Before you buy a used camera
Check your Sony shutter count
Check the shutter count of a Sony mirrorless or A-mount camera from one original photo. ARW and JPG both work, and the photo never leaves your browser.
What the Sony number counts
Sony writes the count, enciphered, into field 0x9050 of the maker notes inside each photo. Cutsoo deciphers that field. Sony cameras don't show the count in their menus, so the file is the easiest place to read it.
Most models, such as the α7 III, α7 IV, α7R IV and α6400, record total shots, including the electronic (silent) shutter. On a body used a lot in silent mode, real shutter wear is lower than the number.
Models that count the mechanical shutter only: SONY α1 II, SONY α6700, SONY α7C II, SONY α7CR, SONY α7 V, SONY FX2. The α1 II and α7 V store the value only in mechanical-shutter shots, so a photo taken with the electronic shutter shows no count.
Older models such as the NEX, SLT, first α7 and α6000 can wrap back to 0 after 65,536. If a well-used body shows a small number, this may be why.
How to check a Sony shutter count
- Take a photo now. The newer the photo, the closer it is to the current count.
- Copy the original file (ARW or JPG) from the memory card with a card reader. Files sent through phone transfer apps or messengers can lose the data.
- Drop the file in the box above. Drop several at once to check they come from the same camera and that the count goes up in shooting order.
Supported Sony models
SONY FX2, SONY FX3, SONY FX30, SONY ILCE-QX1, SONY NEX-3, SONY NEX-3N, SONY NEX-5, SONY NEX-5N, SONY NEX-5T, SONY NEX-6, SONY NEX-7, SONY NEX-C3, SONY NEX-F3, SONY NEX-VG10E, SONY NEX-VG20E, SONY NEX-VG30E, SONY NEX-VG900, SONY ZV-E10, SONY α1, SONY α1 II, SONY α7, SONY α7 II, SONY α7 III, SONY α7 IV, SONY α7 V, SONY α7C, SONY α7C II, SONY α7CR, SONY α7R, SONY α7R II, SONY α7R III, SONY α7R IV, SONY α7R V, SONY α7S, SONY α7S II, SONY α7S III, SONY α9, SONY α9 II, SONY α33, SONY α35, SONY α37, SONY α55, SONY α57, SONY α58, SONY α65, SONY α68, SONY α77, SONY α77 II, SONY α99, SONY α99 II, SONY α230, SONY α290, SONY α330, SONY α380, SONY α390, SONY α450, SONY α500, SONY α550, SONY α560, SONY α580, SONY α850, SONY α900, SONY α3000, SONY α3500, SONY α5000, SONY α5100, SONY α6000, SONY α6100, SONY α6300, SONY α6400, SONY α6400A, SONY α6500, SONY α6600, SONY α6700
Models that don't store the count in files: Sony α9 III, ZV-E1, ZV-E10 II and RX/ZV compacts. What to do instead
Supported list as of 2026-11-05. Only models that gave the same value as ExifTool on public sample files are listed. How we verify
Sony rated shutter life
These are the makers' published mechanical shutter test ratings. A rating isn't when the shutter fails, and many cameras last longer. The result compares the count with this figure: under 5% is barely used, under 25% lightly used, under 60% moderately used and under 100% heavily used.
| Model | Rated life | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SONY α7 III (ILCE-7M3) | 200,000 | sony.jp |
| SONY α7R III (ILCE-7RM3) | 500,000 | sony.jp |
| SONY α7R IV (ILCE-7RM4) | 500,000 | sony.jp |
| SONY α7R V (ILCE-7RM5) | 500,000 | sony.jp |
| SONY α7S III (ILCE-7SM3) | 500,000 | sony.jp |
| SONY α1 (ILCE-1) | 500,000 | sony.jp |
| SONY α9 (ILCE-9) | 500,000 | sony.jp |
| SONY α9 II (ILCE-9M2) | 500,000 | prnewswire.com |
| SONY α6400 (ILCE-6400) | 200,000 | sony.jp |
| SONY α6600 (ILCE-6600) | 200,000 | sony.jp |
| SONY α6700 (ILCE-6700) | 200,000 | sony.jp |
Researched 2026-11-05. Models missing from the table have no sourced rating yet.
Sony official units and warranty in Korea
- Ask Sony Korea support with the serial to confirm an official unit and its warranty.
- Also check that the box serial matches the body.
Based on the official pages as of 2026-11-05. Policies change, so check again before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see the shutter count in a Sony camera menu?
No. Sony doesn't show the shutter count in its menus and only writes it into photo files. Drop the most recent original photo on this page to read it.
Do silent (electronic shutter) shots count?
On most models, yes. The α6700, α7C II, α7CR, FX2, α1 II and α7 V count the mechanical shutter only. The result tells you which kind of number you are looking at.
Why don't the α9 III and ZV-E1 work?
The α9 III has a global shutter and no mechanical shutter, and the ZV-E1 has no count field in its files. See cameras that don’t store the count.