Walkthrough: Install gphoto2 (read shutter count T2i, 7D, etc) on Linux LiveCD or USB

8/29/2012 EDIT: eoscount.com now charges $1.50 per shutter reading, and www.camerashuttercount​.com does not work for reading my 7d, so it appears that this method is the ONLY guaranteed way to pull the shutter count off a 7D body (and possibly others)
2/7/2013 EDIT: EOSinfo (astrojargon) is a free utility that has been updated to read a number of Digic3/4 bodies (excluding the 7D, all 1D series), and is free. Reported compatibility with the 5D2, but it is confirmed not to be accurate with this model
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*NOTE: this is a tutorial for WINDOWS users only*

The confirmed working Canon bodies are as follows: 7D, 5D2, 1D2, T2i, 50D
Bodies that fail to provide a reading include: none found so far

So, lots of people asking how to get the shuttercount of a 7D, T2i, or 60D body. This is my no-frills attempt at a walkthrough--anyone running Windows XP or later can do this. In this example, I'll be referencing Fedora, but other versions of Linux will work as well--install procedures will vary.

1. Download Fedora (current version: 17) desktop edition environment (64-bit or 32-bit) ISO file: http://fedoraproject.o​rg/en/get-fedora-options
In this example, the file has been renamed Fedora15.ISO.

2. If you want to create a bootable USB "LiveCD", download Liveusb-creator, otherwise skip to next step. Plug an external drive (Hard Drive or USB stick) into your USB port. Run the Liveusb-creator executable file, install, navigate to the "LiveUSB" folder in your applications (Start-->All Programs-->LiveUSB creator), right click on the "LiveUSB creator" app, and choose "Run as administrator". Browse for the downloaded Fedora15.ISO file, then choose the Target Device (usb/pen/flash/hard-drive) to write the Linux OS to. Choose the drive Persistent Storage size available to use within Linux (100mb-200mb is more than sufficient), and click Create Live USB--prepare to wait 5-10 minutes.

3. Skip this step if you created a "LiveCD" with an external drive. You'll need to burn the FedoraXX.ISO file to a CD or DVD. If you don't already have an application to burn image files, download the freeware program IMGburn. Install and run IMGburn--choose the icon for burning an image to disc. Choose the FedoraXX.ISO file from the location it was saved to. Burn to a disc. When complete, put the CD/DVD back in your optical drive, and restart your computer.

4. Restart your computer and choose to boot from USB or CD/DVD drive (whichever install method you chose)--Fedora15 will load. Choose to run Fedora without installing. Once you're in Fedora, click on "Applications" in the upper-left corner--choose to "Search" for TERMINAL. Once the black command-line window opens, type the following commands:

^^^ This will give you root privileges (switching your userid to root@liveuser). Then try the following command...

At this point, the installation MAY abort if the necessary files aren't installed. If so, you'll need to connect to the internet. Either install wireless drivers, or (easiest solution) simply plug an ethernet cable from your router to the network/ethernet jack on your computer. Repeat the previous YUM command, and allow the OS to download the missing files. Choose "y" if you are prompted to download from an alternate location.

Once you have successfully installed gphoto2, turn on your camera body and connect your computer via USB cable. A prompt identifying your camera model will appear--if not, the gphoto2 installation likely failed. If you see the prompt, type the following command:

You will be rewarded for your efforts with a prompt listing your total shutter actuations. If your camera body is not supported (all supported models are listed on gphoto2's compatibility page), no data will be shown.

Reserved for additional photos, if necessary.

Thank you!

I just tried this using your instructions and it worked as it should. Took about 15 minutes or so to download, burn and boot. I am booting from a cd. I did have to use the network to obtain gphoto2, but fedora handled it all automatically.

I had actually looked at doing this yesterday, but it looked like too much of a hassle.. your instructions made it simple.


Thanks again,

Ron

This command is only a fragment of capabilities offered by gphoto2 which has nice tethered shooting capabilities.

Useful commands are:

Check if the camera is properly detected
~$ gphoto2 --auto-detect
Modle Port
---------------
Canon EOS 1000D usb:001,003

Get shutter count
~$ gphoto2 --get-config=/main/status/sh​uttercounter
Label: Shutter Counter
Type: TEXT
Current: 165801

Capture an image and download it to the computer
$ gphoto2 --capture-image-and-download
Le nouveau fichier est l'emplacement /capt0000.jpg sur l'appareil
Enregistrement du fichier sous capt0000.jpg
Effacement du fichier /capt0000.jpg sur l'appareil
Suppression de 'capt0000.jpg' dans le dossier '/'...

Check camera capabilities.
$ gphoto2 --abilities
Possibilits de l'appareil : Canon EOS 1000D
Gestion du port srie : non
Gestion du port USB : oui
Choix de capture :
: Image
: Prvisualisation
Gestion de la configuration : oui
Delete selected files on camera : oui
Delete all files on camera : non
Gestion des vignettes de prvisualisation) : oui
Gestion de l'envoi de fichiers : oui

Sorry my linux box is in French, but you will get output in the proper language when running it on your computer.

More details on gphoto2 project can be found here: http://www.gphoto.org
Gphoto2 compatible cameras for thethered shooting: http://www.gphoto.org/​doc/remote/

MOkoFOko wrote in post #12637639
While it's possible to create a LiveCD (Linux) on a Mac computer, this walkthrough details the steps taken by a Windows user.

