The Google Pixel 8 Pro (2023) shoots native DNG in Pro mode and has no mechanical shutter — the image counter stored in each DNG file records total electronic captures. Drop a RAW DNG file to read it instantly.
Check Image Counter →The Google Pixel 8 Pro is powered by the Google Tensor G3 chip and features a triple-camera system: a 50 MP main sensor (f/1.68, OIS), a 48 MP ultrawide (f/1.95), and a 48 MP 5× telephoto (f/2.8). Like all smartphones, every camera uses CMOS electronic readout — there is no mechanical focal-plane shutter of any kind. The image counter in a DNG RAW file records total captures across the device’s lifetime.
| Model | Release | Main Sensor | Shutter Type | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | 2023 | 50 MP CMOS | Electronic only | DNG |
| Google Pixel 7 Pro | 2022 | 50 MP CMOS | Electronic only | DNG |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro | 2023 | 48 MP CMOS | Electronic only | ProRAW (DNG) |
| Nikon Z6 III | 2024 | 24.5 MP FF CMOS | Mechanical + Electronic | NEF |
exiftool -ImageNumber yourfile.DNG in a terminal to read the counter directly.The image counter is a useful indicator of total device usage, but since there is no mechanical shutter, it has no direct wear implication. Prioritise these checks when evaluating a used Pixel 8 Pro:
| What to Check | How |
|---|---|
| Battery health | Settings → Battery → Battery Usage. Third-party apps like AccuBattery give a capacity estimate |
| Display condition | Check the LTPO OLED for burn-in, dead pixels, or pressure marks — use a white screen and dark screen |
| Camera glass | Inspect all three lenses and the Temperature sensor window for scratches or chips |
| Body condition | Inspect the matte polished glass back and aluminium frame for cracks or chips |
| Face fingerprint | Verify under-display fingerprint sensor works correctly from multiple angles |
| Image counter | High count (>50,000) suggests heavy use — useful context but not a hardware risk |
The Pixel 8 Pro shoots standard DNG files that are compatible with major RAW editors. Google’s computational photography pipeline (Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Best Take) operates on JPEGs; the DNG is an unprocessed sensor capture.
The image counter is stored in the DNG EXIF under the ImageNumber field in Google’s MakerNote IFD. This is a persistent hardware counter that increments with every capture — it cannot be reset by a factory reset.
The Tensor G3 chip handles on-device AI processing for features like Night Sight, Astrophotography Mode, and Video Boost (exclusive to Pixel 8 Pro). These features operate on JPEG outputs; the DNG RAW file captures raw sensor data before computational processing.
No. All Google Pixel phones use CMOS electronic readout — there is no mechanical focal-plane shutter. The “shutter” you hear when taking a photo is a synthetic sound effect. The image counter in the DNG file is a software counter reflecting total electronic captures.
Switch to Pro mode in the Camera app and tap the RAW indicator in the top toolbar. When enabled, the Pixel saves a DNG alongside each JPEG. Note: RAW is only available in Pro mode, not in the default Photo mode.
No. The image counter is stored in persistent memory and increments with every capture. A factory reset does not reset it, making it a reliable indicator of total device usage.
Yes — drop a DNG RAW file from the Pixel 8 Pro’s Pro mode into shuttercount.app and the tool will display the image counter.