The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023) runs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, packs a 200 MP main camera, and integrates an S Pen. It shoots DNG files via Samsung Expert RAW with no mechanical shutter — the image counter in each DNG records total electronic captures. Drop a DNG file to read it instantly.
Check Image Counter →The Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (a custom “for Galaxy” variant clocked 8% higher than standard). Its quad-camera system features a 200 MP ISOCELL HP2 main sensor (f/1.7, 1/1.3″ optical format, OIS) — the second generation of Samsung’s 200 MP architecture, with improved colour accuracy over the HP1 in the S22 Ultra — alongside a 12 MP ultrawide (f/2.2), a 10 MP 3× telephoto (f/2.4), and a 10 MP 10× telephoto (f/4.9). The integrated S Pen silo is a permanent fixture carried over from the Galaxy Note line.
| Model | Release | Main Sensor | Shutter Type | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | 2023 | 200 MP CMOS | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW) |
| Galaxy S22 Ultra | 2022 | 108 MP CMOS | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW) |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | 2024 | 200 MP CMOS | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW) |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | 2025 | 200 MP CMOS | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW) |
Internal storage → DCIM → Expert RAW and copy the .dng file. Alternatively, download the original DNG from Samsung Gallery on a PC.exiftool -ImageNumber yourfile.dng to read the counter directly.Because the S23 Ultra has no mechanical shutter, the image counter carries no wear implication. Focus on these factors when evaluating a used unit:
| What to Check | How |
|---|---|
| Battery health | Settings → Battery → Battery health. Under 80% capacity warrants replacement |
| S Pen condition | Remove and reinsert the S Pen, test pressure sensitivity and Bluetooth Air Actions in all apps |
| Display | Check the Dynamic AMOLED 2X for burn-in, green tint at low brightness, and dead pixels |
| 200 MP lens glass | Inspect the large main lens for scratches using a flashlight — repair is expensive |
| Telephoto lenses | Check the 3× and 10× periscoptic telephoto for fogging or internal damage |
| Image counter | High count (>50,000) indicates heavy use — no mechanical risk, but useful context |
The image counter is stored in the DNG EXIF metadata under the ImageNumber field. This counter increments with every capture across all camera modes — not only Expert RAW sessions. It cannot be reset by a factory reset or software reinstall. The S23 Ultra’s counter architecture is shared with the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra.
The 200 MP HP2 sensor uses a 4×4 pixel-binning architecture (Tetra²pixel) that outputs 12.5 MP by default in good light (16 pixels combined into one), switching to full 200 MP mode for Expert RAW captures. The DNG file at 200 MP is approximately 45–65 MB. The image counter increments once per shutter press regardless of resolution.
No. All Samsung Galaxy smartphones use CMOS electronic readout — there is no mechanical focal-plane shutter. The image counter in an Expert RAW DNG file records total electronic captures. There is no rated shutter life or mechanical wear to consider.
The S23 Ultra upgraded the main sensor from 108 MP to 200 MP (HP2), moved from Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 to a custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, refined the telephoto system, and improved low-light performance significantly. Both share the integrated S Pen and Expert RAW DNG support. The image counter functions identically on both models.
No. The built-in Camera app also saves DNG files when you switch to Pro mode and tap the RAW (or RAW+JPEG) format toggle. Expert RAW provides a more advanced interface and additional features like astrophotography mode, but the resulting DNG is equivalent for counter-reading purposes.
No. The image counter is stored in persistent hardware memory and cannot be reset by a factory reset, software reinstall, or any user action.
Yes — drop an Expert RAW or Pro mode DNG file from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra into shuttercount.app and the tool will display the image counter. Standard JPEG files do not contain the counter field.