This is done automatically by the camera. The Exif data will tell you the camera’s brand and model, the settings, the author, etc. This is the information recorded by the camera when an image is taken. In most brands, the camera’s shutter count is saved in the Exif data of the photo. this topic is different to shutter ‘speed’ – see here.) Or maybe you just want to check and compare it with others so that you can price it correctly if you’re considering selling it. Maybe you’ll find out that it’s time to upgrade your gear. You can use shutter actuations to diagnose your own equipment as well. For example, if you’re buying a second-hand camera and you’re indecisive between two, you can use this information to decide which one to get. It’s important to know the shutter count because it will let you know how much ‘life’ a camera has. The number of times a camera has fired is therefore counted by the shutter count. This operation can only happen so many times (the ‘maximum shutter actuation count’) in the lifespan of a camera because these pieces wear out.

Most of the time the camera shutter movement happens in fractions of a second, putting the mechanism into a great amount of pressure. In the case of DSLR cameras, there’s also a mirror that needs to move out of the way for this to happen. These parts cover and uncover the sensor allowing the light to ‘imprint’ the image. This is because every time you shoot a photograph, there are a few pieces on your camera that go into motion. The camera’s shutter count (shutter actuation count) can be a useful way to gauge the longevity of your gear. Like any other product, cameras have a certain lifespan.

Fujifilm shutter count