Shutter count?

Moropo · 09-19-2014, 06:37 AM

So I'm new to DSLR's and just saw this term being used. Common sense dictates it measures how many pictures you have taken with your body. What worried me is that I had no idea the shutter fails after certain count. Meaning since I'm new to taking pictures I take a lot to experiment etc and now I'm afraid I will feel limited to only taking the necessary? Is that a valid worry? Around what shutter count does the body fail (speaking in average terms)? Maybe it's a huge amount and I don't have to worry.

I have a K50 if it matters.

Thanks.

esrandall · 09-19-2014, 06:43 AM

The K-50 is on the hook for a 100k shutter clicks, so I wouldn't worry about it. Like yourself, I'm new to this, too. I've put 13k clicks on my K-50 since February. You'll find that you slow down after a while. I took 500 shots at a tulip festival earlier this year, but I bet I would take maybe 200-300 now. You start getting more discriminate in what you deem worthy of a shot, as you get more practice and familiarity. That's how it's been for me anyway. I would throw limits out the window, and just go for it

Adam · 09-19-2014, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by Moropo

So I'm new to DSLR's and just saw this term being used. Common sense dictates it measures how many pictures you have taken with your body. What worried me is that I had no idea the shutter fails after certain count. Meaning since I'm new to taking pictures I take a lot to experiment etc and now I'm afraid I will feel limited to only taking the necessary? Is that a valid worry? Around what shutter count does the body fail (speaking in average terms)? Maybe it's a huge amount and I don't have to worry.

I have a K50 if it matters.

Thanks.

The amount of mileage a shutter needs in order to fail (on average) is pretty high. I wouldn't worry too much about your shutter count

**Just1MoreDave** · 09-19-2014, 08:08 AM - **1 Like**

It's not unusual to worry about it. Digital makes it easy to run up the shutter count. The rating is high but it's also an average, like hard drives are rated. So you could be the unlucky victim at 30,000 or go 300,000 without trouble.

The warranty covers the early shutter failures, a year or more. Then it's a race between the repair costs, camera depreciation and technology. In five years, technology will probably advance so you really want the 2019 model, whatever that is, even if the K50 still works fine.

If you are experimenting, the education value offsets the possible cost. Just a couple of photography courses equals the cost of a shutter replacement.

Ilovemypentax · 09-19-2014, 09:21 AM

Is the K3 in the 100K range as well? It has the smoothest, nicest sounding shutter out of all my cams.

esrandall · 09-19-2014, 09:23 AM

Pretty sure it's 200k for the K-3.

Yep -- 200k

https://www.pentaxforums.com/camerareviews/pentax-k-3.html

KevinR · 09-19-2014, 10:52 AM - **1 Like**

As an engineer I can assure you it is very hard to design something mechanical with a good probability of lasting 100k (the rated count) that won't last double that. So very good chance that you will be fine on shutter count.

**Just1MoreDave** · 09-19-2014, 10:58 AM

The upper tier cameras sure have a different sound. Going back to my old camera shocks me sometimes.

I think the first rated shutter was in the K10D. It went along with the weather sealing. Then the ratings were only for the upper-tier cameras for a while.

VisualDarkness · 09-19-2014, 11:53 AM

Shoot and don't worry!

**david94903** · 09-19-2014, 12:14 PM

My K20d's shutter count is far in excess of it's predicted 100K range. Pushing close to 200,000 shutter actuations at this point, with no visible sign of image degradation. So I'd say snap away.

infra4801 · 09-19-2014, 01:21 PM

I would agree with all the comments above. There are other things that will fail before a Pentax shutter will, such as your original SD card, maybe your flash gun, or the SDM in a lens... and definitely your phone!!
So no, I would not worry about it. If you are going to refrain from "shooting away", do so only because then you'll have to sort through a lot of photos, not because your shutter will fail.

jack002 · 09-20-2014, 02:07 PM

I'm guessing the shutter count is in the filename? Mine is 248-3186, so my camera has 3186 shots on it?

VisualDarkness · 09-20-2014, 02:29 PM - **1 Like**

Filename can be wrong, very wrong. Check this instead: Check Shutter Count & Camera Manufacture Date Online - EXIF Reader

esrandall · 09-20-2014, 07:00 PM

That number resets at 9999 in my K-50. Mine currently says 2566 (or something like that) and when I checked with the PF onsite checker, my number was right around the 12600 mark.

