How much longer will 5D last?

I can feel 5D MK iii is on the edge of releasing. I think it's supposed to announce and release in 2012? And Mark ii has been around for exactly 3 years and 11 days.

I wonder how long will my 5D last ? I don't see a need of upgrading to MK2/3 cause I find 5D has everything I desired for a camera. (Actually except the AF part, I wish I could have more than 9 points AF, I want something like Nikon's 51 points cross-type AF system.)

I bought my 5D used from a photographer who used it as a backup camera. Camera doesn't have a date code on it. I am not sure when was the camera manufactured and first bought from store.

Does full-frame sensor have a lifespan? I know shutter has mechanical wear-offs, does sensor have it too? Does other component of the camera have a lifespan too?

if you 'don't see a need of upgrading to MK2/3', then why was this the first line in your post?

The moment the 5D3 is announced, your camera will cease to function. There is a built-in kill switch that activates when the camera is 2-generation's old.

Assuming the camera has not been abused, is not subjected to the elements (water/humidity/sea spray) on vital components, then the camera should continue to function as intended. You'll likely start to see more and more dead/hot pixels over the years. And may have to replace the batteries since they've got a finite lifespan. But overall, the camera can and should continue to work.

gorby wrote in post #13177919
if you 'don't see a need of upgrading to MK2/3', then why was this the first line in your post?

I don't see the need at the moment doesn't eliminate the possibility that I will see it someday in future (When my 5Dc dies)... Well it's just an opening for my concern of 5Dc's aging.

This is why these company's make so much money. People can't resist the temptation of upgrades. Somehow the product you already own is inadequate now that there is something better out there.

This is not only the case with cameras, I see this everyday with people and computers. Do most people need the latest and best computers? No not even close because all they do is browse the internet. I always hear, "Oh if you don't get the best it'll get outdated sooner." Outdated for what? Nobody knows.

You should just use what works for you and not worry about upgrades until the item you are using breaks or limits you from doing something.

Btw everything ages, but that's more from wear and tear than anything. The more you use it the more it wears...That has nothing to do with it being a mark I, II, or III...

TuanTime wrote in post #13177964
This is why these company's make so much money. People can't resist the temptation of upgrades. Somehow the product you already own is inadequate now that there is something better out there.

This is not only the case with cameras, I see this everyday with people and computers. Do most people need the latest and best computers? No not even close because all they do is browse the internet. I always hear, "Oh if you don't get the best it'll get outdated sooner." Outdated for what? Nobody knows.

You should just use what works for you and not worry about upgrades until the item you are using breaks or limits you from doing something.

Btw everything ages, but that's more from wear and tear than anything. The more you use it the more it wears...That has nothing to do with it being a mark I, II, or III...

B..b..but if you stop buying unnecessarily... Capitalism ceases to function and the world collapses.

jwcdds wrote in post #13177983
B..b..but if you stop buying unnecessarily... Capitalism ceases to function and the world collapses.

this is truth.

So anyway to check the age of a camera？ There's date code for lenses, why not for cameras too?

Generally people judge a camera by it's exterior condition as well as shutter count. If it doesn't look beat up and has a relatively low shutter count it's fine. The next time you send the 5d to Canon for cleaning ask for a shutter count, they can probably check when it was manufactured too from the serial number.

I'm thinking I might update my 5D for a 5D2 once the latest is announced (whenever that is). I love my old 5D for the FOV, but I could really use it as a full-on second body better if it had a higher usable ISO.

Like, sometimes I shoot both telephoto and UWA for sports. The 5D would be perfect for that except that I'm shooting ISO 12800 on the 1D4 and so the 5D just doesn't cut it. I think a 5D2 would be a good 2nd body for this. I'm not willing to pay current 5D2 prices for a 2nd body.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I hope Canon is about to release a 5D3, and I hope it is really kick-ass and makes everyone desperate to sell their 5D2.

JeffreyG wrote in post #13179080
I'm thinking I might update my 5D for a 5D2 once the latest is announced (whenever that is). I love my old 5D for the FOV, but I could really use it as a full-on second body better if it had a higher usable ISO.

Like, sometimes I shoot both telephoto and UWA for sports. The 5D would be perfect for that except that I'm shooting ISO 12800 on the 1D4 and so the 5D just doesn't cut it. I think a 5D2 would be a good 2nd body for this. I'm not willing to pay current 5D2 prices for a 2nd body.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I hope Canon is about to release a 5D3, and I hope it is really kick-ass and makes everyone desperate to sell their 5D2.

I'll have to agree with you here. I have a 5Dc and a 5D mark II. I still have the 5Dc because it's such a great bang for the buck FF backup camera. If the mark II drops in price I'm definitely picking one up.

calvinjhfeng wrote in post #13178300
So anyway to check the age of a camera？ There's date code for lenses, why not for cameras too?

I don't remember the details, I just never bothered to fuss with things, but I believe the serial number does have a date factored in.

I bought my 5DC in '07 and it has a serial number that starts with 212.

But, what exactly that means I have no way of knowing!

Maybe someone who "knows stuff" can chime in. Or, maybe there is a Web site you can see how serial numbers and dates line up -- try doing a search using some combination of terms and see what you come up with.

And, if you find something useful, update this thread!

Oh, and my 5D still works great, except it went through the mirror falloff thing earlier this year!