The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (2021) captures RAW in DNG format via the Expert RAW app or Camera 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 Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 888 (US, Korea) or Exynos 2100 (most other markets) and packs a quad-camera system: a 108 MP Samsung ISOCELL HM3 main sensor (1/1.33″, f/1.8, OIS — using 9-in-1 nona-pixel binning for 12 MP in default mode), a 12 MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120°, fixed focus), a 10 MP 3× telephoto (f/2.4, OIS, PDAF), and a 10 MP 10× periscope telephoto (f/4.9, OIS).
The S21 Ultra was also the first Samsung Galaxy S-series phone to support the S Pen — via an optional case accessory that holds the stylus, rather than a built-in silo (which arrived with the S22 Ultra). Like all Galaxy S-series phones, the S21 Ultra uses CMOS electronic readout exclusively. There is no mechanical focal-plane shutter.
| Model | Release | Main Sensor | Telephoto | Shutter Type | RAW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | 2021 | 108 MP HM3 (f/1.8) | 3× + 10× periscope | Electronic | DNG (Expert RAW / Pro) |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | 2022 | 108 MP HM3 (f/1.8) | 3× + 10× periscope | Electronic | DNG (Expert RAW / Pro) |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 2024 | 200 MP HP9 (f/1.7) | 3× + 5× periscope | Electronic | DNG (Expert RAW / Pro) |
| Samsung Galaxy S21 | 2021 | 64 MP GW3 (f/1.8) | 3× (f/2.0) | Electronic | DNG (Expert RAW / Pro) |
.dng.exiftool -ImageNumber yourfile.DNG to read the counter directly.The S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra share the same 108 MP HM3 main sensor and dual-telephoto approach. The key upgrade in the S22 Ultra:
| Feature | S21 Ultra | S22 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| S Pen | Via accessory case | Built-in silo (always present) |
| Chipset (global) | Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 / Exynos 2200 |
| Telephoto zoom | 3× + 10× | 3× + 10× |
| Ultrawide sensor | 12 MP (fixed focus) | 12 MP (fixed focus) |
| Display | 6.8″ QHD+ 10–120 Hz | 6.8″ QHD+ 1–120 Hz LTPO2 |
| Design | Curved display, rounded corners | Flat sides, Note-series styling |
For a used buyer, the S21 Ultra is a strong alternative to the S22 Ultra at a lower price point: the camera system is functionally identical (same main sensor, same telephoto lenses), and the only significant practical loss is the built-in S Pen silo — the stylus can still be used with the accessory case.
| What to Check | How |
|---|---|
| Battery health | Settings → Battery and device care → Battery → Battery status. The S21 Ultra is typically 3–4 years old now; expect some degradation on heavily used units |
| Display burn-in | Inspect the 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X carefully for burn-in of navigation bar, keyboard, and status bar icons; AMOLED burn-in is more pronounced after 3+ years of heavy use |
| Camera lenses | Test all four cameras; the 10× periscope telephoto is the most expensive to repair — test it specifically at maximum optical zoom |
| Under-display fingerprint | Test the optical fingerprint sensor in varied lighting; response is generally faster on the S21 Ultra than the S20 generation |
| Back glass and frame | Inspect Gorilla Glass Victus rear and Armor Aluminum frame for cracks, particularly around the camera bar which is a stress point |
| Image counter | High count (>30,000) indicates active photography use — context only, not a wear indicator for electronic shutters |
The 108 MP ISOCELL HM3 uses 9-in-1 nona-pixel binning by default, combining nine 0.8 μm pixels into one effective 2.4 μm pixel for a 12 MP output. Expert RAW can capture the full 108 MP native resolution — these files are very large (roughly 25–35 MB per DNG). The image counter increments identically regardless of resolution mode.
The image counter is stored in the DNG EXIF metadata under ImageNumber. This persistent hardware counter increments with every RAW capture across all cameras and modes, and cannot be reset by a factory reset or firmware flash.
Expert RAW was launched in 2022 alongside the S22 series but is available for the S21 Ultra via the Galaxy Store. It provides a dedicated astrophotography mode, multi-frame bracketing, and a histogram overlay — features not available in the native Camera Pro mode. For image counter reading, both Expert RAW and Camera Pro mode produce equivalent DNG files.
No. All Galaxy S-series phones use CMOS electronic readout. There is no focal-plane shutter mechanism and no mechanical wear to assess.
Two options: install Expert RAW from the Galaxy Store (recommended, free), or open the native Camera app → More → Pro mode → tap the file format button → select RAW or RAW+JPEG.
No. The image counter is stored in persistent device hardware and cannot be reset by a factory reset, firmware flash, or any user action.
A typical user captures 5,000–20,000 photos per year; an active photographer may reach 50,000 or more. Unlike a DSLR, a high counter carries no wear implication — battery health and display condition are the primary used-device indicators.
It was the first Galaxy S-series phone to support S Pen. Samsung’s Note series had included a built-in S Pen silo since the Galaxy Note (2011). The S21 Ultra supports S Pen input via an optional folio case that holds the stylus; the S22 Ultra was the first S-series to include a built-in S Pen silo in the body.