Shutter Count

ABCDE · 27th October 2005

Can anyone advice on how much it is for Nikon Service Centre to check on the shutter count on a DSLR (eg D100).

Thank you.

espn · 27th October 2005

Should be counted as general servicing, $30 labour charge IIRC, before GST.

Fella · 27th October 2005

Btw, what's the big deal on shutter count?

Are cams so unreliable nowadays that they will fail after a certain number of shutter counts??

espn · 27th October 2005

It's a hype, worry before it happens.

If I can quote fellow CSer harlequin...

"MTL!!! Shoot first, talk later!"

Andy Ho · 28th October 2005

Originally Posted by Fella

Btw, what's the big deal on shutter count?
Are cams so unreliable nowadays that they will fail after a certain number of shutter counts??

Yes it is important if you are buying a second hand camera. Unlike pro cameras which have a shutter lifespan of about 150,000 to 200,000 cycles, an amatuer camera has an average lifespan of only about 40,000 cycles. Even if the shutter happened to be durable enough, the CCD or CMOS might have a problem after about 80,000 cycles although I am not so sure if this figure applies to higher end cameras as well. Take note that changing the CCD or CMOS is not cheap.

For any one who is only shooting for fun this figures might seem irrelevant but for any seasoned professional photographers in the market this figures are easily reached. The 2 months that my new Nikon D2X is with me and I have already put through 8,000 images if you know what I mean. This is not very high figure for a full-time photographer and that is considering the fact that I am still using my D100 as well.

Artosoft · 28th October 2005

Originally Posted by Andy Ho

Yes it is important if you are buying a second hand camera. Unlike pro cameras which have a shutter lifespan of about 150,000 to 200,000 cycles, an amatuer camera has an average lifespan of only about 40,000 cycles. Even if the shutter happened to be durable enough, the CCD or CMOS might have a problem after about 80,000 cycles although I am not so sure if this figure applies to higher end cameras as well. Take note that changing the CCD or CMOS is not cheap.

For any one who is only shooting for fun this figures might seem irrelevant but for any seasoned professional photographers in the market this figures are easily reached. The 2 months that my new Nikon D2X is with me and I have already put through 8,000 images if you know what I mean. This is not very high figure for a full-time photographer and that is considering the fact that I am still using my D100 as well.

We can't see it. So I need to count it myself and sell my D70s before 40,000 shutter count

.

Regards,
Arto.

espn · 28th October 2005

Shutter count life is only a guage of how long the shutter can go without calibration to ensure the shutter is performing at the correct speeds. It doesn't mean when it hits 50K, whammo! The shutter cracks. And also, DSLRs like D50/D70/D100 never had their shutter 'life' documented hard.

The estimated for the professional bodies is 150K, but the F5 which hit a million shots before the shutter was deemed inaccurate has proven not all shutter dies after abusing, rather how accurate they can be.

Andy, I know of people who can put thousands thru their D2X/D2H in just one day. 8000 in two months is nothing

To me shutter life is nothing to worry about, I would worry more on the sensor as mentioned however, changing of shutter is affordable, for the D2H it's only about $400 IIRC. The sensor is something more practical to use as a guage. As long as the images come out fine, shutter is nothing to worry about.

Andy Ho · 28th October 2005

espn, I know I know, I don't buy 2nd hand cameras for DSLR anyway but I can understand why some people are concerned about shutter count.

I guess they just want to be sure the 2nd hand camera has a certain lifespan before throwing down the money. What you don't want to see is after throwing let's say 1.2k for a 2nd hand D100 and have the shutter or CCD fail on you, and worst still, both failing together. The recalibration of shutter and changing of CCD will cost you a bomb, and adding the price you pay for the 2nd hand camera you would be better off buying a brand new D70s.

I must admit that my D100 had gone through about 90,000 shots and is still going strong but that does not mean it applies to all D100. As what the Nikon rep told me, I am lucky.

When I quoted the figure of 40,000 shots for amatuer camera I am just being conservative. In fact the Nikon rep told me 30,000 shots for the D100.

