old poet

I'm considering upgrading to a pro Nikon refurb. Many posts indicate that a low shutter count is important. Is there a max that should not be considered while knowing that the lower the better is the goal?

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

The refurbs are already boxed up and I doubt they would take the camera out to check a shutter count. Since the average shutter count expectancy for a "mid" to "pro" body is 150,000 to 300,000 I doubt any refurb would have an issue. My D610 had 12...

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

My refurb Nikon D7100 had a count of 12. I think anything under 1000 would be fine. - Dave

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Shutter count isn't really the issue. It's your of rate of usage. How many images do you capture per week/month/year? Then you can estimate your level of risk.

Let's say you take 10,000 images per year for example. Then if the MTBF (mean time between failures) for your shutter is 100K to 150K, then that's 10 to 15 years, by which time the camera will be obsolete anyway. My Canon AE-1 from 1976 is still fine, as is my T90 from 1986, although they don't get the exercise that they used to.

On the other hand I bought a new Subaru in 2005, top of the line, with 7 year extended warranty. The clutch crapped out at under 30,000 miles, but they wouldn't honor the warranty. My Hondas have all exceeded 150K miles before needing a clutch replacement. It was a manufacturing fault - and built in the USA - , but it left me $2000 out of pocket. It is still fun to drive however. I have a similar story with Lenovo computers.

I bought a Canon 80D refurb last August. It has the same warranty as new, 12 months, and it feels like new. I was surprised at the shutter count, close to 3K, but it didn't worry me, since the camera will be obsolete and replaced before it hits it's expected shutter life with my level of usage. Even if it does crap out, a shutter replacement isn't that expensive. My 80D was around a 30% discount, so would cover the cost of a shutter replacement. I did have a problem, an intermittent problem that was hard to diagnose. After a little investigation it turned out to be the Canon battery that was supplied. I called Canon, they listened, and immediately shipped me a brand new battery. No more problems.

So ask yourself, how many images you take per year. If the shutter count is less than 10% or 5% of that MTBF number, then it is as good as new.

old poet

Thanks for the good info!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Nikon does not reset shutter count for a refurb. If you are getting something like a D810, search for your camera on:

https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/

D810s are good for between 100,000 and 500,000 shutter actuations. Oleg seems to be a bit fanatical on the subject.

Joe Blow

Replacing a shutter is usually expensive. And difficult. But, as said, moderate use should see them long obsolete before any failure.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

If it was me, and it is not, I would not take a Refurb with more than a 5,000 count.

50teeslady Loc: Ormond Beach Florida

My 5300 came with 4300 shutter count from Adorama....I returned it and reordered...new one came with 200 and something.....

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

Les, Loved your band and you featured vocalist{Doris Day}. Good luck with your refurb camera. I've been very satisfied with refurbs.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Keep in mind that something else will fail first before the shutter in the camera. Nikon rates the majority of their modern shutters to over 150, 000 shutter actuations. I am sure it is more for a professional camera.
A refurb with less than 1000 shutter actuations to me a genuine refurb but over 1000 it could still be a refurb but also a used camera.

dogo88

My son's D7100 refurb we bought for him for Christmas had a shutter count of 3.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Average cost to replace a DSLR shutter is $400.

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

Using the old "reduce it down to the ridiculous" sales tactic, Peter's numbers equal 275 shutter clicks per day 365 days a year. Do you actually use your camera that much? If not then why worry? On a brand new camera Nikon is not going to warranty it on a "one year or 100,000 clicks which ever comes first", basis. Do the math that applies to your situation. I have only bought one camera in the past 5 years or so that was not either refurbished or "mint" used. Shutter counts mean little to me as long as they are below 25000 or so. It is the overall condition that matters to me. Have the previous owners taken good care of it or does it look like it has been dragged through a swamp or down a gravel road (I have seen some that look like they have)? So far I have had no regrets. I wish you well.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Which camera body are you looking at?. I bought a used D800 from keh a couple years ago it had over 25000 activation's and has not skipped a beat and I give it pretty heavy use if you treat the camera well. You should go beyond the stated activation's from the manufacturer and the camera will probably last you to the point of your need for a replacement and last the next buyer for quite a while. Shutter replacement costs around the $400.
dollar range.