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How long will a D-SLR last?

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 12:31 am
by matiasasun
Somebody has some kind of answer to this?

Matias, Chile

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 12:41 am
by filipdabrowski
Which DSLR? Not all DSLR's are built equal.

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:47 am
by slurve30
If how long does a DSLR last = how long does the shutter last before needing a replacement, like filipdabrowski says, it depends on which camera.

I can tell you the shutter rated lifetimes for the various Canon cameras if that's what you have:

Canon D30: ~30,000 shots
Canon 10D/20D: ~50,000 shots
Canon 1D: ~120,000 shots
Canon 1D Mark II: ~200,000 shots.

These are just what they're rated. Obviously, it can differ drastically depending on how much the camera is used/abused. If you have it cleaned and tuned annually like you're supposed to, supposedly it can last waaaaay longer than they're rated.

This discussion my provide you with more info. I couldn't tell you anything about any of the other brands though.

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fet ... _id=005Y82

-Jerry
http://www.pbase.com/slurve30
http://www.sportsshooter.com/slurve

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:48 pm
by joe56
Once the life of a shutter is reached, what is the average cost for replacement and/or service?

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 6:15 pm
by dsanders6
I have heard $150- for a canon, don't remember which one. But chances are technology makes it that you need a new one.

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:50 pm
by matiasasun
Thanks for the Tips Jerry & the rest. I didn`t knew were to begin asking questions so I decided to start with an open one... Thanks for taking the time to explain this.

For what I have undertood looks like what is going to die earlier is the shutter mechanism. In other way; the mechanical parts are gonna fail sooner than the electronic ones, right? (I mean, in a general way).

Looks like the price is also an important issue. A better(more$$) camera should last longer. Right?

filipdabrowski wrote:Which DSLR? Not all DSLR's are built equal.


Let`s say a Tipical Digital Rebel... Should it last the same as the film ones? (wich could mean that it will last a 10 times less if you shoot --let`s say-- 10 times more with digital)

Thanks in advanced

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:36 pm
by filipdabrowski
A friend of mine, who owned the 300D (Digital Rebel), had the shutter fail on him after 15,000 shots. You have to understand that the 300D is not a top grade camera and the materials that Canon used are a little cheaper than on the more expensive bodies like the 10D, 20D, etc. My friend was actually surprised by this...but that's normal wear and tear. At the end of the day it gave him the chance to upgrade to the 20D without the wife getting angry about it. Anyway, with about 15,000 shots the camera paid for itself quite nicely (compared to the film Rebel where one must think about processing, etc.). But also you have to think about the fact that even when talking about a 300D not all of them are equal...some were made better than others and some, I think, may have had some faults right out of the factory that you, the buyer, don't know about. It's all subjective. Just shoot, don't think about it too much and when the day comes when the shutter (or something else) fails...than it is time for a new camera.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:51 am
by framewerkz
I figure I've taken my D60 (the forerunner of the 10D) through about 80,000 shutter cycles, and it's still operating just fine.

What worries me is the *sound* of the shutter (mirror slap?) of the new 20D. That much noise means that something in there is smashing against something else with some force...

PostPosted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 5:52 pm
by slurve30
Matiasasun -

No problem. Although I hate to say it, I think it's almost always true in general for anything - including cameras - that the "more expensive," the "better."

Remember, when we're buying our Digital Rebels and even our 20Ds, we are buying consumer grade cameras. Not professional models like the Mark II. $150-300 is sounds about right for a Canon shutter replacement though.

Here's an interesting perspective though. I say if you're worrying about blowing out your shutter, you're not using your camera enough :lol:

PostPosted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:49 pm
by billmcintyre
I took 119,000 photos with my Nikon D70 before the shutter died. It was repaired in two weeks under warranty, and I've taken another 70,000 photos in the month that I've had it back.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 11:46 pm
by s9810588
Bill, 70,000 photos in a month = 2300+ photos a day. That D70 is a camera, not an MG-3 machine gun! :D

PostPosted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:28 am
by matiasasun
s9810588 wrote:Bill, 70,000 photos in a month = 2300+ photos a day. That D70 is a camera, not an MG-3 machine gun! :D


2003 a Day
95,3 every hour (without sleeping for a month)
143,7 if you sleep 8 hours a day.
then you took 2,4 pictures every minute of the day.

I don´t know a Machine gun that can do that (and we´ve worked hard to made those things undestructible)... Looks like Digital cameras can take some hard work.

PostPosted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 1:51 pm
by snappingturtle
Just a curious question. How do you guys manage to keep a record on how many shots you took? :shock:


Thanks,

Hugh

PostPosted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 4:22 pm
by s9810588
Hugh, the file naming system of digital cameras normally shows it (or is it some number code in EXIF data). I can't remember the URL but I read on one website how to read all those numbering on photos taken with Canon DSLRs. You can tell how many shutter cycle the camera has done from it.

Kris

PostPosted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:28 am
by phschallenger
framewerkz wrote:What worries me is the *sound* of the shutter (mirror slap?) of the new 20D. That much noise means that something in there is smashing against something else with some force...
Im the proud owner of a 20D. That loudness also pertains to the 1D series. Its the gearing of the mirror, and i also checked. it hits nothing when the mirror moves. just shoot it in bulb mode and check around the mirror. I was thinking this about my insanly loud A1's, then i just checked them and they were fine!