The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (2025) captures Expert RAW in DNG format and has no mechanical shutter — the image counter stored in each DNG file records total electronic captures. Drop an Expert RAW file to read it instantly.
Check Image Counter →The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and features a sophisticated quad-camera system: a 200 MP main sensor (ISOCELL HP9, f/1.7, OIS), a 50 MP ultrawide (f/1.9, upgraded from 12 MP on the S24 Ultra), a 10 MP 3× telephoto (f/2.4, OIS), and a 50 MP 5× telephoto (f/3.4, OIS). The integrated S Pen silo is preserved, with reduced latency compared to the S24 Ultra generation.
Like all modern Android flagships, the S25 Ultra uses CMOS electronic readout exclusively. There is no mechanical focal-plane shutter. The image counter in Expert RAW DNG files increments with every capture regardless of which camera or mode is used.
| Model | Release | Main Sensor | Shutter Type | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | 2025 | 200 MP ISOCELL HP9 | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW) |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 2024 | 200 MP ISOCELL HP2 | Electronic only | DNG (Expert RAW) |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | 2024 | 48 MP CMOS | Electronic only | ProRAW (DNG) |
| Sony A7R V | 2022 | 61 MP Full-Frame BSI | Mechanical + Electronic | ARW |
.dng extension.exiftool -ImageNumber yourfile.DNG to read the counter from metadata directly.The image counter gives an indication of usage intensity but has no mechanical wear implication. Key factors for evaluating a used S25 Ultra:
| What to Check | How |
|---|---|
| Battery health | Settings → Battery and device care → Battery. Samsung considers below 80% as degraded; service may be warranted |
| Display condition | Check the 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X for burn-in (static icons, navigation bar), dead pixels, or edge delamination |
| Camera lenses | Inspect all five lenses (including the S Pen storage area) for scratches; test the 200 MP binning and 5× telephoto AF at distance |
| S Pen condition | Test S Pen responsiveness and Bluetooth pairing; check silo for damage around the ejection spring |
| Titanium frame | Inspect edges for dents; the titanium frame is scratch-resistant but not dent-proof |
| Image counter | High count (>50,000) suggests intensive photography use — useful context, not a failure indicator |
Samsung’s Expert RAW app provides multi-frame RAW capture (stacking multiple frames for reduced noise), an astrophoto mode, manual controls (ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus), and a live histogram. RAW files are saved as industry-standard DNG, compatible with all major RAW editors.
The image counter is stored in the DNG ImageNumber EXIF tag. This counter is maintained in persistent device memory and increments across all cameras and modes. It cannot be reset by a factory reset or software update.
Expert RAW produces higher-quality DNG files than Pro mode in the standard Camera app because it supports multi-frame stacking and has access to the full sensor pipeline. Both produce valid DNG files containing the image counter. Expert RAW is available from the Galaxy Store and is compatible with the S25 Ultra (Android 15, One UI 7).
No. All Samsung Galaxy smartphones use CMOS electronic readout. There is no focal-plane shutter mechanism and no rated mechanical lifespan.
Open the Galaxy Store app and search for “Expert RAW.” It is a free first-party Samsung app. After installation, it appears in your app drawer. Enable RAW output before shooting.
No. The image counter is stored in persistent hardware memory and cannot be reset by a factory reset or software action. It reliably reflects total device usage.
A typical user captures 5,000–30,000 photos per year. An active content creator may exceed 50,000 annually. Unlike a DSLR, there is no wear concern associated with a high count — battery health is the primary condition indicator.
Yes. Drop any Expert RAW DNG file from the S25 Ultra into shuttercount.app regardless of whether it was shot at full 200 MP resolution or a binned mode. The DNG ImageNumber field is present in all DNG files.