trapper1 Loc: Southside Virginia

I have seen reference to the number of clicks a camera has made. I assume that this means the number of pictures that the camera has made. If this assumption is correct, out of curiosity, how many clicks can a camera, say a Nikon DSLR 5600 for example, make before it starts requiring repairs or starts to malfunction?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

"Clicks" or "shutter actuations."

Expected number of clicks - not a guarantee, just an estimate.
https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/ni/NI_article?articleNo=000003332&configured=1&lang=en_US
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d750.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d5300.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d3300.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d810.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d800.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d5.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d4.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d70.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d40.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d3.htm
https://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d1.htm


Get the shutter count -
http://www.camerashuttercount.com/
http://kentweakley.com/blog/photo-tip-photos-camera/
http://regex.info/exif.cgi
Get Irfanview (free) and also get the plug-ins for it. Start the program, open a photo, click on Image > Information > Exif info. Or you can just press I and/or E to get lots of info.
Get ExifInfo - also free. Unzip and get the icon onto the Desktop. Find a photo and drag it onto the icon. A window will open with loads of info. Look down the list for Shutter Count (or whatever they call it).
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com
http://drchung.new21.net/previewextractor/
http://www.astrojargon.net/EOSInfo.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
http://www.nikonshuttercount.com/
http://myshuttercount.com/
http://www.picmeta.com/products/picture-information-extractor.htm

jdedmonds

I think you're referring to the number of times the shutter has been actuated. I don't know how many actuations a D5600 shutter is rated at; the higher end Nikon DSLRs are rated 150K to 200K. I think.

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

I believe you are correct in the 150 - 200,000
Range.

BebuLamar

The D5600 is tested to 100,000 MTBF.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

There's no way to tell for sure. Too many factors involved, such as temperature, humidity, impurities and tiny fissures in the materials, etc. Even microscopic loose particles within the mechanism can lead to eventual failure. Besides, the camera's electronics may fail before the shutter mechanism does. The best thing to do is to not worry about it.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Problem is, more things can go wrong than just the shutter. My D800 went "belly up" in a couple of ways. Shutter was perfectly fine and within the "click" range. I sent it to Nikon and just got back an estimate of $350 to repair whatever is wrong with it, the sensor is fine, but other things were not working. So, my fingers are crossed that I get it back in workable order so I can click away again until the shutter actually does wear out!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

It looks like the D5600 is rated to 100,000. This is 'expected', and not the minimum nor maximum expected shutter life. Some cameras will fail earlier, most will fail later, maybe at 110,000, maybe 534,233, maybe never. One can't say. Certainly, there's no maintenance to perform, at cost, until the shutter should actually fail.

Consider your typical usage. Say you shot 10,000 images per year. You could confidently use this camera for the next 10-years before approaching the shutter-life rating. The D5600 sells for around $500 new today. Replacing a shutter is quoted between $350 and $500 today. The original D5000 in this series is now about 10-years old, and sold for around $750 when new in 2009; it now sells around $125 used.

Say you had the camera for the next 10-years and the shutter failed. Would you pay 2x to 4x the camera's used resale value to replace a shutter rather than buying a new camera or just another used version?

Digital cameras are highly reliable. You're most likely to never experience a problem. The next most likely possibility is you'll drop or otherwise damage the equipment yourself before any piece of the camera fails due to extended use.

trapper1 Loc: Southside Virginia

Thanks to each and every one of you who took the time to respond. I am blown away at the possible life of these cameras, never ever thought that they would be so long-lived and functional after so many clicks. It is one thing I will now not have to be concerned about, at 84 I do not think I'll reach 10K clicks.

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

Jerry is the Hogs Library of all things photographic. Thanks Jerry

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

It is shutter actuations that are tracked. Whether you record an image depends on other factors like exposure, lens cap removed, lens attached, card in camera, etc.

My 1Dx2 is rated at 400,000. Most bodies are probably 100,000-200,000. My body reports the clicks as a less than number, say <25,000. That accuracy to 1,000 is within 1/4 of 1 percent of the 400,000 estimate, close enough for most people.

As CHG says most people will only have an issue if they shoot a lot or are deciding on a used body or repair vs replace. Mostly don’t worry about it.

Collhar Loc: New York City.

"Digital cameras are highly reliable. You're most likely to never experience a problem"
I agree. I am not in a dither if I buy something that is the dreaded grey market category.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

One uhh member, just the past day, claimed he already had 200,000 shutter clicks on a Nikon D500. That camera is not yet 4 years old. It is a camera noted for Sports and Wildlife photography. That D500 is capable of 10 fps. So, it would likely have a higher count than other DX cameras. It has been rumored the D500 is the little brother, crop sensor, to the D5. The D5 has a shutter lifespan upwards to 400,000+ clicks. I'm curious, as to whether the D500, has a more durable shutter, than perhaps the D7200. And other DX cameras, that only get a maximum of 5-6 fps. Those DX cameras are rated at approximately 100,000 clicks. Maybe a slight higher?

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

The D500 has better build quality and durability in general than the less expensive DSLRs. Sometimes you do get what you pay for...

Canisdirus

It's not an issue to even consider worrying about.
It's a couple of hundred dollar replacement ...on a camera body which will be 'technologically' extinct by the time it needs to be repaired.
We're talking a few bucks a year ... averaged out.
Statistically, you'll have a replacement body before you have a shutter repair.