How long does a camera usually last?

Simple question.

a) about how many shutters am I good until?
b) How fast does the value usually drop?


I'm planning on saving up for either a 5D/5D2 or even something like a 1D3, but then I'm only a young hobbyist so I don't have any incoming money for this hobby, so say if I got the 5DII,
- how long would I have it for before it dies on me?
- After like 3-4 years how much would it be worth in case I need to suddenly sell it?

Thinking if it's "worth it", or am I better off getting something cheap like an used 50D to settle because I can't afford buying a new $2500+ camera every so often.


Thanks!

xxxD - ~50k
xxD - 100k
7D/5D = 150k
1D/1Ds = 300k

But thats just MTF doesnt mean a thing.

1) It will last for as long as it will last, there is no set number.
2) Each camera is different, it depends how much of a cult following there may still be for that particular body, but I would say based on the 5Dc, the 5DII will probably bring around $1600 after 3-4 years from now, which is about $500 below the current used prices.

What do you shoot? How is your 450D letting you down? What do you wish it did better? Or do you just want to upgrade because you want a 5D or 1D (that's OK too) ?

BTW I shot 50k on my 350D with no worries.

hpulley wrote in post #10839871
What do you shoot? How is your 450D letting you down? What do you wish it did better? Or do you just want to upgrade because you want a 5D or 1D (that's OK too) ?

Oh, it's just an upgrade urge and I'm aware ide need new lenses, no problem with that as well. I shoot mainly people and random stuff I find interesting when I'm walking around and as soon as I get a Macro lens I'll get into Macro, really interested in that

OK the numbers look pretty good to me, not worried at all. Though 5 months of using my XSI I already have 19k shutters so I'm a bit nervous

There's many different answers, it depends on what you mean by "last".
If you are talking shutter life, that depends.
The most common thing to go wrong is the shutter.
A shutter can die at any time - 200 actuations or 200,000 actuations or maybe more and anywhere in between.
It also depends on how much you use it. If you don't use it very much and only take say 5000 shots a year, then it might be 20 years or more (based on 100,000 mean actuations) before the shutter goes so your camera will last 20 years. If you do 50000 frames a year, it might only be two to three years before you are looking at a new shutter.
Most people upgrade their camera simply because they want the latest and greatest, not because their is something wrong with their camera body.
Lenses, if they are looked after will last for many years.
The oldest lens I have is a non IS 300/2.8 made in 1999. (this give me an idea for a thread)
I know someone who regularly uses a 40 year old manual focus lens on his Pentax.
I would suggest that there are people on this forum who also use lenses of similar vintage.
There are too many other variables to this answer which I'll leave to others to mention.

As for your other question, about depreciation...a good rule of thumb is that a body will lose about 1/3 of its value for each year, and even more when a new model is released.
This is only a guide and will depend on the model.

As an example, I bought my 10D (body only) brand new in August 2004 for Au$3000. In September '04, Canon released the 20D. It instantly devalued my brand new camera by about $1000.
Today a 10D in excellent condition (if you can find one) will bring about Au$350 on a good day with a tail wind.

Canon Life expectancy chart here.

The 450/500 and presumably 550D are rated for 100,000.

Unless you take a ridiculous amount of pictures, you'll probably upgrade before you wear it out. At least I expect this to be true in my case.

Deep Pocket wrote in post #10839924
Though 5 months of using my XSI I already have 19k shutters so I'm a bit nervous

well 19k shutters, but how many are actual keepers?

as you get used to it more, you'll shoot less and less non-keepers and shutter count wont go up nearly as fast.

HyperYagami wrote in post #10840125
well 19k shutters, but how many are actual keepers?

as you get used to it more, you'll shoot less and less non-keepers and shutter count wont go up nearly as fast.

Not many
I used to spam clicks back then when I was first still learning, but now if I'm careful I get many keepers, except when my lenses decide to miss focus sometimes when I'm indoors

Thanks for all the help guys, I'm thinking I should be fine

My old 1969 vintage Nikon F is still going strong.. It's all battered and bruised from a tumble off a crane track < long story