The Samsung Galaxy S22 (2022) 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 S22 is the base model of Samsung’s 2022 flagship lineup, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (US, Korea, China) or Exynos 2200 (most other markets — the last S-series generation with a regional chipset split before the S23 went Snapdragon-global). Its triple-camera system comprises a 50 MP Samsung ISOCELL GN5 main sensor (1/1.76″, f/1.8, OIS, PDAF), a 12 MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120°, fixed focus), and a 10 MP 3× telephoto (f/2.4, OIS).
The S22 uses CMOS electronic readout exclusively across all three cameras. There is no mechanical focal-plane shutter. The image counter in RAW DNG files increments with every capture regardless of which camera is active.
| Model | Release | Main Sensor | Shutter Type | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S22 | 2022 | 50 MP GN5 (f/1.8, 1/1.76″) | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW / Pro) |
| Samsung Galaxy S22+ | 2022 | 50 MP GN5 (f/1.8, 1/1.57″) | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW / Pro) |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | 2022 | 108 MP HM3 (f/1.8) | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW / Pro) |
| Samsung Galaxy S23+ | 2023 | 50 MP GN9 (f/1.8) | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW / Pro) |
.dng extension.exiftool -ImageNumber yourfile.DNG to read the counter directly.The image counter provides useful context for how actively the phone was used for photography, but battery health and physical condition are the primary indicators for a used S22:
| What to Check | How |
|---|---|
| Battery health | Settings → Battery and device care → Battery → Battery status and history. The S22 battery degrades noticeably by 2–3 years of heavy use |
| Display condition | Inspect the 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X for burn-in (navigation bar, status bar icons are most susceptible), dead pixels, and edge separation |
| Camera lenses | Check all three lenses for scratches or internal fogging; test the 3× telephoto autofocus at various distances |
| Under-display fingerprint | Test the optical fingerprint sensor — response speed degrades with screen protectors and on older devices |
| Frame and back glass | Inspect the Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ rear for dents and cracks; back glass repair on the S22 is moderately expensive |
| Image counter | High count (>30,000) indicates regular photography use — context only, not a wear indicator for electronic shutters |
The standard S22 is Samsung’s most compact flagship at 6.1 inches and 167 g. It has a 3,700 mAh battery with 25 W wired charging — notably slower than the S22+ (45 W) and S22 Ultra (45 W). For a photographer who shoots heavily and charges frequently, the S22+ or Ultra’s faster charging is a meaningful upgrade.
The S22 and S22+ share the same triple-camera layout (50 MP main + 12 MP ultrawide + 10 MP 3× telephoto) with identical apertures. The S22 Ultra is in a different class: its 108 MP ISOCELL HM3 main sensor uses 9-in-1 pixel binning for effective 12 MP output at default, plus a dual-telephoto system (3× and 10× periscope), QHD+ display, and a built-in S Pen silo — making it a Note-series successor as much as a conventional S-series flagship.
The S22 was available with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the US, Korea, and China, and Exynos 2200 in Europe and most other markets. Both chipsets support Expert RAW and DNG capture equally. The Snapdragon variant generally showed better thermal performance in real-world use.
Samsung offers two paths to DNG RAW on the S22. The Expert RAW app (Galaxy Store, free) is the recommended route: it provides a clean RAW capture interface with manual controls and saves full-resolution 50 MP DNG files. The native Camera app Pro mode also supports RAW, but it saves a binned 12 MP DNG by default on the S22 — image counter values are consistent between both sources.
The image counter is stored in the DNG EXIF metadata under ImageNumber. This is a persistent counter maintained in device hardware, incremented by every RAW capture across all cameras and modes. It cannot be reset by a factory reset or firmware update.
The S22 generation was the last Samsung flagship to ship two different chips by region. Starting with the S23, Samsung moved globally to Snapdragon. The Exynos 2200 in European S22 units features an AMD RDNA 2-based GPU (Xclipse 920), the first mobile GPU with hardware ray tracing support — a notable technical footnote, though its practical photography impact is minimal.
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 for full-resolution DNG), or open the native Camera app → 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 exceed 40,000. Unlike a DSLR, a high image counter carries no wear implication — battery health and display condition are the primary used-device health indicators.
No. S Pen support was exclusive to the S22 Ultra in the S22 lineup (and continued via the S23 Ultra onward). The standard S22 and S22+ do not support the S Pen.