Drop an ARW file from your Sony A9 II (ILCE-9M2) and get the exact mechanical shutter actuation count in seconds — processed entirely in your browser, never uploaded anywhere.
Check Shutter Count →The Sony A9 II (ILCE-9M2), released in 2019, is the second generation of Sony's dedicated sports and photojournalism full-frame mirrorless camera. Built around a 24.2 MP stacked BSI CMOS sensor, it delivers 20fps mechanical burst with continuous AF and AE tracking, blackout-free electronic viewfinder, and dual CFexpress/SD card slots. The mechanical shutter is rated at 500,000 actuations. It was superseded in 2023 by the A9 III, which introduced the world's first full-frame global shutter.
| Model | Release | Sensor | Shutter Type | Rated Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A9 II (ILCE-9M2) | 2019 | 24.2 MP stacked BSI | Mechanical + Electronic | 500,000 |
| Sony A9 III (ILCE-9M3) | 2023 | 24.6 MP stacked global | Global shutter + Mechanical | 500,000 |
| Sony A9 (ILCE-9, original) | 2017 | 24.2 MP stacked BSI | Mechanical + Electronic | 200,000 |
Ensure the photo was taken with the mechanical shutter, not silent / electronic shutter. Electronic shutter frames — commonly used for silent environments or above the mechanical flash sync limit — do not increment the mechanical counter.
| Shutter Count | % of Rated Life | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 30,000 | < 6 % | Lightly used |
| 30,000 – 150,000 | 6 – 30 % | Normal sports use |
| 150,000 – 300,000 | 30 – 60 % | Heavy professional use — inspect carefully |
| 300,000 – 450,000 | 60 – 90 % | Very heavy use — price accordingly |
| 450,000 + | 90 %+ | Near or past rated life |
The Sony A9 II stores its mechanical shutter count encrypted in ARW MakerNote tag 0x9050. ShutterCount applies Sony's cubic residue decryption (modulo 249) and reads the count from byte offset 0x003a — the same offset used by the A9 (original), A7 III, A7 IV, A7S III, A7R IV, A7R V, and A1. All decryption is performed locally in your browser.
Shoot a mechanical ARW frame and drop it into shuttercount.app. The count is decrypted from tag 0x9050 at offset 0x003a in your browser, instantly and privately.
Sony rates the A9 II at 500,000 actuations — Sony's highest tier. This matches the A9 III, A7S III, A7R IV, A7R V, and A1.
Yes, for photographers who need 20fps burst with reliable tracking but cannot justify the A9 III price. The A9 II's autofocus, while not as advanced as the A9 III's AI tracking, remains very capable for most sports. The mechanical shutter at 500,000 actuations means even moderately used bodies have significant life remaining. The main limitation is no global shutter — flash sync tops out at 1/250s and electronic shutter may show rolling shutter on extreme lateral motion.
Both have 500,000-actuation mechanical shutters. However, the A9 III's global shutter means users can shoot at up to 120fps electronically without any rolling shutter — so many A9 III owners use electronic shutter far more than mechanical. An A9 II owner shooting sports will typically have a higher mechanical count than a comparable A9 III owner.
Only Sony authorised service centres can reset the hardware counter. Always verify from an original ARW file, not a screenshot.