Andy Ho · 28th October 2005

Originally Posted by Artosoft

We can't see it. So I need to count it myself and sell my D70s before 40,000 shutter count .

Regards,
Arto.

You don't have to see it. Just send it to Nikon to get the shutter count verified. The counter is built into the chip

vkashi · 28th October 2005

why no one suggests opanda for checking shutter count? its simple, its free!
http://www.opanda.com/en/iexif/

espn · 28th October 2005

Originally Posted by Andy Ho

When I quoted the figure of 40,000 shots for amatuer camera I am just being conservative. In fact the Nikon rep told me 30,000 shots for the D100.

My side, Nikon refuse to admit or commit any number even

Andy Ho · 28th October 2005

Nikon rep did not exactly commit any numbers to me but he told me the shutter should start to give problems by about the 3rd cycle the file naming hits 9999 frames.

Assuming you are shooting on folder 100 from DSC_0001.JPG to DSC_9999.JPG and continuing on to folder 101 DSC_0001.JPG to DSC_9999.JPG, I should start having problems by the folder number 102 or 103. That is what I do to keep track of my rough shutter count.

27th October 2005	#1
ABCDE Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 76	Shutter Count Can anyone advice on how much it is for Nikon Service Centre to check on the shutter count on a DSLR (eg D100). Thank you.

27th October 2005	#2
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	Re: Shutter Count Should be counted as general servicing, $30 labour charge IIRC, before GST.

27th October 2005	#3
Fella Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 704	Re: Shutter Count Btw, what's the big deal on shutter count? Are cams so unreliable nowadays that they will fail after a certain number of shutter counts??

27th October 2005	#4
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	Re: Shutter Count It's a hype, worry before it happens. If I can quote fellow CSer harlequin... "MTL!!! Shoot first, talk later!"

28th October 2005	#7
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	Re: Shutter Count Shutter count life is only a guage of how long the shutter can go without calibration to ensure the shutter is performing at the correct speeds. It doesn't mean when it hits 50K, whammo! The shutter cracks. And also, DSLRs like D50/D70/D100 never had their shutter 'life' documented hard. The estimated for the professional bodies is 150K, but the F5 which hit a million shots before the shutter was deemed inaccurate has proven not all shutter dies after abusing, rather how accurate they can be. Andy, I know of people who can put thousands thru their D2X/D2H in just one day. 8000 in two months is nothing To me shutter life is nothing to worry about, I would worry more on the sensor as mentioned however, changing of shutter is affordable, for the D2H it's only about $400 IIRC. The sensor is something more practical to use as a guage. As long as the images come out fine, shutter is nothing to worry about.

28th October 2005	#8
Andy Ho Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Punggol Posts: 408	Re: Shutter Count espn, I know I know, I don't buy 2nd hand cameras for DSLR anyway but I can understand why some people are concerned about shutter count. I guess they just want to be sure the 2nd hand camera has a certain lifespan before throwing down the money. What you don't want to see is after throwing let's say 1.2k for a 2nd hand D100 and have the shutter or CCD fail on you, and worst still, both failing together. The recalibration of shutter and changing of CCD will cost you a bomb, and adding the price you pay for the 2nd hand camera you would be better off buying a brand new D70s. I must admit that my D100 had gone through about 90,000 shots and is still going strong but that does not mean it applies to all D100. As what the Nikon rep told me, I am lucky. When I quoted the figure of 40,000 shots for amatuer camera I am just being conservative. In fact the Nikon rep told me 30,000 shots for the D100.

28th October 2005	#10
vkashi Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: university! Posts: 258	Re: Shutter Count why no one suggests opanda for checking shutter count? its simple, its free! http://www.opanda.com/en/iexif/

28th October 2005	#12
Andy Ho Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Punggol Posts: 408	Re: Shutter Count Nikon rep did not exactly commit any numbers to me but he told me the shutter should start to give problems by about the 3rd cycle the file naming hits 9999 frames. Assuming you are shooting on folder 100 from DSC_0001.JPG to DSC_9999.JPG and continuing on to folder 101 DSC_0001.JPG to DSC_9999.JPG, I should start having problems by the folder number 102 or 103. That is what I do to keep track of my rough shutter count.