The evolution of mileage calculation in the Nikon Z line

With Nikon's transition to the mirrorless Z mount, the metadata recording system has been radically updated. B traditional DSLR cameras (D750, D850) had one main tag `ShutterCount`. But in Nikon Z series cameras an important distinction has emerged:mechanical shutter vs electronic shutter.

As a service engineer, I often see the surprise of buyers in the secondary market: “The ad says 30,000 frames, but the service shows 120,000! Is the seller a liar? Don't rush to conclusions - let's figure out how the Z line keeps records frames.

Mileage tags for Nikon Z mirrorless cameras

In modern NEF and JPG files from cameras Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Zfc, Z50, two important fields are recorded at once:

Tag in EXIF	What exactly does it count?	Impact on mechanical wear
ShutterCount/ImageCount	Total number of pictures taken (including silent electronic shutter).	Does not reflect direct wear on the curtains.
MechanicalShutterCount/ Nikon:MechanicalShutterCount	Physical triggering of mechanical shutter curtains.	A direct indicator of wear on the shutter mechanism!

Features of the flagships Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z9: Mechanical shutter HET!

The Nikon Z9 and Nikon Z8 cameras became a revolution in the industry: Nikon engineers completely abandoned mechanical shutter They only have a matrix protective curtain (Sensor Shield), which closes when the carcass is turned off to protection from dust when changing optics.

• Nikon Z8 and Z9physical wear of the shutter is zero, because the mechanics of lamella movement when no filming at all!
• The `MechanicalShutterCount` tag for these cameras is either 0 or missing.
• The total mileage (`ShutterCount`) reflects only the operating time of the matrix and EXPEED 7 processor. Therefore, buying a used Z8 or A Z9 with 300,000 frames is safer than buying a DSLR with the same mileage.

How to quickly check Nikon Z5/Z6/Z7/Zfc/Z50?

To find out the actual wear and tear of the shutter on your Nikon Z mirrorless camera, you do not need to install drivers or connect the cable.