film days mechanical shutters where used. When you have mechanical moving parts hours or shutter counts do matter because the moving parts will wear down almost like clock work. For the 7D mark ii there are no moving parts when recoding video so video recording hours do not adversely affect the useful life span of the camera.

For a still photographer on this camra the more actuations of the mirror moving out of the way of the sensor will wear those moving parts at the points of contact. The camera can be rebuilt but I would rather buy a camera used for video knowing the mechanical moving parts of the camera are still pristine. Sure electronic parts could fail but not likely vs mechanical parts will fail inevitably. So I think it it is still important for now. Give it a few years and it really won't matter when its all electronic mirrorless equipment. Some may still think so becuease it has been a point of concern in the past, but I would never ask how many hours did you watch this television if I were to buy a used TV.

If total runtime on the image sensor were not important, then why [do] professional video cameras have meters to track it?

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

ebiggs1 — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 16:43:39 GMT

"... I would rather buy a camera used for video knowing the mechanical moving parts of the camera are still pristine."

Maybe so but that is no indication the rest of the camera is "pristine". Shutter count is just an interesting subject. It really tells you little about the camera. I will agree, if given the choice, all else being equal, I would choose the lower shutter count if I was certain it was an accurate count. The apps and software are proven to be inaccurate at times.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

Isac — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 07:51:44 GMT

If a camera has 150,000 shutter actuations then I could assume it has been well used and is coming to it's life's end and one that has had 5000, will probably tell me that it is relatively unused. Same a a speedo in a car, it doesn't tell the whole story but gives an indication of its use. To me, it's a good thing to know but others probably couldn't care less - and that's OK with me. Cheers. PS I found a way to see the shutter count so I'm a happy chappy!

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

wq9nsc — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 12:31:54 GMT

Glad you found the shutter count!

As to video hours, heat management is an issue shooting video with a DSLR because video generates far more internal heat buildup than still photography with the sensor, A to D converter, and associated processors running effectively at a continuous duty cycle while shooting video instead of the low duty cycle imposed by photography. Mirrorless is a hybrid between the two designs and has some of the same thermal management concerns as shooting video (and shares some of the same hazards due to a sensor constantly exposed to sunlight/laser damage when in operation). Reviewers tend to attribute the electronic viewing screen in mirrorless setups as the reason for reduced battery life but the bigger current drain is from constantly reading the sensor and doing A to D conversion along with powering the supporting cast needed to provide the data capture, conversion, and processing functions. That increased battery draw is converted into internal heat that has to be managed.

Canon's 1DX series are the best of their DSLR bodies at video heat management with their heat pipe design but even these bodies will get very hot in higher ambient conditions shooting sustained video clips. A DSLR that has been used a lot for video will have a greatly increased rate of internal component aging.

Purpose built better video cameras and camcorders use forced air cooling to manage this heat buildup giving up some of the weather resistance of most DSLR bodies to provide sustained video capability without cooking the internals. I use a Canon XF-400 camcorder for sports video and leave its fan set in the default mode of continuous rather than temperature triggered operation which comes at the cost of slightly reduced battery life but keeps the electronics running at a temperature far more conducive to a long life.

I would rather have a used DSLR with 50% of its expected shutter life used than one that had been used for hundreds of hours of video recording.

Rodger

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

ebiggs1 — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 15:18:36 GMT

happy chappy!

Here is my point, I agree with you to a point, consider would you rather buy a used car with 150,000 miles on it or a car with 5000 miles on it? Well of course you want the car with the much lower mileage. Right? However, the odometer didn't tell you the low mileage car went through a flood. It was submerged in swamp water for a week in New Orleans.

"I found a way to see the shutter count"

If the "way' was not a Canon Service Center it is probably wrong and/or inaccurate.

Re: How do I get the shutter count for the 7d mark ii on windows 10

stebo — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 20:11:18 GMT

Waddizzle

Good question! I have not seen anything that limits the sensor to a certain number of hours of use, but I would probably pick the camera with 20 hours of video use over the one with 20,000 hours of use. But that is not to say the one with 20,000 hours is more likely to be the one to fail on the next shoot. Maybe they have it there because that is the way it has always been done, or some one might find it useful to log that information.

If there were two 30 year old vehicles for sale and one had an AM radio that was on and used everyday and the other had never been used I still would not be able to say with certainty which would fail first. But if one car had just had the wheel bearings and brakes done I could tell you that this car is most likely not going to need the brakes or wheel bearings done first.

You do make a good point here: Why do we not get easy access to a shutter count when the camera is recommended for service at 200,000 actuations, but we do get an hour meter for video when there is no life expectation set on the sensor.