Expected life span of the shutter mechanism of a K20D?

Smirf · 06-02-2009, 05:15 PM

What is the expected number of shots the shutter mechanism can pull off before it can start to fail on the K20D?

I have a GX-20, but I assume its the same parts as the K20D in this case.

Last edited by Smirf; 06-02-2009 at 05:25 PM.

Urkeldaedalus · 06-02-2009, 05:34 PM

I've read that 100,000 shutter actuations is the tested amount for the K20D. Others would probably have more (and better) information than me on this, though, as I am by no means an expert on technical issues.

Smirf · 06-02-2009, 05:37 PM

I've had my camera in five weeks and I've already made around 4500 shots. If I continue at that rate I'll hit 100 K in about 2 years. Bummer

Does anyone know the expected cost of replacing the shutter mechanism?

DAVID564 · 06-02-2009, 05:43 PM

I purchased a K20D as soon as one became available and use the camera
on a daily basis, its been around the globe serveral times, dont know the shutter
count as there is no tally (I think), If you consider the pace of camera inovation
the camera will be out of date long long before the shutter fails, in fact its more
likely to fail through age and lack of use.

want2beyounger · 06-02-2009, 07:16 PM

Originally posted by DAVID564

............. If you consider the pace of camera inovation
the camera will be out of date long long before the shutter fails, .........

My thoughts exactly

Ari · 06-02-2009, 09:14 PM

It's rated for 100,000 actuations. If you're taking just under 1000 shots a week, consider yourself lucky; you have time to pursue either a wonderful hobby or a rewarding profession. I am very jealous!

Originally posted by Smirf

I've had my camera in five weeks and I've already made around 4500 shots. If I continue at that rate I'll hit 100 K in about 2 years. Bummer

Does anyone know the expected cost of replacing the shutter mechanism?

5teve · 06-02-2009, 10:32 PM

Originally posted by Ari

It's rated for 100,000 actuations. If you're taking just under 1000 shots a week, consider yourself lucky; you have time to pursue either a wonderful hobby or a rewarding profession. I am very jealous!

or he is like me... and that bad at photography that he needs to take a thousand shots a week to get a good one

Thanks

Steve

**Ash** · 06-02-2009, 11:04 PM

As you get better at it, you'll find yourself taking less photos but more keepers.
Don't worry, enjoy the process!

Quension · 06-02-2009, 11:19 PM

Originally posted by DAVID564

I purchased a K20D as soon as one became available and use the camera
on a daily basis, its been around the globe serveral times, dont know the shutter
count as there is no tally (I think)

It's recorded in the image metadata; see this thread for details.

Smirf · 06-29-2009, 04:59 AM

Originally posted by Ari

It's rated for 100,000 actuations. If you're taking just under 1000 shots a week, consider yourself lucky; you have time to pursue either a wonderful hobby or a rewarding profession. I am very jealous!

When I'm out and about with my camera I simply want to take a lot of photos. I just came home from a nine days trip to Austria. During those days I took about 750 photos.

Having that said, I've been practising taking burst shots of moving objects to get that effect with a movement blurred background and a focused object. Which explains a bit of the actuations.

I don't mind to wear and tear my camera gear. That is much better than letting it collecting dust, and I'll learn a thing or two during the process

And since the predecessor to the GX-20, the Pentax K10D, can survive the vacum and freezing temperatures of space I'm sure the GX-20 will manage with anything I can throw at it. I actually used it in rather heavy rain while I was in Austria. No problem what so ever. I did of course protect it under my rain jacket when I didn't take photos.

Mike Cash · 06-29-2009, 11:26 AM

Originally posted by Smirf

Having that said, I've been practising taking burst shots of moving objects to get that effect with a movement blurred background and a focused object. Which explains a bit of the actuations.

You don't need to take burst shots to do that. You just need to slow your shutter speed down.

