Body life: I read in UHH a person said the body of a camera is only good for a few years. My confusion is that I wish to do photography after I retire, so was inclined to purchase a...

joega Loc: Area 51

I read in UHH a person said the body of a camera is only good for a few years. My confusion is that I wish to do photography after I retire, so was inclined to purchase a Sony A77, assuming it would last till I take a dirt nap. However, if anybody can give some guidance on body life, I would appreciate it.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

joega wrote:

I read in UHH a person said the body of a camera is only good for a few years. My confusion is that I wish to do photography after I retire, so was inclined to purchase a Sony A77, assuming it would last till I take a dirt nap. However, if anybody can give some guidance on body life, I would appreciate it.

It is possible you read something that was about the longevity of camera bodies vs lens. The "technology" for cameras seems to run in two year increments. You might have read this to be indicative that the body wore out. Camera bodies are designed to last for long periods of time. Some are made of metal, some of plastic. But they do have fairly long periods of life. I have one that is rated for 400,000 cycles. That requires a very long time. Hope this clears things up. GL and enjoy shooting.

joega Loc: Area 51

Thank you very much! I fear less now. I also was wondering if a shutter is rated as just so may uses, can it be replaced or do you need to purchase a new body? I know I can take my car to the shop for fixing up, can't a camera also be referbished or fixed to continue its life?

John Lawrence

Cameras will go a long time and can usually be repaired or refurbished by sending them back to the manufacturer. They can pretty much replace everything on the camera. There does come a point where it's better to replace rather than repair just to take advantage of newer technology.

John

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

joega wrote:

I read in UHH a person said the body of a camera is only good for a few years. My confusion is that I wish to do photography after I retire, so was inclined to purchase a Sony A77, assuming it would last till I take a dirt nap. However, if anybody can give some guidance on body life, I would appreciate it.

The part that usually fails is the shutter.

Sony rates the shutter life of an A77 at 150,000 activations.
That's 6 shots every hour of every day for almost 3 years.

And that's just the design goal.
It's quite possible for units to last past 1/2 million.
And also possible (but not likely) to have it fail at 10k.

joega Loc: Area 51

:D Felling better and better all the time! Than you.

joega Loc: Area 51

Like anything, the better you treat it the better it will treat you. Thanks a lot.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

joega wrote:

Thank you very much! I fear less now. I also was wondering if a shutter is rated as just so may uses, can it be replaced or do you need to purchase a new body? I know I can take my car to the shop for fixing up, can't a camera also be referbished or fixed to continue its life?

I think it is fair to say your car was built to fall apart, planned obsolescence. Your camera is designed to last. Yes, shutter assemblies can be, and are replaceable. Many other features are likewise. Cameras can be, and are refurbished, just as lens are. I own several lens and one body that are refurbished, great pieces all. Do not fear refurb, it is a widely used method of returning good equipment to the workforce.

djtravels Loc: Georgia boy now

Welcome to UHH. As you read, the camera wears out depending on the shutter actuations. Think of that mirror slapping as fast as it does. What you should be concerned with is the quality of your lens. Good glass lasts forever, or until you drop it lol. That should guide your purchase. Are the lenses available for the type of photography you want to pursue? The answer will be YES, so you're still left in a quandary as to what camera/system to purchase. Good luck.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

joega wrote:

I read in UHH a person said the body of a camera is only good for a few years. My confusion is that I wish to do photography after I retire, so was inclined to purchase a Sony A77, assuming it would last till I take a dirt nap. However, if anybody can give some guidance on body life, I would appreciate it.

It will last until it breaks which is true of any electro-mechanical device.

AnnaZ Loc: SW Wis.

Dirt nap.............never heard it put quite THAT way! I'll have to remember that one.

Mercer Loc: Houston, TX, USA

joega wrote:

I read in UHH a person said the body of a camera is only good for a few years. My confusion is that I wish to do photography after I retire, so was inclined to purchase a Sony A77, assuming it would last till I take a dirt nap. However, if anybody can give some guidance on body life, I would appreciate it.

The modern DSLR seems to me to be an overpriced, cheaply-made, easily-broken hi-tech wonder. Its steep learning curve barely outruns it's obsolescence. The convenience of digital is a marvelous thing, but the cameras, frankly, are a disappointment to many.

Is it any wonder that some of us old dinosaurs grow nostalgic when recalling the days when a camera lasted a lifetime, then often was handed down to a new generation?

Oh well... the ramblings of an elderly saurian. I guess I'll grab the new plastic wonder, go out and shoot some photos through a lens encased in cheap plastic, then come home and fire up the computer so I can process them. Maybe I'll feel better. I certainly hope you will. :|

amehta Loc: Boston

davidrb wrote:

It is possible you read something that was about t... (show quote)

It seems that the cycle is more like 4 years now. As with many things in the technology world, improvements slow down when either physiological or physics limitations become a factor. The improvements don't usually stop, but they become more incremental, and obsolescence is reached much later.

amehta Loc: Boston

Wall-E wrote:

The part that usually fails is the shutter.

Sony rates the shutter life of an A77 at 150,000 activations.
That's 6 shots every hour of every day for almost 3 years.

And that's just the design goal.
It's quite possible for units to last past 1/2 million.
And also possible (but not likely) to have it fail at 10k.

Or 100 pictures a day for 4+ years. (Nobody is going to shoot every hour, but we could shoot almost every day. :-) )

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

joega wrote:

I read in UHH a person said the body of a camera is only good for a few years. My confusion is that I wish to do photography after I retire, so was inclined to purchase a Sony A77, assuming it would last till I take a dirt nap. However, if anybody can give some guidance on body life, I would appreciate it.

Based on my experience, retire as soon as possible. My body feels like it is past expiration date. I did film years ago. Then go into digital and it has added an extra aspect to my life. I have had several bodies and lenses. For me I have bought used or refurbished. I don't buy something for ever. The shutter assembly is the weakest link. My 60 is rated for 250,000. I did have a failure and it was warrantied. Get going as soon as possible. J. R.