Sony A7R III Shutter Count Issue

[J Caples]

Hello Folks.

I just bought a used Sony A7R III. Something appears wrong with shutter count information. I put new SD cards in the camera. The SD total shots is 145 images. However, when I use Sony Alpha Shutter Count tool. checking with the first photo up to the last, it reports I have taken only 24 shots. The first image reports 2443 shutter count and the last image reports 2467 shutter count.

The image numbers go from 3056 up to 3201 (145 photos).

Is there something set incorrectly in the camera?

Thanks in advance. 

[Cameratose]

My first guess is that 121 of your shots (145-24=121) were made with the electronic shutter, which doesn't show up in the shutter count. Only mechanical shutter actuations are counted.

Did you format the card before shooting?

If my guess is wrong, I would do a factory reset (toolbox menu) and format the card, then try again. I always recommend a factory reset when buying a used camera, some people program some weird things that can affect certain features.

Let us know how it works out. 

 

 

 

[Cameratose]

BTW, welcome to the forum!

You made good choice in cameras, it has one of the best sensors Sony ever made, IMO. Beautiful rendering. 

 

 

 

[J Caples]

1 hour ago, Cameratose said:

My first guess is that 121 of your shots (145-24=121) were made with the electronic shutter, which doesn't show up in the shutter count. Only mechanical shutter actuations are counted.

Did you format the card before shooting?

If my guess is wrong, I would do a factory reset (toolbox menu) and format the card, then try again. I always recommend a factory reset when buying a used camera, some people program some weird things that can affect certain features.

Let us know how it works out. 

 

 

 

 

[J Caples]

Thank you. I did format the card but in PC, not in camera as the camera would gave an error message and would not address the card until I formatted out of camera first.

I have read that the camera counts both electronic and mechanical shutter actions, but could be mistaken. I have not intentionally attempted to use electronic shutter.

 

[Cameratose]

Very odd that the camera won't format without an error message. Hopefully you purchased it from a place that accepts returns. If I were you, I would contact the seller immediately and get my money back or another camera. That isn't right, and who knows what else may be wrong.

Edited to add, the camera does not count electronic shutter actuations. It is meant to provide an indication of mechanical shutter wear and tear.

Quote

Pro tip: Some higher-end models like Sony a9 and a7 III have electronic shutters. Using the electronic shutter will not increase your shutter count.

The Complete Sony Shutter Count Guide in 2024 - Emma Lucy Photography

Edited August 10 by Cameratose

[J Caples]

8 hours ago, Cameratose said:

My first guess is that 121 of your shots (145-24=121) were made with the electronic shutter, which doesn't show up in the shutter count. Only mechanical shutter actuations are counted.

Did you format the card before shooting?

If my guess is wrong, I would do a factory reset (toolbox menu) and format the card, then try again. I always recommend a factory reset when buying a used camera, some people program some weird things that can affect certain features.

Let us know how it works out. 

 

 

 

 

[J Caples]

Cameratose:

I think you were right about silent / electronic shutter. In learning menus I had accidentally turned silent on and turned off much later after discovering that it was on.

Did see something odd today....I was going in order of photos taken and seeing what shutter count came up....it skipped a count. Just one number, but odd for it to leave a shutter count number completely out.

Thanks again

[Pieter]

Sometimes (like once a month) your camera will do a hot pixel mapping when you turn it off. The shutter is closed and your camera shoots a dark frame to check for hot pixels. These hot pixels are subtracted from the overall exposure in subsequent images. This action counts as a shutter actuation so it's likely the reason for your missing shutter count.

[Cameratose]

You should still do something about the formatting issue. Try it again and make sure you're doing everything correctly, and if it keeps happening, send the camera back if possible. Any camera that won't format its own card is a red flag. Keep in mind on that camera, slot one is the bottom. Also, a reset is still advisable if you haven't yet done one.  

[J Caples]

3 hours ago, Cameratose said:

You should still do something about the formatting issue. Try it again and make sure you're doing everything correctly, and if it keeps happening, send the camera back if possible. Any camera that won't format its own card is a red flag. Keep in mind on that camera, slot one is the bottom. Also, a reset is still advisable if you haven't yet done one.  

Thanks for the info. I read on-line that many folks had the "error can't read card" message with some new cards. The camera would not move past the error message to allow formatting. The advice I found on-line was to format the card on the PC and this worked for me.

The camera was okay with the first cards I installed. The card that gave the error message was a new USH-II in slot 1. Just to get started I had a USH-1 card in slot one, but for some reason the camera could not read the USH-II card until after I formatted it in a PC.

[Cameratose]

As long as you're satisfied it's working!