NUMBER OF SHUTTER RELEASES FOR SONY ALPHA 200? HELP PLEASE!

[gofgof2008]

CAN SOMEONE HELP ME WITH A LITTLE PROBLEM PLEASE?
I WANT TO KNOW HOW CAN I FOUND THE NUMBER OF SHUTTER RELEASES FOR A SONY ALPHA-200? CAN I FOUND IT DIRECTLY FROM THE CAMERA OR MAYBE WITH SOME HELP FROM A SPECIFIC PROGRAM?
SO FAR I TRIED WITH THE NEXT PROGRAMS AND DIDN'T WORK: PHOTOME, OPANDA EXIF PRO, EXIFTOOL, ACDSEE.
THANK'S A LOT. WAIT FOR AN ANSWER.

[Javelin]

there might be a way at the repair facilities but other than that there is no way for a user to know for sure.

[gofgof2008]

understand. maybe someone know something. still waiting for a positif answer. but anyway, thanks!

[David Kilpatrick]

I've extracted all the tags I can from an A200 file using RAW Photo Processor but this is all I get:

DateTimeOriginal: 2008:02:13 13:16:21
ISO: 100
Aperture: 8.0
ShutterSpeed: 1/200
FocalLength: 100.0 mm
Make: SONY
Model: DSLR-A200
ImageSize: 3872x2592
ExposureCompensation: 0
ExifToolVersion: 8.36
FileName: DSC09958.ARW
Directory: /Volumes/Raw Archive/2008/Alpha 200/10180213
FileSize: 7.7 MB
FileModifyDate: 2008:02:13 13:16:22+00:00
FilePermissions: rwxrwxrwx
FileType: ARW
MIMEType: image/x-sony-arw
ExifByteOrder: Little-endian (Intel, II)
ImageDescription: SONY DSC
Software: DSLR-A200 v1.00
BitsPerSample: 12
Compression: Sony ARW Compressed
PhotometricInterpretation: Color Filter Array
Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
SamplesPerPixel: 1
PlanarConfiguration: Chunky
XResolution: 0.01388888889
YResolution: 0.01388888889
ResolutionUnit: cm
CFARepeatPatternDim: 2 2
CFAPattern2: 0 1 1 2
StripOffsets: 753664
RowsPerStrip: 2600
StripByteCounts: 7327816
PreviewImageStart: 155683
PreviewImageLength: 565753
ExposureTime: 1/200
FNumber: 8.0
ExposureProgram: Program AE
ISO: 100
ExifVersion: 0221
DateTimeOriginal: 2008:02:13 13:16:21
CreateDate: 2008:02:13 13:16:21
ComponentsConfiguration: Y, Cb, Cr, -
CompressedBitsPerPixel: 8
BrightnessValue: 8.87
ExposureCompensation: 0
MaxApertureValue: 5.6
LightSource: Unknown
Flash: Off, Did not fire
FocalLength: 100.0 mm
FlashExposureComp: 0
Teleconverter: None
WhiteBalanceFineTune: 0
FocusMode: AF-S
AFAreaMode: Wide
LocalAFAreaPoint: Center
MeteringMode: Multi-segment
ISOSetting: 100
DynamicRangeOptimizerMode: Off
DynamicRangeOptimizerLevel: 1
CreativeStyle: Standard
ZoneMatchingValue: 0
Brightness: 0
FlashMode: ADI
Rotation: Horizontal (normal)
SonyImageSize: Large
AspectRatio: 3:2
Quality: RAW + JPEG
ExposureLevelIncrements: 1/3 EV
WhiteBalance: Auto
FileFormat: ARW 2.0
SonyModelID: DSLR-A200
ColorReproduction: Standard
ColorCompensationFilter: 0
SceneMode: Standard
ZoneMatching: ISO Setting Used
DynamicRangeOptimizer: Off
ImageStabilization: On
LensType: Tamron Lens (255)
ColorMode: Standard
FullImageSize: 3872x2592
PreviewImageSize: 1616x1080
UserComment:
FlashpixVersion: 0100
ColorSpace: sRGB
ExifImageWidth: 3880
ExifImageHeight: 2600
InteropIndex: R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
InteropVersion: 0100
FileSource: Digital Camera
SceneType: Directly photographed
CustomRendered: Normal
ExposureMode: Auto
FocalLengthIn35mmFormat: 150 mm
SceneCaptureType: Standard
SR2SubIFDOffset: 37680
SR2SubIFDLength: 41456
SR2SubIFDKey: 0x44332211
FirmwareID: 21870002
SensorHeight: 2608
SensorWidth: 3880
ImageHeight: 2592
ImageWidth: 3872
RawDepth: 16
BitDepth: 12
StorageMethod: Padded
BayerPattern: Unknown (0)
WBScale: 2 2 2 2
Saturation: 0
Contrast: 0
Sharpness: -3
WBMode: Auto
ProgramMode: Unknown (128)
BWFilter: 0
Hue: -1
ColorTemperature: Auto
ColorFilter: 0
WB_RGGBLevels: 1832 1024 1024 1832
WB_RGBLevelsDaylight: 1836 1024 1824
WB_RGBLevelsCloudy: 1988 1024 1656
WB_RGBLevelsTungsten: 1080 1024 3416
WB_RGBLevelsShade: 2176 1024 1464
WB_RGBLevelsFluorescent: 1716 1024 2640
WB_RGBLevelsFlash: 2324 1024 1888
SubfileType: Reduced-resolution image
Make: SONY
Model: DSLR-A200
ModifyDate: 2008:02:13 13:16:21
ThumbnailOffset: 32770
ThumbnailLength: 4782
Aperture: 8.0
BlueBalance: 1.789063
CFAPattern: [Red,Green][Green,Blue]
ImageSize: 3872x2592
LensID: Tamron AF 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD
PreviewImage: (Binary data 565753 bytes, use -b option to extract)
RedBalance: 1.789063
ScaleFactor35efl: 1.5
ShutterSpeed: 1/200
ThumbnailImage: (Binary data 4782 bytes, use -b option to extract)
CircleOfConfusion: 0.020 mm
FOV: 13.7 deg
FocalLength35efl: 100.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 150.0 mm)
HyperfocalDistance: 62.40 m
LightValue: 13.6