09-19-2014, 06:37 AM	#1
Moropo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 131	Shutter count? So I'm new to DSLR's and just saw this term being used. Common sense dictates it measures how many pictures you have taken with your body. What worried me is that I had no idea the shutter fails after certain count. Meaning since I'm new to taking pictures I take a lot to experiment etc and now I'm afraid I will feel limited to only taking the necessary? Is that a valid worry? Around what shutter count does the body fail (speaking in average terms)? Maybe it's a huge amount and I don't have to worry. I have a K50 if it matters. Thanks.

09-19-2014, 06:58 AM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Originally posted by Moropo So I'm new to DSLR's and just saw this term being used. Common sense dictates it measures how many pictures you have taken with your body. What worried me is that I had no idea the shutter fails after certain count. Meaning since I'm new to taking pictures I take a lot to experiment etc and now I'm afraid I will feel limited to only taking the necessary? Is that a valid worry? Around what shutter count does the body fail (speaking in average terms)? Maybe it's a huge amount and I don't have to worry. I have a K50 if it matters. Thanks. The amount of mileage a shutter needs in order to fail (on average) is pretty high. I wouldn't worry too much about your shutter count Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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09-19-2014, 06:43 AM	#2
esrandall Closed Account Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sumner, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 965	The K-50 is on the hook for a 100k shutter clicks, so I wouldn't worry about it. Like yourself, I'm new to this, too. I've put 13k clicks on my K-50 since February. You'll find that you slow down after a while. I took 500 shots at a tulip festival earlier this year, but I bet I would take maybe 200-300 now. You start getting more discriminate in what you deem worthy of a shot, as you get more practice and familiarity. That's how it's been for me anyway. I would throw limits out the window, and just go for it

09-19-2014, 08:08 AM - 1 Like	#4
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	It's not unusual to worry about it. Digital makes it easy to run up the shutter count. The rating is high but it's also an average, like hard drives are rated. So you could be the unlucky victim at 30,000 or go 300,000 without trouble. The warranty covers the early shutter failures, a year or more. Then it's a race between the repair costs, camera depreciation and technology. In five years, technology will probably advance so you really want the 2019 model, whatever that is, even if the K50 still works fine. If you are experimenting, the education value offsets the possible cost. Just a couple of photography courses equals the cost of a shutter replacement.

09-19-2014, 09:21 AM	#5
Ilovemypentax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 121	Is the K3 in the 100K range as well? It has the smoothest, nicest sounding shutter out of all my cams.

09-19-2014, 09:23 AM	#6
esrandall Closed Account Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sumner, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 965	Pretty sure it's 200k for the K-3. Yep -- 200k https://www.pentaxforums.com/camerareviews/pentax-k-3.html

09-19-2014, 10:52 AM - 1 Like	#7
KevinR Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 653	As an engineer I can assure you it is very hard to design something mechanical with a good probability of lasting 100k (the rated count) that won't last double that. So very good chance that you will be fine on shutter count.

09-19-2014, 10:58 AM	#8
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	The upper tier cameras sure have a different sound. Going back to my old camera shocks me sometimes. I think the first rated shutter was in the K10D. It went along with the weather sealing. Then the ratings were only for the upper-tier cameras for a while.

09-19-2014, 11:53 AM	#9
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Shoot and don't worry!

09-19-2014, 12:14 PM	#10
david94903 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Rafael, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 806	My K20d's shutter count is far in excess of it's predicted 100K range. Pushing close to 200,000 shutter actuations at this point, with no visible sign of image degradation. So I'd say snap away.

09-19-2014, 01:21 PM	#11
infra4801 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 55	I would agree with all the comments above. There are other things that will fail before a Pentax shutter will, such as your original SD card, maybe your flash gun, or the SDM in a lens... and definitely your phone!! So no, I would not worry about it. If you are going to refrain from "shooting away", do so only because then you'll have to sort through a lot of photos, not because your shutter will fail.

09-20-2014, 02:07 PM	#12
jack002 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Missouri Photos: Albums Posts: 727	I'm guessing the shutter count is in the filename? Mine is 248-3186, so my camera has 3186 shots on it?

09-20-2014, 02:29 PM - 1 Like	#13
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Filename can be wrong, very wrong. Check this instead: Check Shutter Count & Camera Manufacture Date Online - EXIF Reader

09-20-2014, 07:00 PM	#14
esrandall Closed Account Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sumner, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 965	That number resets at 9999 in my K-50. Mine currently says 2566 (or something like that) and when I checked with the PF onsite checker, my number was right around the 12600 mark.