How do I check the shutter count of my Sony Alpha 500?

Shoot a RAW photo with your Sony Alpha 500, locate the .ARW file, and drop it into shuttercount.app. The tool reads unencrypted MakerNote tag 0x014a in your browser — no upload required.

What is the rated shutter life of the Sony Alpha 500?

Sony rates the Alpha 500 (DSLR-A500) shutter at 100,000 actuations — standard for mid-range consumer DSLRs of its era (2009).

What was significant about the Sony Alpha 500?

The Alpha 500 was the entry point of Sony's second-generation APS-C DSLR lineup, introducing the Exmor CMOS sensor at a mid-range price point in 2009. The switch from CCD to Exmor brought improved high-ISO performance and reduced noise compared to the A300/A350 generation, making the A500 a notable upgrade path for A-mount users.

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Sony Alpha 500 Shutter Count:
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Q: What is a good shutter count for a used Sony Alpha 500?

For a used Alpha 500 (100,000 rated): below 10,000 is very low use, 10,000–40,000 is moderate, 40,000–80,000 is heavy use. Above 80,000 means the shutter is approaching its rated life.

Drop an ARW RAW file from your Sony Alpha 500 and get the shutter actuation count in seconds — processed entirely in your browser. The DSLR-A500 stores its shutter count in unencrypted MakerNote tag 0x014a.

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Sony Alpha 500 — Shutter Rating & Context

The Sony Alpha 500 (DSLR-A500, 2009) marked an important transition in Sony's A-mount DSLR lineup: the shift from CCD sensors to the new Exmor CMOS architecture. The A500 paired a 12.3 MP APS-C Exmor sensor with the BIONZ processor and introduced substantially improved high-ISO performance over its CCD predecessors (A200, A300, A350). It offered 5 fps continuous shooting, ISO 200–12800, and accepted the full range of Sony and legacy Minolta A-mount lenses with in-body Super SteadyShot image stabilisation.

Sony rates the Alpha 500 mechanical shutter at 100,000 actuations.

Model	Release	Sensor	Rated Shutter Life	RAW Format
Sony Alpha 500 (DSLR-A500)	2009	12.3 MP APS-C Exmor CMOS	100,000 actuations	ARW
Sony Alpha 550 (DSLR-A550) (higher-res sibling)	2009	14.2 MP APS-C Exmor CMOS	100,000 actuations	ARW
Sony Alpha 350 (DSLR-A350) (prev. gen CCD)	2008	14.2 MP APS-C CCD	100,000 actuations	ARW

    Unencrypted shutter count — tag 0x014a: The Alpha 500 stores the shutter count in unencrypted Sony MakerNote tag 0x014a. ShutterCount reads this directly in your browser — no decryption needed.
  

How to Check Shutter Count on the Sony Alpha 500

Take any still photo with your Sony Alpha 500 and locate the resulting .ARW file on the SD memory card or Memory Stick Pro Duo.
Open shuttercount.app in any modern browser.
Drag the ARW file onto the drop zone, or click to open a file picker.
The shutter count appears instantly — no upload, no account required.

What Is a Good Shutter Count for a Used Sony Alpha 500?

Actuation Count	% of Rated Life	Assessment
0 – 10,000	0 – 10 %	Very low use — near new
10,000 – 40,000	10 – 40 %	Low to moderate use
40,000 – 75,000	40 – 75 %	Moderate to heavy use
75,000 – 95,000	75 – 95 %	High use — negotiate price
95,000 +	95 %+	Near or past rated life

The A500 is a capable Exmor DSLR that remains compatible with the entire A-mount lens ecosystem. Bodies in good condition with low shutter counts are an affordable gateway to Sony A-mount glass. Always verify the shutter count when buying used.

How Does ShutterCount Read the Alpha 500 Shutter Count?

The Alpha 500 uses unencrypted Sony MakerNote tag 0x014a for the shutter count — the same tag used by the A100, A200, A300, A350, and A380. ShutterCount parses the ARW TIFF structure, locates this tag, and reads the counter directly. No cipher or decryption is involved, unlike the 0x9050 tag introduced on SLT and later cameras.

FAQ

Is the Sony Alpha 500 shutter count the same format as the Alpha 550?

Yes. Both the A500 and A550 use the same unencrypted MakerNote tag 0x014a in their ARW files. ShutterCount reads both identically — just drop the ARW file from either model onto the tool.

Does the Sony Alpha 500 support RAW video?

No. The A500 shoots still images in ARW (Sony's RAW format) but does not support video recording. Only still exposures increment the shutter count.

Sony Alpha 500 Shutter Count:Check It Free in Your Browser