Beginner Shutter count, will it matter.

Oldbones

Oldbones

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Shutter count, how important is it, I have a couple of DSLR cameras and they are both very close to 30,000 shots.
This equates to about 2500 shots each per year.
So what do you do as the shutter count starts to go up.
Do you just keep going, or do you start to think about replacement of that camera.
I know that 30,000 is not a high count but when I looked online yesterday, I was surprised by the info I found.
Both of my cameras were rated at 50,000 shots, I thought it would have been double that at least.
It also has changed my views on any second hand purchase, it will for example state low shutter count <30,000, but will that mean that the camera has only got 50% of life left in it.
In saying all of this I have slowed down considerably with what I actually take a photograph of now, beginners habit of shooting anything and every thing has passed for me..
Do you have a high shutter count camera and is it still going or has you camera ever failed and what was the count then.
 
50,000 is quite low for 'expected' life but it's only a guesstimate, could go double or treble that (or half!).
Personally I wouldn't feel the need to change camera just on the basis of shutter count.
 
Oldbones said:
Shutter count, how important is it, I have a couple of DSLR cameras and they are both very close to 30,000 shots.
This equates to about 2500 shots each per year.
So what do you do as the shutter count starts to go up.
Do you just keep going, or do you start to think about replacement of that camera.
I know that 30,000 is not a high count but when I looked online yesterday, I was surprised by the info I found.
Both of my cameras were rated at 50,000 shots, I thought it would have been double that at least.
It also has changed my views on any second hand purchase, it will for example state low shutter count <30,000, but will that mean that the camera has only got 50% of life left in it.
In saying all of this I have slowed down considerably with what I actually take a photograph of now, beginners habit of shooting anything and every thing has passed for me..
Do you have a high shutter count camera and is it still going or has you camera ever failed and what was the count then.
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Shutter ratings vary by camera model

I have no problem purchasing a camera with 150,000 actuations if the shutter is rated at 300,000.

its horses for courses, entry level models will generally have a lower build and component quality when, and if, compared to pro level models.
 
judging by what uv descibed 2500 shots per year you got at least another 15yrs till you hit 50k id wait till it goes pop theyll be dirt cheap by then
 
I like high shutter counts, if its at its rated life even better, you get a really good deal and I'm of the unscientific opinion if its gone this long it will probably keep going for a good while yet
 
On a similar note, how important is shutter count on mirrorless cameras, given the smaller number of moving components.
 
Interesting thought, it may be something that wont matter in future.
 
nx4737 said:
On a similar note, how important is shutter count on mirrorless cameras, given the smaller number of moving components.
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Do mirrorless cameras register shots taken with the electronic shutter? I don't know. Maybe someone can answer that.

I suppose not using a shutter could cause an issue too? What if it ceases up from just being open all the time? If you use the electronic shutter all the time is it worth firing off some mechanical shutter shots now and again just to make sure it hasn't ceased up?
 
Panasonic G9 and G9ii no longer have a shutter count in the latest update. this is due to not relying one a manual shutter asthere is the electronic shutter avaikable as well. The only time when one would need the manual shutter is when using a flash gun, the flash gun does not recognise electronic shutters
 
realspeed said:
The only time when one would need the manual shutter is when using a flash gun, the flash gun does not recognise electronic shutters
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That's not true. You also need a mechanical shutter when shooting under flickering lighting, banding when using the electronic shutter can be shot ruining. Another issue is rolling shutter, you may need a mechanical shutter to prevent that too if you're using anything other than top end kit like the Sony A1.
 
LeeRatters said:
Just use it until it breaks and don't worry about anything until it does (y)
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100%

I also take the view that by the time it does break, you’ll either be in the market for a new camera anyway, or secondhand excellent/good condition models will be readily available

I’ll also be honest say I’ve never checked the shutter counts on any camera I own
 
woof woof said:
Do mirrorless cameras register shots taken with the electronic shutter? I don't know. Maybe someone can answer that.

I suppose not using a shutter could cause an issue too? What if it ceases up from just being open all the time? If you use the electronic shutter all the time is it worth firing off some mechanical shutter shots now and again just to make sure it hasn't ceased up?
Click to expand...

No idea, good question though...

My last few cameras have all been used gear from MPB, I've never actually checked the shutter counts until it comes to selling them on, the way I see it, there is a bigger chance of me breaking the camera through general clumsiness than the shutter failing on me.
 
nx4737 said:
No idea, good question though...

My last few cameras have all been used gear from MPB, I've never actually checked the shutter counts until it comes to selling them on, the way I see it, there is a bigger chance of me breaking the camera through general clumsiness than the shutter failing on me.
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My general rule of thumb is they suffer bigger depreciation in time, than they do shutter counts. Yes for eg my old 6D lost a bit because I'd put 40,000 click on it, and the odd scratch. But the difference between it, and a 0 shutter count was minimal, vs what it had lost simply by being a 10 year old camera.

So yeah use it, enjoy it, ****** the difference in resale value

PS also pretty sure that yes mirrorless count 'clicks' rather than actual times the shutter moves. They really should have these as separate numbers
 
Just checked and my 5DIII is now approaching 500K(479,058, it had 8K when I bought it) although you would never guess looking at it from the outside. Not my only body but by far my most used, fingers crossed both it and I make it to 1M...
 
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woof woof said:
Do mirrorless cameras register shots taken with the electronic shutter? I don't know. Maybe someone can answer that.

I suppose not using a shutter could cause an issue too? What if it ceases up from just being open all the time? If you use the electronic shutter all the time is it worth firing off some mechanical shutter shots now and again just to make sure it hasn't ceased up?
Click to expand...
MS on this OM1 is mechanical shutter
 

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thedistrictline said:
I like high shutter counts, if its at its rated life even better, you get a really good deal and I'm of the unscientific opinion if its gone this long it will probably keep going for a good while yet
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Ummm... I had a shutter fail at a whisker under 300000 images on a barely 12 month old camera (I bought it new).
So they do fail.
 
thedistrictline said:
I like high shutter counts, if its at its rated life even better, you get a really good deal and I'm of the unscientific opinion if its gone this long it will probably keep going for a good while yet
Click to expand...
Yeah. I got a D6 with just over 400K clicks for £1200. To be fair it looked like Park Cameras got 3 at once from a commercial user and were trying to move them on them quickly. Given how I shoot it, there is not much chance it will break in the next decade or two.

How fast a shutter operates makes a big difference. One of the most reliable cheap DSLRs is the D40 whose mechanical shutter only goes to 1/500s.

With mirrorless, the technology is improving rapidly so any new camera will depreciate rapidly.
 
After a certain speed the global electronic shutter takes over. The D40 is much more reliable than a D40x, which is purely mechanical shutter.
 
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