Smirf · 06-29-2009, 03:03 PM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

You don't need to take burst shots to do that. You just need to slow your shutter speed down.

Sorry, I was a bit tired when I wrote that so I confused two techniques I've been practising. I do know that you slow down the shutter speed to get that effect. I've been standing next to a busy road for a long time to learn the panning effect with my tripod, taking lots of pictures. I used the burst mode to take pictures of fast moving obects, my sisters kids when they play for example.

**Canada_Rockies** · 06-29-2009, 03:04 PM

Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus

I've read that 100,000 shutter actuations is the tested amount for the K20D. Others would probably have more (and better) information than me on this, though, as I am by no means an expert on technical issues.

The 100,000 actuations is technically "Mean Time until Failure". On average, the shutter in my K10d, and presumably the k20, will take 100,000 releases before it fails. Some people will be unlucky and fail after 50,000, others will still be snapping away happily at 250,000.

LeGuillotine · 07-02-2009, 12:04 AM

Look this site Camera Shutter Life Database

We all should input our shutter data into it, it will help all of us.

LeGuillotine

(K200D shutter count ~6000, after 2 months use)

Ishpuini · 07-02-2009, 03:23 AM

I seem to remember that the communication was that the shutter was designed for a "guaranteed" 100K clicks. That would imply that the mean time until failure is actually much higher.

But who knows... I only get to about 10K shots before I buy a new camera anyway. But I am not a very trigger happy photographer. I tend to look around very well before deciding which shots will be worthwhile.

Wim

06-02-2009, 05:15 PM	#1
Smirf Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern Sweden Posts: 48	Expected life span of the shutter mechanism of a K20D? What is the expected number of shots the shutter mechanism can pull off before it can start to fail on the K20D? I have a GX-20, but I assume its the same parts as the K20D in this case. Last edited by Smirf; 06-02-2009 at 05:25 PM.

06-02-2009, 05:43 PM	#4
DAVID564 Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Joao Pessoa Brzil Posts: 2	Re numer of shutter actuations I purchased a K20D as soon as one became available and use the camera on a daily basis, its been around the globe serveral times, dont know the shutter count as there is no tally (I think), If you consider the pace of camera inovation the camera will be out of date long long before the shutter fails, in fact its more likely to fail through age and lack of use.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
K-7 Shutter Life	Danny Delcambre	Pentax DSLR Discussion	10	09-24-2010 06:25 AM
Question about K-x shutter life	dude2009	Pentax DSLR Discussion	3	12-23-2009 07:00 PM
K-7 probably has the most quit shutter mechanism of all DSLR's	Frakkas	Pentax News and Rumors	44	06-05-2009 06:19 AM
Shutter Life	jorgemarmo@K100D	Pentax DSLR Discussion	5	05-16-2008 05:18 PM
Samsung GX-20 diverges more than expected from K20D sibling	XMACHINA	Pentax DSLR Discussion	2	02-01-2008 01:18 AM

06-02-2009, 05:34 PM	#2
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	I've read that 100,000 shutter actuations is the tested amount for the K20D. Others would probably have more (and better) information than me on this, though, as I am by no means an expert on technical issues.

06-02-2009, 05:37 PM	#3
Smirf Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern Sweden Posts: 48 Original Poster	I've had my camera in five weeks and I've already made around 4500 shots. If I continue at that rate I'll hit 100 K in about 2 years. Bummer Does anyone know the expected cost of replacing the shutter mechanism?

06-02-2009, 07:16 PM	#5
want2beyounger Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7	Originally posted by DAVID564 ............. If you consider the pace of camera inovation the camera will be out of date long long before the shutter fails, ......... My thoughts exactly

06-02-2009, 09:14 PM	#6
Ari Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Freehold, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 856	It's rated for 100,000 actuations. If you're taking just under 1000 shots a week, consider yourself lucky; you have time to pursue either a wonderful hobby or a rewarding profession. I am very jealous! Originally posted by Smirf I've had my camera in five weeks and I've already made around 4500 shots. If I continue at that rate I'll hit 100 K in about 2 years. Bummer Does anyone know the expected cost of replacing the shutter mechanism?