There is no sign of a shutter actuation count. It will be in there somewhere, and Sony diagnostic software would be able to check it.

David

[Greg Beetham]

Wouldn't the file name equal the shutter count? I see the file name in that exif tag is DSC09958.ARW so wouldn't that be equivalent to the number of shutter cycles, i.e. 9958 ?
Greg

[David Kilpatrick]

Greg it goes round every 10,000 shots so you can't tell how many. Also, loading a card from another camera can reset the count.

David

[Greg Beetham]

Hmm so the file name doesn't continue to grow on needs be basis then, like adding another digit. So how do people know how many they have shot in excess of ten thousand shots? I have seen some in the past saying things like 35,000 etc. how do they know that for sure?
Greg

[David Kilpatrick]

Some cameras report it through their camera utility, like Canon. Connect a PC and you can find out. Sony does not offer that.

David

[Mark K]

Too bad. I wonder if someone has hacked a way using sort of service mode to know the real shutter count.

[Greg Beetham]

I'm thinking of the directory structure on the computer more than anything. If you have a couple of Sony cameras or even three or more there will come a time when you have a multitude of files .ARW+.JPG all beginning with DSC and also having the same number numerous times instead of only two or three times. Maybe if the file name had the camera model included in the file name itself it would be better for avoiding naming and storing conflicts. Does the file name even need DSC? couldn't it just be A100-00326.JPG + A100-00326.ARW for example.
And the file number should be one digit longer (A700-000326.JPG + A700-000326.ARW) so there is a good chance there will only ever be one of a given file number for a given camera model, and then the file number would equal the number of times the shutter was actuated as well.
Greg

[David Kilpatrick]

MS-DOS filename Greg. has to be the length it is under a long-dead agreement about digital camera file naming. Other camera makes (notably Nikon) do allow you to code a unique three-letter identifier for each camera. Sony does not.

David

[Winston]

Here's what I do:

I have two A700s. They are labeled "A700" and "A701".

When I format a card, I create two directories "100MSDCF" and "101MSDCF"
I then select a directory commensurate with the host camera's label.

I use Downloader Pro (DP) for downloading, directory creation, and file renaming.
EXIF tells DP what the make and model of the camera is. It uses this to create the prefix "A70"
DP then appends the last digit of the directory and a dash to the prefix. I now have "A700-" or "A701-".
Next, DP appends the Job Code; a text string of my own choosing. I started out with "00" I increment this by one when the camera counters roll-over at 9999. I now have "A700-nn" or A701-nn".
Finally, DP appends the four digit image number and I have "A700-nnnnnn" and "A701-"nnnnnn"

To make managing the job code simple (change it once every 20,000 shots) I mount my most used lens on the body with the smaller image count. This way, the cameras' counters usually roll over on the same day.

I picked a two-digit job code as that allows for a an image number greater then the cameras' expected shutter life (~160,000)

This may sound complex. It isn't. All the complexity is in the telling.

The two directory approach has an extra benefit: in a pinch, I can use the same card on both bodies and keep the image numbers straight. All I have to do is select the appropriate directory when inserting the card.

The other reason I use DP is that it reads the track file created by my GPS data-logger and geotags the images with Lightroom-compatible XMP sidecars.

[Greg Beetham]

Goodness graciousment David I was nearly certain they are all using FAT32 and capable of using very long file names if they want. I have each camera in it's own sub directory i.e. D:\Sony Photos\A100 and D:\Sony Photos\A700 which avoids any trauma with files getting mixed up but you have to watch the Photoshop downloader and change the destination accordingly if you are downloading from a different camera than the last time...it's not smart enough to remember the A100 camera files go in the A100 directory etc.
Greg

ps. A strange thing happened too me, I bought a 'new' memory CF card (while I thought of it) in a computer store, they only had one Sandisk card left at that moment, an 8GB and the package had been opened, 'too demo a camera but it's brand new,' the salesman assured me, we have reduced the price because the package has been opened. Ok I thought who cares, it does look new; it was some time later that I actually had cause to use that card in my A100, and lo and behold it was full of photos that I could look at on the rear screen. It turned out that there was a mixup somewhere in the shop and the lady who owned the card had a blank new card given back too her after they printed her photos and I ended up with her card that had been put on the display. They gave me a replacement card, a new unopened one when I took it back. Thing was, the photos that were on her card were taken by a Canon DSLR and I was looking at them on a Sony A100...luckily it didn't re-set my file system in the camera either.

[Mark K]

Winston
I also have two A700s and Sony CS told me the later one was actually redesigned to improve some faults on the first generation. It was about 10 months after the first one

Greg:
After mixing up file names and dates in between different cameras I have, I decided to format the card everytime I insert my CF in a camera.

[Winston]

I wonder what the faults were. I haven't seen any differences. Maybe I have two early ones?