Discover Your Canon EOS Camera's Shutter Count in a Snap!

So, I finally decided to part ways with my trusty Canon EOS 550D DSLR. But, just as I was about to make the sale, the buyer insisted on getting the camera’s shutter count! If you’re in the same situation: Don’t to worry – although this info may be hiding within your camera, it’s not as elusive as you might think.

While it’s true that there are plenty of online tools that’ll do the job (some can set you back by $10 to just get this info!), allow me to introduce you to a wallet-friendly and reliable alternative: gphoto, an open-source library and CLI tool that’s got you covered.

Three easy steps to get your camera’s shutter count:

First things first, let’s get gphoto installed. For Mac users, simply run this command:

brew install gphoto2

With that out of the way, let’s move on to the fun part! Connect your camera to your computer via USB, then run the following command to list all connected cameras:

gphoto2 --auto-detect

Now, to uncover the magical shutter count:

gphoto2 --get-config="/main/status/shuttercounter"

Check out the other available options by running gphoto2 --list-config. Options will differ per camera.

Voila! Your camera’s shutter count is now revealed, and it didn’t cost you a dime. So go ahead and close that sale with confidence, knowing you’ve shared accurate information about your beloved Canon EOS 550D.