Check the serial number to determine the manufacturing date. The same is true for the tripod mount on the bottom. Cameras with very worn hot shoes are very likely to have high shutter counts. The hot shoe is another area of heavy use. Check the handgrips for fading or recent replacement.

Just as you would check a car for wear and tear, check the body for signs of heavy use. Buyers of older models, in particular, have a need to verify shutter count– so how do you know if a body has plenty of life left at 30,000 shutters or if it is creaking along at 198,000? Only Canon repair centers can provide accurate shutter readings for these models. Older DSLRs such as the Canon 5D aren’t supported due to firmware limitations. When shopping online, ask the seller to verify the shutter count before buying. Walk or ask for a discount if the shutter count is exceeding high (see below for more info). When buying a Canon DSLR in person, always check the shutter count on your computer before taking it home. Here is a list of applications that can help you with the task. Buy a camera with too high of a shutter count and your investment might not last as long as you planned. The lower a camera’s shutter count, the more life it has remaining (barring unforeseen defects). Just as you should know a car’s mileage before buying or selling, learning how to verify Canon shutter count is a no-brainer if you’re in the market for a used DSLR. Canon DSLRs are generally rated to sustain anywhere from 50,000 to 300,000 shutter actuation before a shutter replacement is necessary (at a cost of several hundred dollars). Circuit boards and other non-mechanical components have a virtually infinite lifespan, but a shutter can take quite a bit of wear and tear over its life. The shutter count is to DSLRs what mileage is to cars.

Featured Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns via Flickr // CC BY 2.0įeatured Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns via Flickr // CC BY 2.0.

Canon shutter count check online