A40 camera life

[kkunitak]

I bought an A40 as my first digital camera about a year ago, and I have been pretty happy with the results so far. However, as this is my first camera, I have no idea how long a digital camera should last.

So far I have taken about 2400 pictures on it, and, aside from a problem with focusing in low-light conditions, it's been great.

Assuming I don't drop this camera or otherwise abuse it, how many pictures should I expect to take before something breaks? 5000? 10000? Anyone take more than that? If something did break, what was it?

Thanks!
Koichi

[stopbath]

It's tough to say how long an electronic camera will last. Not only will exposure to dust, humidity, smoke, heat, moisture, and impact lessen it's life in varying amounts, the electronics may fail due to fatigue. The mechanics can also fail (they are made much more light and fragile then the heavy metal bodys of 50 years ago.)

All that, with proper care, the camera could very well become a second camera or be passed on to someone else before it fails.

There may well be a MTBF (mean time before failure)rating for the camera, but it's main use is determining the expected life between brands, and is only a rough ballpark and does not include such things as environment, abuse and other influences. If there is a MTBF rating it is likely in the hundreds of thousands range, I don't know. Check with Canon.

[kkunitak]

Thanks...
I guess the camera will last long enough that it will probably be obsolete before it fails, in which case the question is pretty much moot. I have a feeling that I'll get a new camera in a couple of years, (maybe 5000 pictures from now), so this question was asked more out of curiosity than anything else.

Koichi

[stopbath]

Basically, the rule for keeping electronic gadgets is to store them at room temperature, and out of extremes.

The saying "Take care of it, and it'll take care of you" applies more with these cameras than the all metal contruction cameras from many many years ago.

It should easily last another 5000 shots.

[stduc]

I got 2 1/2 years and 9000 shots out of my A20 before it went 'funny'. It still works, but shots are tinged a tad on the red side and if you use zoom it always takes the shot at f4, 2 seconds - which isn't a lot of use. The red tint developed over shots 8500 onwards but I didn't notice it until around shot 8750 and the zoom problem happened with a 'bang' that confused the hell out of me at the time. I now have an A70. No problems to date and about 2500 shots in.

[Ikinaa]

Hi,

my first digital camera was a canon ixus 300, 2 years old this month ;) . Last week the counter completed the loop (10000 pictures taken).
I took the camera with me everywhere, but protected it well also. The first thing I bought, was the original bag for the camera, never left it in the hot car, not in the sun, rain or any other climatic condition. Always kept it with me.
And it still works as new.
I hope that the G3 I bought 2 months ago (1500 photos taken til now) will stay in such a perfect condition.

[stduc]

P.S.

My A20 had a hard life. Dropped, baked, frozen, soaked (heavy mist etc) vibro massaged in planes, boats, trains and especiall car boots (trunks!). - So it did quite well really - just missed the clock but it's got there now - counter is on 10. Still takes a good no zoom flash shot!!!!

[dirtfan79]

I use my A40 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at our local dirt tracks taking Dirt Late Model photos and i love my camera hope its around along time!! Only thing that kinda stinks is no other available flash for it so i ended up buying a Sunpack sysnch flash. it goes off when the cameras flash goes off and works AWESOME!!.

Check out some of my photos with the A40

http://billsdirtlatemodels.com/raceway7_extreme.htm

http://billsdirtlatemodels.com/stars_5-25_mcr.htm