So much for Canon shutter lifespans.....

My 1DS3 had a problem during some weddings in that every second image I took was black.

Turns out the shutter needed replacing. For me this is a big red flag to leave Canon considering the shutter count......

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I agree; everyone knows that Nikon cameras never have any failures.

PixelMagic wrote in post #12338591
I agree; everyone knows that Nikon cameras never have any failures.

There's a big difference between 60k and 250k and considering I had a 40D that failed at 17k actuations it makes you wonder.

i must live a charmed life...my 30D had over 80K actuations when i sold it, my used 5D is easily near 100K and i would think my 5D2 is close to 100K as well.

That's not good! Did you got any explanation from them as to how a shutter rated at 250k fail at 50k?

So you had a shutter let go at just shy of 60k. It happens. You're not the first and won't be the last.
Plenty of people on this forum have had a shutter go at much less than that, and even more have had them go at way beyond that and their estimated life expectancy. It's NOT a guaranteed number.
It's the luck of the draw.
I've done three. Fortunately, the two on my 10D were well beyond the rated life - about 160k and 120k. My 1D MkII was just shy of the 200k rating. I got lucky, you didn't - move on.
The fact is, most people will upgrade or get rid of their camera way before the shutter lets go, so for them, it's a non issue.
A shutter is a mechanical part and can fail at anytime - expect that it will happen.
Just like driving a car - expect that at some stage you will have a crash.
You hope it doesn't happen, but it can.
Do you switch brands because you crashed?
Usually not would be my guess.

If you feel better making the switch to Nikon, go ahead.
You'll be disappointed to find that the same thing probably applies.

Don't place too much emphasis on me moving to Nikon but it's things like this that make me consider trying another vendor.

The 1D series is a professional camera, for professionals to use. The shutter isn't supposed to fail so quickly. I've also got a Pixma PRo 9000 mkII less than 6 months old in front of me as well that isn't pulling the CD's into the printer.

This 1DS3 cost £5000 when new and I was halfway through 4 weddings back to back over the Easter weekend. I paid for reliability not this.

I've asked the technician to call me regarding this. 60k is nothing for a 1D series....or so you'd think.

keyframe14 wrote in post #12338623
That's not good! Did you got any explanation from them as to how a shutter rated at 250k fail at 50k?

I think one of the worst things Canon, and all camera manufacturers, did was publish their MTBF numbers. The shutter is not really rated for 250K. The number is just telling you that 1/2 of the cameras will do better than 250k and 1/2 will not. The shutter can fail at any time from the first click to the millionth click.

I'd probably switch companies if my shutter failed first click..but 60k sounds understandable.

Yep, it should have lasted longer. So should your other one. You might be extremely unlucky or there might be an underlying cause for this to happen to two cameras that you owned. Most have much longer life. I'm tending to think it's not a Canon specific problem you're having.

gjl711 wrote in post #12338747
I think one of the worst things Canon, and all camera manufacturers, did was publish their MTBF numbers. The shutter is not really rated for 250K. The number is just telling you that 1/2 of the cameras will do better than 250k and 1/2 will not. The shutter can fail at any time from the first click to the millionth click.

I have to agree.
It's only in the digital age that people have become obsessed with shutters, shutter counts and actuations.
I don't ever recall anyone I regularly shoot with talk about shutter life, and even now they still don't, but it's an obsession on the interweb.

luciddreamer wrote in post #12338792
Yep, it should have lasted longer. So should your other one. You might be extremely unlucky or there might be an underlying cause for this to happen to two cameras that you owned. Most have much longer life. I'm tending to think it's not a Canon specific problem you're having.

I do ride a Rodeo Bull at weddings. That won't help it I guess

I was thinking dirt getting in there. But rodeo bulls might be it too. Who knows, could be some environmental thing. Something getting in there making it sticky or corroding.. whatever. I'm guessing you'd have the same problem with another brand is all I'm saying.

philwillmedia wrote in post #12338659
A shutter is a mechanical part and can fail at anytime - expect that it will happen. Just like driving a car - expect that at some stage you will have a crash. You hope it doesn't happen, but it can.
Do you switch brands because you crashed?
Usually not would be my guess.

if you crashed because the brakes failed with 15K on the odometer, yes i would switch.


if you crashed because of human error and not a mechanical failure, that's a different analogy.

What's spooked me the most was not knowing.

I thought to myself that if the 1DS3 failed I would always have the 1D4, which is fine but with two public holidays over Easter and the 1DS3 failing on Good Friday with two weddings to go the thought that the 1D4 could of failed too is a bit scary.