Number of Shots Per Camera

[cargo123]

I was talking with a photographer that shoots for the Associated Press. He was using a fuji S2 and stated after so many shots the shutter button breaks. I have a new Canon 20D and have about 3000 pictures over the last month experimenting with it. How many shots can you get out of a 20D before the button fails? Are they repairable?

[Jackal]

The button will not fail.

The shutter eventually will. I can't say what the estimated numbers are as I am not too sure.

[tim]

The MTBF for the 20D shutter is around 50,000 actuations IIRC. By then I figure i'll have replaced the 20D with something else.

[pradeep1]

50,000 actuations is 137 photos everyday for a year.

[Jackal]

Heh, how about the 350D?

[merrrrjig]

I heard the rebel is like 18,000 pics! I have had my 20D since X-mas and have taken around 7000 pics!

[2goldens]

I have heard that it is about 50,000. I saw the same question not long ago and many people came up with the same answer.

[robertwgross]

I heard that same thing on the Internet, so it must be true! Not.

---Bob Gross---

[22littlereasons]

I'm up to 30,000 + on my 10D and haven't noticed anything in terms of degrading performance. I'm sure when my shutter fails I will get it repaired - although it would be a good excuse to upgrade wouldn't it? *s*

[Simon Harrison]

The shutter on my 10D lasted for 65,000 shots (approx). I understand that the 20D is supposed to be a little more durable than the 10D. Is that correct?

Simon.

[c_h_x]

My Rebel's shutter died around 35k over 1 year.

[tpinchback]

Taken around 45k in about 4 months with 20d with no problems with the shutter. Only about 3 error 99's.

[Jon]

Err 99
Err 99 doesn't necessarily mean a shutter problem. It's a catch-all that "Something's not working right". Could be the shutter, could be the lens control circuitry, could be the flash . . .

Also remember that shutter life, where it's given, is generally MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure). Until you've taken a statistically-significant sample (more than just one person who posts "my BrandX shutter died after 75 pictures", certainly not less than 100 cameras) you won't be able to determine MTBF for a particular shutter.

[merrrrjig]

Taken around 45k in about 4 months with 20d with no problems with the shutter. Only about 3 error 99's.
my god!! 45k shots in 4 months!!! What do u shoot?

[vinnyveez]

my god!! 45k shots in 4 months!!! What do u shoot?

lmao. good question. thats 375 pics a day, every day, for 4 months straight.

[Jetmech1]

These numbers are only averages, so some will last a long time and some will fail early. That is the way it is with all mechanical and electrical devices. I'm not gong to worry about the #'s, I'm just going to shoot until somethings breaks or I decide to upgrade the camera.

[cargo123]

As a photogrpher of a wedding ( or special event) would I start seeing problems ahead before the actual failure, or is there a possibility it could fail on the spot? What do pros do as a backup? What are the cost to get them repaired, and the time it takes to fix them?

thanks for all your answers.

[LouDawg]

As a photogrpher of a wedding ( or special event) would I start seeing problems ahead before the actual failure, or is there a possibility it could fail on the spot? What do pros do as a backup? What are the cost to get them repaired, and the time it takes to fix them?

thanks for all your answers.

There's always a chance that anythign can fail on the spot. A shutter would most likely fail "on the spot." That's why the pros carry backups for all their equipment, from camera bodies to flash guns to lenses. Always have a backup for everything if possible.