p.1 #1 · B&S - Actuations demands on cameras without shutters (rant)
Several times now I've either seen or had a buyer demand actuation counts for cameras that didn't have shutters (Z8/9, Hasselblad X series, ...). What gives?
p.1 #2 · B&S - Actuations demands on cameras without shutters (rant)
Tom Conte wrote:
Several times now I've either seen or had a buyer demand actuation counts for cameras that didn't have shutters (Z8/9, Hasselblad X series, ...). What gives?
These days they are built so robustly that it doesn't make a huge difference even when the camera has a shutter! So I don't get it either.
p.1 #3 · B&S - Actuations demands on cameras without shutters (rant)
Does it know the difference between the MS, ES and video usage?
I might use 90%ES and 10%MS and no videos, but another camera would be radically different.
p.1 #6 · B&S - Actuations demands on cameras without shutters (rant)
You would need to know hours of operation, power on/off cycles, or some more meaningful metric.
For example which has more wear, a camera used in 30FPS action for 5000 frames/hour for a total of 60 hours and 300,000 frames or a camera used by someone leisurely in sigle shot mode, but only taking 100 images per hour for 1000 hours for a total of 100,000 frames? The latter camera will have far more wear and tear although the frame count is less.
p.1 #7 · B&S - Actuations demands on cameras without shutters (rant)
EB-1 wrote:
You would need to know hours of operation, power on/off cycles, or some more meaningful metric.
For example which has more wear, a camera used in 30FPS action for 5000 frames/hour for a total of 60 hours and 300,000 frames or a camera used by someone leisurely in sigle shot mode, but only taking 100 images per hour for 1000 hours for a total of 100,000 frames? The latter camera will have far more wear and tear although the frame count is less.
EBH
I think that is universally understood. But in the absence of that information, all that's available to the buyer is the actuation count, from which he has to infer his own conclusions. It has some general utility however. A camera with 5k clicks has a much better chance of being more lightly used than a camera with 60k clicks, even though there are extreme cases of usage where the opposite can be true for that scenario.
p.1 #8 · B&S - Actuations demands on cameras without shutters (rant)
Snapsy, My point of the original post is that shutter actuations is oxymoronic when the camera does not have a shutter.
I agree with EB-1, the times the sensor was exposed to light is not a meaningful metric. Wouldn't the cosmetic condition of the camera better reveal this?
p.1 #9 · B&S - Actuations demands on cameras without shutters (rant)
Tom Conte wrote:
Snapsy, My point of the original post is that shutter actuations is oxymoronic when the camera does not have a shutter.
I agree with EB-1, the times the sensor was exposed to light is not a meaningful metric. Wouldn't the cosmetic condition of the camera better reveal this?
Absolutely cosmetic condition is a better indication.
Let's say you're in the market for a used Z8 and found two on B+S, both at the same price, included the same accessories, from FM'ers with good feedback, and in the same cosmetic condition. One is listed with 5k actuations, the other with 60k. Which would you purchase?
Again, shutter count is a rough proxy for usage, not just an indication of wear on a shutter itself. There are other elements in cameras that wear with usage besides a shutter, including the electronics.
p.1 #10 · B&S - Actuations demands on cameras without shutters (rant)
The simple answer is that I would not buy a Z8 on the B&S. I'd be more interested in X-Rays and maybe some other tests to determine presence of any water damage than some potentially bogus actuarial counts. It's easier to just buy a new camera if it is still available. I'd probably get a used 4x5 if I needed one because one can better check the condition. Every single used camera I ever bought had some defect that cost far more than it was worth. YMMV.
