Do digital SLR cameras have a life expectancy?

Question

Do digital SLR cameras have a life expectancy?

Answer 1

Hi DK.    The answer to your question is "Yes",  even though the manufacturers are doing their best to build them to the highest of standards.    From my conversations with both Nikon and Canon they explained that the camera's shutters have a limited life expectancy.  You can expect the lower end models like the Nikon D40/60/70/80 and the Canon EOS Rebels have a significant lower (70,000 to 90,000) shutter life (actuations) than do the Nikon D100/200/300 and the Canon 20D/30D/40D.   The professional models of both Nikon and Canon are claimed to have from 150,000 actuactions to 250,000.    I have seen shutters fail without rhyme or reason... they just go out.   The shutters can be replaced by sending the cameras back to the manufacturer... the cost to replace is significant but sometimes not as much as investing in another camera.  Of course,  we ourselves sometimes shorten the digital SLR's camera's life  when we leave it in a hot vehicle,  expose it to sand, dust or grit,  drop it in the water,  trust the kids with it, ignore Warning! codes,  try to do our own repairs....   I have seen all of those examples and more.     Some that can be repaired and some that are beyond all hope.

Answer 2

RJS1121 nailed it.

I have many different Nikon bodies, 35 mm and DSLR's.

I have an old F4 that has had literally miles and miles of film through it ... just this past month the shutter finally quit working ... this after many years of service ... I love the camera and it will have many more years of service once I get the shutter repaired.

I have one of the first D100's and it has just over 180,000 shutter cycles and is still making perfect exposures.

It all is really based upon how well you treat the camera as well as luck.

The good news is that before your shutter wears out, you will have long  before upgraded to a newer version.  Pros change camera bodies about every 18 to 24 months, amateurs about every four to five years ... at no time will the shutter life be much of an issue.