A googling shows that since it's unix-based you should be able to run it in Mac OS X without booting from a livecd: http://blog.dcclark.ne​t …how-to-gphoto-primer.html

One thing I noticed when I actually read my shutter count was that I had to type this command: (had to add an equal sign).

gphoto2 --get-config=/main/status/sh​uttercounter

as opposed to what you are showing below? (no equal sign after config)

gphoto2 --get-config/main/status/shu​ttercounter

Ron

mainbyte wrote in post #12641342
One thing I noticed when I actually read my shutter count was that I had to type this command: (had to add an equal sign).

gphoto2 --get-config=/main/status/sh​uttercounter

as opposed to what you are showing below? (no equal sign after config)

gphoto2 --get-config/main/status/shu​ttercounter

Ron

You need either an equal sign or a space there. The first post in this thread makes it hard to tell if there is a space there, but you do need it (or equal sign).

lar55 wrote in post #12641407
You need either an equal sign or a space there. The first post in this thread makes it hard to tell if there is a space there, but you do need it (or equal sign).

Correct, there's supposed to be a space there. I wrote the whole thing up in 30 minutes--I'm surprised it's not filled with mistakes

jackerin wrote in post #12639464
A googling shows that since it's unix-based you should be able to run it in Mac OS X without booting from a livecd: http://blog.dcclark.ne​t …how-to-gphoto-primer.html

I use gphoto2 on OSX by way of Homebrew (a package manager). Easy like Sunday morning!

http://www.twam.info …s-7d-shuttercount-on-os-x

MOkoFOko wrote in post #12637639
*NOTE: this is a rough draft--I'll go back and edit details later--maybe even add pictures--to make it easier for the basic user to follow*

So, lots of people asking how to get the shuttercount of a 7D/T2i body. This is my no-frills attempt at a walkthrough--anyone with a computer can try this. While it's possible to create a LiveCD (Linux) on a Mac computer, this walkthrough details the steps taken by a Windows user. In this example, I'll be referencing Fedora 15, but other versions of Linux will work as well--install procedures will vary.

1. Download Fedora 15 (etc) desktop ed. environment (64-bit or 32-bit): http://fedoraproject.o​rg/en/get-fedora-options

2. If you want to create a bootable USB "livecd", download liveusb-creator, otherwise skip to next step. Plug an external drive (HDD or USB stick) into your USB-port. Run the Liveusb-creator executable file, install, navigate to "LiveUSB" folder in your applications, right click, and choose "Run as administrator". Browse for the downloaded Fedora15.ISO file, then choose the external drive to write the Linux OS to. Choose the drive size available to linux (on the external drive--100mb-200mb is more than sufficient), and create--it can take 5-10 minutes.

3. Skip this step if you created a "LiveCD" with an external drive. You'll need to burn the Fedora15.ISO file to a CD or DVD. If you don't already have an application to burn image files, download IMGburn. Install and run IMGburn--choose the icon for burning an image to disc. Choose the Fedora15.ISO file from the location it was saved to. Burn to a disc. When complete, put the cd/DVD back in your optical drive, and restart your computer.

4. Restart your computer and choose to boot from USB or CD/DVD drive (whichever install method you chose)--Fedora15 will load. Choose to run without installing. Once you're in Fedora15, click on "Applications" in the upper-left corner--choose to "Search" for TERMINAL (command line). Once the black command-line window opens, type the following commands:

^^^ This will give you root privileges (showing root@liveuser). Then enter command...

At this point, the installation MAY abort if the necessary files aren't installed. If so, you'll need to connect to the internet. Either install wireless drivers, or (easiest solution) simply plug an ethernet cable from your router to your computers network/ethernet jack. Repeat the previous YUM command, and allow the OS to download the missing files. Choose "y" if it prompts you to download from an alternate location.

Once you have successfully installed gphoto2, turn on your camera and connect it to your computer via USB cable. A prompt identifying your camera model will appear--if not, the gphoto2 installation likely failed. If you see the prompt, type the following command:

You will be rewarded for your efforts with a prompt listing your total shutter actuations. If your camera body is not supported (all supported models are listed on gphoto2's compatibility page), no data will be shown.

Hi I followed the steps but ran into issues at step no 4 while loading gphoto2

After giving those commands to load gphoto2 i am getting the following message in the terminal

"Loaded plugins:langpacks,pres​to,refresh-packagekit
you need to be root to perform this command "

any suggestion how to resolve this and load gphoto2

thanks

psubrahmanyam wrote in post #12642189
Hi I followed the steps but ran into issues at step no 4 while loading gphoto2

After giving those commands to load gphoto2 i am getting the following message in the terminal

"Loaded plugins:langpacks,pres​to,refresh-packagekit
you need to be root to perform this command "

any suggestion how to resolve this and load gphoto2

thanks

If you're getting this error, then you didn't enter the

command first, which switches you to root.

Just ran gphoto2 from fedora via VMWare on my mac (just download the iso on mac, mount it in VMWare and boot from VMWare CD drive). I currently have 394 actuations on my refurb 7D. I know I have taken at least 300 photos with it, which means my 7D came with less than 94 shots!

did exactly what instructions stated and got a shutter count of 24 on my refurb 7D. thank you!

oldvultureface wrote in post #12643835

I really hope that wasn't a recently acquired refurb 7k is kind of high.