Is a zero shutter count normal on a brand-new camera?
Asked 12/17/2012
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I bought a new Nikon D7000 as a gift and checked the shutter count from the EXIF data after taking a test photo. The count appeared to be zero before that, so my photo seems to have been the first one taken. I’ve heard that new cameras sometimes show 20–50 shutter actuations from factory testing. Is it normal for a brand-new camera to have a zero shutter count, or should every camera have some actuations from testing before sale?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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They don't test every unit. It isn't necessary. They test some units. Having a shutter count of zero is perfectly normal and not a concern.
I have read anecdotal evidence that people who have owned dozens of DSLR cameras have always received cameras that have a shutter count of zero. I believe it to be few and far between that people receive units that have shutter counts above zero. This is a small sample just based on my forum browsing, but I have seen it mentioned more then once.
This previous question has some debate around how many actuations would be considered typical factory testing - Why does my new camera appear to have over 3000 photos taken already?
Keep in mind that a brand new camera that has 25 shutter activation's from testing at the factory, only accounts for .05% of a standard entry level DSLR lifespan(50,000+). More detail can be found in this question: How many actuations are "too many actuations"?
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — a zero shutter count on a brand-new camera is normal and generally not a problem. Manufacturers do not necessarily fully test every individual camera by taking real photos. Some units may be spot-checked, while others are tested with factory jigs or during assembly in ways that don’t result in a stored shutter count the way a normal exposure does.
It’s also common for new cameras to show a small number of actuations, such as a few dozen, so both 0 and low counts are usually considered normal. A very low count alone does not suggest the camera is used.
In short: zero is not a red flag. If anything, concern would be more reasonable only if the count were much higher than expected for a new camera.
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