I have to buy a new Digital Camera every three years. Film Cameras lasted me 7 years. Why? I shoot 800 pictures per wedding every weekend. I do wedding photo journalism (90%) and 10% formals. What made you buy a new camera every 3 years? Was there a mechanical failure, or did your expectations change?
Am I still using a camera from the year 2004? No, because the oldest DSLR I have is a D70, which was announced in August of 2004, but I personally bought mine in 2005, when it was already "outdated".
You or your clients decided to change cameras because you wanted a higher level of technology. I no longer listen to 8-track or cassette in my car, because I prefer CD's and am waiting for a stereo with an iPod input or satellite radio.
From the cameras that you named, I would say you might be better served by a D200 or D300. These models are much more robust in construction than the D80, D50, D40, and such. Many reviewers see them as junior versions of the D2 and D3. I have never experienced any short comings with my Canon cameras and, I only shot 150 to 300 (or soo) pictures when my Wife & I cover a wedding. On the 22nd of Sept., a total of 340 pics. Digicams are usually made out of cheap plastic materials, and the electronics are verrrry sophisticated, and these things have builtin ages, just like your grandpa.
How do you think the digicam is able to do what it does, with very little input from you? Electronics. Well the "prosumer" digital cameras like the d80, d70, d50 etc aren't designed for extraordinarily high volume shooting (which it appears you do). For that, something like a D200 or D2h is much better. Although those midrange models have equivalent image quality, they just aren't built to be as durable.
Still, it's an interesting question. Old mechanical cameras like the Nikon FM2 usually lasted 10-15 years (with periodic servicing) It makes you wonder why electronics don't last as long. Anyway, if you're gonna crank out 800 mages every weekend, you'll need a pro model that's designed to handle that type of load.
I find that the major reason to buy new digital cameras isn't that the old ones don't work anymore, but simply because technology advances and much better stuff becomes available for less. The sensors and metering are so much better now than 7 years ago. Since I shoot infrequently, my Fuji S2 Pro has lasted me for 5 years, but I'm the first to admit it's a relic... I have a NIKON D50 and am at 5975 on the pic counter
I got in in January '07
I photograph the railroad.
The rat Interesting. This is the first I have heard of DSLR's failing.
The first hint of this possibility occurred when Canon announced that their 30D camera's shutter was only good for 100,000 cycles.
My old D100 has over 180,000 cycles in it and is still going strong. My old F2 has literally miles of film through it and is still preforming as it did when new. Same for my "newer" F4. Even my old Leica's are still performing after decades of use.
My guess is that since the sensor technology is changing so rapidly, that manufacturers are "assuming" a life cycle on each consumer camera they build and not building them to any professional standard. Since my old D100 was built on the frame of an F100, its life cycle is as long as any pro 35mm camera out there.
If you stick with the D100, D200, D300 or D2, D3 series of digital cameras, you should be fine.
In my business plan, I expect to replace my digital body every four to five years ... not because of failure, but because of the demands of my clients. Same with my computers ... each four or five years I have to upgrade to ones with the newer processors, more RAM and get the newest Photoshop program.
Digital has increased my overhead about 5x because of the hardware upgrade and update issue.
Note to Jim ... my car has over 190,000 miles on it and my previous one had 160,000 when I sold it. In my opinion that is reliability. I ran into the same thing using point and shoot print film cameras. I bet I changed cameras every two years. I took thousands of pictures though. Sounds like you do too. You and I do to a camera in two years, what the average snap shot shooter would do in five to eight years. Everything today has a life expectancy, depending on conditions & use. We live in a disposable society. We can build sky scrapers, but have a hell of a time building reliable cars. Go figure.... The Nikon D80, D70, D50, etc are consumer level cameras, They have plastic bodies and are not designed to take the kind of wear and tear and use that a working professional dishes out.
If you want a a professional grade camera from Nikon, you need to step up to a prosumer model like the D200 or the D300 which will be out in November. These camera have metal bodies, weatherproof seals, and are built to handle the level of use a working professional requires.
The other thing to keep in mind also is that digital technology has been moving so fast that what is state of the art today is yesterday's news within 12 to 18 months. 1) people photograph far more with digital than they did with film.
2) you're buying the wrong cameras. The D50 is not designed for professional level shooting in the amounts of shutter actuations you provided in your question, nor are the D80 or D70. You should be using the D200, D2-series, or the older D1h/D1x, which have shutters designed for extended numbers of actuations. Effectively, you're buying a Honda into a battle zone and wondering why it doesn't take abuse like a tank. Who says you "have to" buy a new digital camera every three years? Because you've fallen for the marketing hype. Don't you think you had to "upgrade" with film cameras? They came out with newer models with "better" features also. Why do you think they are still in business. Can you honestly say you've become a better photographer by buying the latest greatest camera? Have your clients complained that they can see the difference between any of the shots you've done with your "old" vs. "new cameras"? Can half your clients spell resolution?
Your digital SLR would have lasted just as long. It's not the camera..It's the photographer. |
