How to Check the Shutter Count on Olympus and OM System Cameras
Olympus and OM System cameras store the shutter count internally, not in image EXIF data. You access it through a hidden service menu using a specific button sequence. The steps are the same across most OM-D and OM System bodies.
Why image files don't contain the shutter count
Brands like Nikon and Pentax write the shutter actuation count into the MakerNote section of every image file, making it readable with exiftool or online EXIF viewers. Olympus and OM System do not do this. The count lives in the camera's internal memory only.
Online shutter count checkers will return nothing for ORF raw files or JPEGs from Olympus or OM System cameras. The only way to read the count is from inside the camera itself, via a hidden service menu.
Which cameras this works on
The method below applies to: OM System OM-1, OM-1 Mark II, OM-5, and Olympus OM-D E-M1, E-M1 Mark II, E-M1 Mark III, E-M5, E-M5 Mark II, and E-M5 Mark III. The sequence is the same across all of these bodies. PEN bodies may differ.
Step 1 - enter the hidden menu
- With the camera off, hold down the MENU button.
- While holding MENU, turn the camera on.
- Once the screen lights up, release MENU, then press it again briefly.
- In the menu, navigate to the Setup section (wrench icon).
- Find Monitor Adjust - on some bodies this is on page 3 of the Setup menu.
- Press INFO, then press OK.
- The camera displays an OM System or Olympus logo screen.
Step 2 - enter the unlock sequence
On the logo screen, press the following buttons in order:
Up → Down → Left → Right → Shutter button → Up
If the sequence is accepted, the camera opens the service menu at Page 1. If nothing happens, return to Step 1 and try again - the sequence needs to be entered without long pauses between presses.
Step 3 - read the shutter count
Press the Right arrow button to go to Page 2 of the service menu.
Find the line labelled MS. The number to the right of MS is your mechanical shutter count. Do not confuse it with the number next to S, which is the flash fire count.
Turn the camera off to exit the service menu. The camera returns to normal operation immediately.
Is it safe to access?
The service menu is read-only. You cannot change any settings from it. No issues have been widely reported from accessing it. That said, this is an undocumented menu not covered by OM Digital Solutions in any official documentation, so you access it at your own discretion.
Rated shutter life
OM System and Olympus publish rated shutter durability figures for their higher-end bodies. These represent the minimum number of actuations the shutter was tested to survive - shutters often last longer.
| Camera | Rated shutter life |
|---|---|
| OM System OM-1 Mark II | 400,000 |
| OM System OM-1 | 400,000 |
| OM System OM-5 | Not published |
| Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III | 200,000 |
| Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II | 200,000 |
| Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III | 200,000 |
| Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II | 150,000 |
What the number means for buying used
Divide the count by the rated life to get a rough percentage used. An OM-1 with 80,000 actuations has used 20% of its 400,000-actuation rating - still has plenty of life. An E-M1 Mark II with 180,000 out of 200,000 is close to its rated limit, not necessarily broken, but a shutter service may be needed sooner.
The OM-1 and OM-1 Mark II's 400,000-actuation rating is notably high. Wildlife and sports photographers who shoot heavy burst sequences can accumulate counts quickly on these cameras without concern.
Electronic shutter and the count
The MS value in the service menu is the mechanical shutter count only. Electronic shutter actuations are not included - there are no moving parts involved. The OM-1 and OM-1 Mark II support up to 120fps electronic burst, so photographers who use Pro Capture or high-speed electronic modes heavily will have a mechanical shutter count well below their total shot count.