What’s the most economical camera setup for long-term timelapse without wearing out the shutter?
Asked 7/13/2016
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I need a camera for ongoing timelapse capture, taking one photo every 30 seconds to 2 minutes for dataset collection. My Canon T3i failed after a few weeks, likely from shutter wear, so I’m trying to minimize cost per image over a very high number of shots.
Required features:
- manual focus
- automatic exposure/shutter speed as needed
- at least 15 MP
- support for multiple exposures/HDR
Would it be more economical to buy a higher-end DSLR with a higher rated shutter life, or a cheaper entry-level body and replace it when it wears out? Would mirrorless be a better option for this use, especially if it can avoid mechanical shutter wear? Also, is replacing the shutter assembly typically a practical option compared with replacing the whole camera body?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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Going mirrorless enables you to use a purely electronic shutter. Most Fuji and many Panasonic ones have a menu option to select between Electronic, Mechanical or Hybrid shutter. When enabling the electronic only mode, the shutter-speed range often shifts, so check to see if that is suitable for you. For example, Olympus uses a 1/8s limit for the electronic shutter in their OM-D E-M10 Mark II while Fuji has a 1s limit in they X-Pro2. In the other side, you can reach 1/32000s.
More economical would probably be a Nikon 1 series mirrorless. All of that series have an electronic shutter. Of course, if you already have Canon gear, you can consider their mirrorless plus an adapter for your lenses. An M10 goes for $450 USD now. Although I am not sure if it lets you choose a shutter type, so check before buying.
Replacing a shutter is possible and actually fairly common for cameras used by professionals. It costs depends on the model but for an entry-level DSLR, expect to be 1/3 or so of the camera price just for the shutter! It becomes more worth if for higher end cameras which makes the whole thing not cheap in if you expect to do it often.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For this use, mirrorless is likely the most economical direction because many models can use a fully electronic shutter, which greatly reduces or avoids mechanical shutter wear during timelapse.
Several Fuji and many Panasonic bodies offer electronic, mechanical, or hybrid shutter modes. Nikon 1 series bodies also use an electronic shutter, making them worth considering for high-shot-count timelapse. If you already own Canon lenses, a Canon mirrorless body plus an adapter may also make sense, but verify that the specific model lets you select electronic shutter.
The main caution is that electronic shutter modes can have limits. On some cameras, the available shutter-speed range changes in electronic mode, so check that the range suits your lighting and interval setup.
Based on the answers provided, choosing a mirrorless body with a usable electronic shutter is a better strategy than simply buying a DSLR with a higher mechanical shutter rating. A higher-rated DSLR shutter may last longer, but it still wears mechanically. If minimizing cost per frame is the goal, reducing mechanical actuation is the key advantage.
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