This entire process happens incredibly quickly, often in fractions of a second. The first curtain opens to start the exposure the second curtain ends it.

How Does a Mechanical Shutter Work?Ī mechanical shutter consists of two curtains that open and close in sequence to expose the camera sensor to light, thereby creating an image. After all, you wouldn’t replace the brakes and ball joints in a car that’s unlikely to last another month of use. In that case, it’s helpful to know if your shutter has much life left before deciding on costly repairs or buying a replacement camera. Knowing its shutter count will help you assess the camera’s value if you plan to sell a camera.įinally, suppose your camera becomes damaged in a way that doesn’t affect the shutter. Checking the shutter count is important before agreeing on a price or bringing a used camera home. A camera that’s barely been used will have a much longer shutter life expectancy than a camera that a sports photographer uses day in and day out. If you’re planning to purchase a used mirrorless or DSLR camera, this is a very important specification to check. Why Do You Need to Know Your Digital Camera’s Shutter Count? Sometimes, cameras surpass the expected shutter count and, sometimes, they fall short and require a replacement shutter mechanism.įortunately, all cameras have a means of determining the count, so you can get a basic idea of how much lifespan remains for your shutter. This figure is the average expected amount of shutter actuations your camera will most likely deliver before the shutter fails. When shopping for a new camera, you may have noticed a specification called a shutter rating. This number matters because all digital cameras have different shutter life expectancies. Your camera’s shutter count or shutter actuation number is the number of times you’ve physically fired your camera’s mechanical shutter. So, if your digital camera doesn’t spend most of its time on a shelf collecting dust or nestled safely in a camera bag, it’s important to know your shutter count. The age of your camera has less to do with its lifespan than its amount of use. Unless your compact digital, mirrorless, or DSLR camera is brand new, periodically checking your shutter count is a good idea.

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