Does shutter count apply only to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, and only to mechanical shutters?
Asked 6/15/2012
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When buying a used camera, people often ask for the shutter count or shutter actuations. Is that only relevant for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, or can point-and-shoot cameras have a shutter count too? Also, is shutter count only tied to cameras with a mechanical shutter, or can cameras without a traditional mechanical shutter report a count as well?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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Shutter actuations apply to any camera with a mechanical shutter. This means nearly all cameras except the Nikon 1 J1.
This is just the number of time the shutter opened and closed. Since the shutter is one of the most delicate mechanical parts, it makes some sense to measure how many times it was used and compare it to the expectancy set by the manufacturer.
Smaller cameras probably have a count somewhere but is usually not accessible and there is nothing to compare it against because the shutter-expectancy is not rated either. I have no idea whether this is because small shutters are less fragile or are not expected to be used that much.
The truth is that any other mechanical part will fail from use. Should we ask for an aperture actuation count when buying a lens? Or flash discharges? All those parts will fail after some use. So, the shutter-count is probably one indicator of camera use among many.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
14y ago
0
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Shutter count is most directly meaningful on cameras with a mechanical shutter, because it literally tracks how many times that mechanism has operated. That’s why it’s commonly discussed for used interchangeable-lens cameras.
But it is not limited to DSLRs and mirrorless models. Some point-and-shoot cameras also expose a shutter count. The bigger difference is that on many compact cameras the count may be harder to access, and manufacturers often do not publish a shutter-life rating, so the number is less useful for comparison.
Also, a reported count is not always proof of a traditional mechanical shutter. Some cameras without a conventional mechanical shutter may still expose a count or other usage information. In those cases, it’s better to treat the number as a general wear indicator rather than a direct measure of mechanical shutter life.
So: no, shutter count is not only for DSLR/mirrorless cameras, and yes, it is most closely associated with mechanical shutters, but it is not exclusively limited to them.
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