Starting Number For Still Pics? at DVinfo.net

Dennis Vogel · March 18th, 2013, 02:06 PM

I'm trying to figure out how many pics I've taken with my GH2. What is the starting number it uses for still photos? It appears to be 10000. Is that correct?

D

Bruce Foreman · March 18th, 2013, 10:22 PM

Dennis,

There's a better way. This was in a link I followed from some discussion on reading the shutter count on Olympus Pen cameras. I've done this on all of my GH2 bodies and it works. Just don't try and change anything.

For GH2 it is a little different:
To enter the TEMPORARY Service mode (there also exists PERMANENT service mode) do the following:

1. Make sure you have a NON-EMPTY (with some images) memory card in the camera.
2. Set the Drive mode lever to Single position

3. On a TURNED OFF camera push DISPLAY and AF/AE LOCK buttons simultaneously. While holding these two buttons turn on the power.

Now the camera should be in the temporary service mode. To make sure it is, enter the Setup menu (the one marked with "wrench" icon) and look at the very last page. In the service mode there will be a new item ROM BACKUP. This item is for saving the user settings to and restoring them from a memory card.

4. Push simultaneously LEFT ARROW and MENU/SET buttons. A menu can pop up or some settings show - don't pay attention to that now. While holding these two buttons push AF/AE LOCK. You can now release all three buttons. The screen will now show a table with the last 16 error codes and their dates. Table navigation is done with the arrow buttons. Error codes are explained in the Service Manual.

5. Repeat the actions from item 4 once more. Now you will see CAMERA INFO screen. There is the most interesting info:

VER: full software revision number

No.: motherboard's serial number

PWRCNT: Number of power on cycles (including exits from the Sleep mode)

SHTCNT: Number of shutter activations

STBCNT: Number of flash activations

6. If you now push DISPLAY button you will see CAMERA INFO 2 screen. There are several more counters there: Total number of clock settings (ClockSet Cnt), and two more (UnderCut Cnt и RTC Read Err).

7. By repeating actions from item 4 return the camera into the initial state. The camera can work as usual despite it is still in the service mode.

Complete exit from the service mode is done when the camera is powered down.

Dennis Vogel · March 20th, 2013, 03:59 PM

Wow, seems like a lot of gyrations (not to mention finger contortions) just to learn what the starting number for photos is. I think I've deduced, from the photos I've taken, that it starts at 10000. But thanks for the interesting tutorial on temporary service mode.

D

Bruce Foreman · March 20th, 2013, 05:50 PM

That will tell you (as it would tell a repair tech) EXACTLY what your current shutter count is. No guesswork involved and as far as I know, no way to "fool" it.

I never try to do it without that file in front of me and believe it or not the "contortions" get easier after a few tries. One fingertip can press both the left cursor and the Menu/Set button at the same time.

March 18th, 2013, 02:06 PM	#1
Dennis Vogel Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 409	Starting Number For Still Pics? I'm trying to figure out how many pics I've taken with my GH2. What is the starting number it uses for still photos? It appears to be 10000. Is that correct? D

March 18th, 2013, 10:22 PM	#2
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Re: Starting Number For Still Pics? Dennis, There's a better way. This was in a link I followed from some discussion on reading the shutter count on Olympus Pen cameras. I've done this on all of my GH2 bodies and it works. Just don't try and change anything. For GH2 it is a little different: To enter the TEMPORARY Service mode (there also exists PERMANENT service mode) do the following: 1. Make sure you have a NON-EMPTY (with some images) memory card in the camera. 2. Set the Drive mode lever to Single position 3. On a TURNED OFF camera push DISPLAY and AF/AE LOCK buttons simultaneously. While holding these two buttons turn on the power. Now the camera should be in the temporary service mode. To make sure it is, enter the Setup menu (the one marked with "wrench" icon) and look at the very last page. In the service mode there will be a new item ROM BACKUP. This item is for saving the user settings to and restoring them from a memory card. 4. Push simultaneously LEFT ARROW and MENU/SET buttons. A menu can pop up or some settings show - don't pay attention to that now. While holding these two buttons push AF/AE LOCK. You can now release all three buttons. The screen will now show a table with the last 16 error codes and their dates. Table navigation is done with the arrow buttons. Error codes are explained in the Service Manual. 5. Repeat the actions from item 4 once more. Now you will see CAMERA INFO screen. There is the most interesting info: VER: full software revision number No.: motherboard's serial number PWRCNT: Number of power on cycles (including exits from the Sleep mode) SHTCNT: Number of shutter activations STBCNT: Number of flash activations 6. If you now push DISPLAY button you will see CAMERA INFO 2 screen. There are several more counters there: Total number of clock settings (ClockSet Cnt), and two more (UnderCut Cnt и RTC Read Err). 7. By repeating actions from item 4 return the camera into the initial state. The camera can work as usual despite it is still in the service mode. Complete exit from the service mode is done when the camera is powered down.

March 20th, 2013, 03:59 PM	#3
Dennis Vogel Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 409	Re: Starting Number For Still Pics? Wow, seems like a lot of gyrations (not to mention finger contortions) just to learn what the starting number for photos is. I think I've deduced, from the photos I've taken, that it starts at 10000. But thanks for the interesting tutorial on temporary service mode. D

March 20th, 2013, 05:50 PM	#4
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Re: Starting Number For Still Pics? That will tell you (as it would tell a repair tech) EXACTLY what your current shutter count is. No guesswork involved and as far as I know, no way to "fool" it. I never try to do it without that file in front of me and believe it or not the "contortions" get easier after a few tries. One fingertip can press both the left cursor and the Menu/Set button at the same time.