Is replacing a Canon 5D Mark III shutter usually cheaper than buying new?
Asked 5/31/2017
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I'm comparing a new Canon 5D Mark III with a heavily used one that saves about £700 but has over 100,000 shutter actuations. Since the shutter is rated for around 150,000 actuations, I'm wondering whether a shutter replacement is possible and whether it would typically cost less than the £700 savings. Are there other wear-and-tear or repair costs I should factor in when buying a used body with a high shutter count?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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I don't know what it costs to replace a 5D Mark III shutter in the UK. If the work is done by a Canon Service Center in the U.S. it runs around $320 before any discounts, such as CPS (Canon Professional Services) membership, are applied. Any applicable shipping charges would be additional (with most CPS membership levels return shipping is free - with the highest level Platinum membership shipping is free both ways). If the mirror box needs to be replaced as well the cost for both the shutter and mirror box will be about twice the cost of a shutter alone.
At least here in the U.S. it is far more affordable to deal directly with the Canon Service Center than to go through a local Canon authorized dealer who usually just ships your camera to the Service Center for you and doubles the cost of your repair. There are a few Canon authorized service centers (not owned by Canon but their technicians are certified by Canon) in the U.S. as well.
The there's the DIY method that is not for the faint of heart. This article is for a 5D Mark II. The 5D Mark III would be similar but many of the specifics would be different (location and number of screws, ribbon cables, etc.).
Many 5D Mark III bodies go well beyond 150,000 shutter actuations before the shutter needs to be replaced. Of those reported to Oleg Kikin's shutter life database, the average 5D Mark III with a good shutter has 221,628 actuations on it. Of those reported to have failed, the average was at 187,379 clicks. Note that such a survey usually includes a disproportionate number of failures, as those who have a failed shutter are more likely to look for such a site. The Kaplan-Meier estimate applied to the numbers from the submitted reports for the 5D Mark III indicate you have a better than 3 out of 4 chance of making it to 500,000 shutter actuations before it fails.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
9y ago
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Yes. A Canon 5D Mark III shutter can be replaced, and based on the answers provided it would usually cost far less than a £700 price difference. One UK authorised Canon repair centre quoted about £210 including parts and labour for a shutter replacement, with shipping or insured courier costs extra. A U.S. Canon service estimate mentioned roughly $320 for shutter replacement, with significantly more if the mirror box also needs replacement.
So if the used body is genuinely £700 cheaper, a shutter replacement alone would normally still leave you ahead.
That said, the 150k figure is a durability rating, not a guaranteed failure point. The shutter may last well beyond that, or fail earlier.
The bigger risk with a heavily used body is other wear and tear, especially if there is no warranty. Possible additional costs could include mirror box issues, shipping/insurance for service, and any unrelated faults that come with an older, well-used camera. If buying used, it’s sensible to get a quote from an authorised Canon service centre and weigh the lower purchase price against repair risk and lack of warranty.
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