1Ds/2 image counter / actuations

Sent my 1Ds / 2 back to Canon, NJ, to have the sensor and lens aligned. When I sent it to Canon the camera frame counter was on 5428. When I got it back it was up to 9447 shutter actuations! I called Canon service and they said it reset to the higher number when they used their own card. Never happens when I switch cards. Do you think they actually cycled the shutter 4000+ times during their testing or is there another explanation?

Thanks

Airpix

If file numbering is set to "Continuous" then using a card from a different camera will change the file numbering to the higher number. It's very unlikly Canon cycled your shutter 4000+ times.

Mark

Thanks Mark, The camera is / was set to continous but has been since I bought it new. I use 5 different cf and sd cards but the file numbers don't change on me when I switch cards.
John / Airpix

If they're all your cards, and from your one camera, they wouldn't. The camera keeps an on-board count, but when you insert a new card, it starts numbbering at the higher of the on-board counter or the highest file on the card.

Ah Ha, now that makes sense. I didn't realize the total count was kept in the cards. I format my cards vs. erasing them, thought any info like that would be gone and the total was only in camera.

Thanks, Airpix

Is there any way to actually find out the cameras total shutter actuations?

Airpix

For the 1D family, I believe there are apps around, and it can be decoded from one of the undocumented fields in the EXIF data (offset 0093, IIRC) to show actual shutter releases, including "dry firings" (with no card). If you format the card in the camera, the damage will have been done, as the camera checks the card when it's inserted. If you mix cards, in particular, it's important to format them outside the camera.