Getting Started with ShutterCount

ShutterCount is a specialized tool that, although as easy to use as possible, requires some knowledge on your part to function properly.

Several aspects of connecting a camera (such as Canon's Wi-Fi pairing procedure or Apple's privacy permissions) are not under our control and are unfortunately far from intuitive. Thus we highly recommend to carefully study this short guide and the linked materials, and follow the outlined procedures by the word until you gain working knowledge with the app. At which point everything will look swift and simple!

If you don't understand something in this guide, or if you have trouble establishing the connection, ask us. We're here to help. The best method to contact us is to use the built-in problem reporting facility of the app, which will give us lots of information to handle your case effectively:

In either case please tell us in the report which camera model you are trying to use the app with, your exact hardware environment (such as cables, adapters, routers) as well as the steps you already tried.

Knowing how to operate your camera is invaluable information to start with. So reading the camera's manual is something we always recommend.

This guide covers version 5 and later of the app. If you are running an earlier version, it is recommended to download the latest one from the App Store, as some things work differently. The update is free of charge.

Identifying the connection type

ShutterCount supports three different methods to retrieve the shutter counter: direct USB and Wi-Fi / Ethernet connection (required for most Canon EOS cameras), as well as File Mode to support Nikon and Pentax cameras (and a few older Canon EOS-1 series models).

To identify which connection type your camera supports please consult the Tech Specs page. If your camera is listed under the USB section, then it can be connected via USB. If it is listed under Wi-Fi / Ethernet, then it can be connected via Wi-Fi (or Ethernet). If your camera is listed under File Mode, then you must use a picture taken with the camera to retrieve the shutter counter.

USB and Wi-Fi cameras will not work via image files, and vice-versa: File Mode can't be used on cameras that require a direct USB or Wi-Fi connection.

In case you attempt to use a connection type that won't work with your camera, the app will let you know which one should be used instead.

Connecting a camera via USB — Canon only

The recommended procedure is:

If the camera is not recognized within a few seconds, then pull the plug from the Mac/iPad/iPhone side, wait a few seconds and plug it in again.

Please note that quality cabling is important. We recommend to use the cable that came with your camera. In case your Mac/iPad has a USB-C socket but your camera cable is USB-A, be careful that several aftermarket USB-C to A adapters fail to work with data connections - we do recommend Apple's or Satechi's adapters. Please refer to this article on resolving USB compatibility issues.

Users of iPhones/iPads having no USB-C port will also need Apple's Lightning to USB Camera Adapter.

Privacy Permissions

Some of Apple's operating systems does not allow USB camera communication until a set of privacy permissions are granted to the app. Both macOS and iOS will ask you to enable these when the app attempts to connect to a camera for the first time.

macOS Catalina 10.15 users must allow Removable Volumes access.

iOS 13.4 and later users must allow both Camera and Files and Folders access. You'll also get a third prompt about telling you that the app will control connected cameras, where you should choose OK.

If the Connection Fails

Please follow the USB troubleshooting guide in the FAQ and send a problem report as described in the introduction if that doesn't help.

Connecting a camera via Wi-Fi or Ethernet — Canon only

Network connections are a bit tricky thanks to Canon's awkward pairing procedure. We've simplified it as much as technically possible, though. ShutterCount supports networking capability built into the cameras and Canon's external transmitters — third party Wi-Fi boxes will not work.

The most important point to begin with is that you must pair the camera with the app directly.

That is, you must not start any Canon software: neither EOS Utility on your Mac/PC nor Canon's mobile application. They are not needed and will interfere with ShutterCount. You must pair your camera directly with ShutterCount.

Canon cameras have two network communication functions: Remote control / EOS Utility (symbolized with a computer icon) and Connect to smartphone. The shutter counter can only be read using the former (computer icon), even on an iPhone or iPad. The camera will think that ShutterCount is EOS Utility.

It can't be stressed enough that you must do the pairing using the Remote control / EOS Utility communication function (not to be confused with the similarly named desktop app). It will not work otherwise. The You have selected the wrong communication function on the camera message indicates that you chose the wrong one.

If you have never used the Remote control / EOS Utility function on your camera, use the Canon Network Connection Cheat Sheet to get a list of menu choices that are required for your camera to do the pairing. It is also recommended to read Laszlo's article, Canon Wi-Fi Pairing for Beginners to obtain a general understanding of the process.

It is recommended to connect your device running ShutterCount and camera to the same existing (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) network.

The pairing process requires the app to be in pairing mode, while doing all the other steps on the camera. ShutterCount 5.0 and later will detect pairable cameras on the network and offer pairing if the Notify when a pairable network camera is detected (Mac) or Pairable Camera Notification (iOS) setting is enabled in the app. Alternatively, you can put the app into pairing mode manually when (or before) the camera asks to start EOS Utility or the PC's pairing software.

On a Mac:

On iPhone / iPad:

The recommended connection procedure is the following:

The entire process takes about a minute. We've created the following videos (available on our YouTube channel) to show how pairing on an iPhone is done with different cameras (including built-in wireless as well as optional Wi-Fi accessories).

If the Connection Fails

Please follow the Wi-Fi / Ethernet troubleshooting guide in the FAQ and send a problem report as described in the introduction if that doesn't help.

Using File Mode — Nikon and Pentax

For File Mode you need to take a picture with your camera first. It can be in any format the camera supports, be it JPG or its native raw format (DNG, NEF or PEF). But you can use only original files, created in-camera. No edited files, or DNGs converted with Adobe DNG Converter.

The history log for your camera will include the image's creation date as the date of reading, so you can safely use older images if you would like to build your history from existing images.

On a Mac

You have two options to bring the file into ShutterCount: scan the memory card or open the file directly.

The simplest and easiest way is to put the memory card containing the image into a card reader connected to your Mac (the built-in SD card reader can be used), then either drag&drop the memory card's icon from your Desktop onto ShutterCount, or choose the Scan Memory Card... item in ShutterCount's File menu, then choose the memory card in the open dialog. ShutterCount will find and use the image with the latest date/time on the card.

Optionally you can open an image file directly: drag&drop the file onto ShutterCount, or use File > Open... to open it.

You must use a memory card, ShutterCount can't read the file from the camera directly.

For more information on File Mode on a Mac, please read Laszlo's post.

On iPhone / iPad

ShutterCount opens the original image from Photos, so you have to import it to Photos first. You can connect your camera or a memory card reader via the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter or direct USB connection on iPad Pro 11" and iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Generation. Once connected, Photos will ask which images to import. When finished, it's time to move over to ShutterCount.

Do not use Nikon's Wireless Mobile Utility app to get the image onto your iPhone/iPad as it strips shutter count information (along with other metadata) from the files.

In ShutterCount tap Connect, then tap Open Photo... and select the image you just imported. If the image happens to be in your iCloud Photo Library for some reason, ShutterCount will download it before doing the reading.

For more information on File Mode on iPhone/iPad, please read Laszlo's post.

More Information

Laszlo's posts and articles provide in-depth information about ShutterCount. We recommend to read the following ones to get the most out of the app.

 

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