[kjfishman]

If buying a used Pentax DSLR what is considered high mileage / shuter count?

[monochrome]

For modern Pentax DSLr's I beleive 50,000 approaches the limit where the probability of failure increases. Generally shutters last 100.000 actuations. There are plenty of examples over 200,000 without problems.

[Coeurdechene]

It really depends on the model you're looking at...An entry level camera will have a shorter life expectancy than a pro or semi-pro body...and the numbers vary very much depending on the source of the information (since life expectancy is only a guideline).
For an entry model 50000 is a widely considered number (although for the Kx some places consider around 40000), 100000 for a semipro and over 200000 for a pro body...
Depending on the price and the shuter count you can consider a couple hundred bucks extra just in case the shutter dies on you (wich is a question of luck really). Look at the overall condition of the camera, the model and it's price new (since you can find models like the kx or even the k20D new for amazing prices with the guarantee and all).
Good luck.

[jatrax]

Both k-x and k-5 are rated for 100,000 actuations. If I was buying used then I would consider anything under 20,000 to be just fine. Over 20,000 I would start to argue price based on the useable life of the camera. But nothing wrong with 50,000 or more if you get the right price.

[reddmutt1898]

How do you check your camera for the number of actuations it has had?

[Steinback]

An EXIF reader (PhotoME, etc) should give you a reasonably accurate value for total lifetime actuations of the body so long as it hasn't been factory reset at some point. Take a photo and then open it in the reader to see all the metadata.

[ducdao]

How do you check your camera for the number of actuations it has had?

Go to myshuttercount.com or this forum has its own checker as well.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/pages/check-shutter-count-exif.html

[reddmutt1898]

Thank you Steinback.