06-02-2009, 10:32 PM	#7
5teve Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth - Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 226	Originally posted by Ari It's rated for 100,000 actuations. If you're taking just under 1000 shots a week, consider yourself lucky; you have time to pursue either a wonderful hobby or a rewarding profession. I am very jealous! or he is like me... and that bad at photography that he needs to take a thousand shots a week to get a good one Thanks Steve

06-02-2009, 11:04 PM	#8
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	As you get better at it, you'll find yourself taking less photos but more keepers. Don't worry, enjoy the process!

06-02-2009, 11:19 PM	#9
Quension Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: west coast USA Posts: 206	Originally posted by DAVID564 I purchased a K20D as soon as one became available and use the camera on a daily basis, its been around the globe serveral times, dont know the shutter count as there is no tally (I think) It's recorded in the image metadata; see this thread for details.

06-29-2009, 04:59 AM	#10
Smirf Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern Sweden Posts: 48 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ari It's rated for 100,000 actuations. If you're taking just under 1000 shots a week, consider yourself lucky; you have time to pursue either a wonderful hobby or a rewarding profession. I am very jealous! When I'm out and about with my camera I simply want to take a lot of photos. I just came home from a nine days trip to Austria. During those days I took about 750 photos. Having that said, I've been practising taking burst shots of moving objects to get that effect with a movement blurred background and a focused object. Which explains a bit of the actuations. I don't mind to wear and tear my camera gear. That is much better than letting it collecting dust, and I'll learn a thing or two during the process And since the predecessor to the GX-20, the Pentax K10D, can survive the vacum and freezing temperatures of space I'm sure the GX-20 will manage with anything I can throw at it. I actually used it in rather heavy rain while I was in Austria. No problem what so ever. I did of course protect it under my rain jacket when I didn't take photos.

06-29-2009, 11:26 AM	#11
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by Smirf Having that said, I've been practising taking burst shots of moving objects to get that effect with a movement blurred background and a focused object. Which explains a bit of the actuations. You don't need to take burst shots to do that. You just need to slow your shutter speed down.

06-29-2009, 03:03 PM	#12
Smirf Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern Sweden Posts: 48 Original Poster	Originally posted by Mike Cash You don't need to take burst shots to do that. You just need to slow your shutter speed down. Sorry, I was a bit tired when I wrote that so I confused two techniques I've been practising. I do know that you slow down the shutter speed to get that effect. I've been standing next to a busy road for a long time to learn the panning effect with my tripod, taking lots of pictures. I used the burst mode to take pictures of fast moving obects, my sisters kids when they play for example.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-29-2009, 03:04 PM	#13
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus I've read that 100,000 shutter actuations is the tested amount for the K20D. Others would probably have more (and better) information than me on this, though, as I am by no means an expert on technical issues. The 100,000 actuations is technically "Mean Time until Failure". On average, the shutter in my K10d, and presumably the k20, will take 100,000 releases before it fails. Some people will be unlucky and fail after 50,000, others will still be snapping away happily at 250,000.

07-02-2009, 12:04 AM	#14
LeGuillotine Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Finland, Kotka Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 183	Look this site Camera Shutter Life Database We all should input our shutter data into it, it will help all of us. LeGuillotine (K200D shutter count ~6000, after 2 months use)

07-02-2009, 03:23 AM	#15
Ishpuini Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,727	I seem to remember that the communication was that the shutter was designed for a "guaranteed" 100K clicks. That would imply that the mean time until failure is actually much higher. But who knows... I only get to about 10K shots before I buy a new camera anyway. But I am not a very trigger happy photographer. I tend to look around very well before deciding which shots will be worthwhile. Wim