Any info on DSLR reliability?

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TweedleDum

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I plan to buy a DSLR for hobby use and am unsure whether to go for a new entry-level camera or a s/h mid-range model. I’d be grateful for any general information on reliability.

My 30 year old SLR film camera is still as good as new, but what is the life expectancy of a modern DSLR? Are there many 8-10 year old DSLRs still in use? If not, is it because they broke down, or because the users wanted higher specification? Are newer models becoming more reliable, or just more complex?

What are the common reasons for DSLR failure? Impact? Dust? Humidity? Rain splash? Manufacturing faults? Other causes?

Does the better build quality of a mid-range camera actually make it any more reliable than an entry-level model?
 
by the 80s the film SLR was pretty mature & as the imaging medium was separate from the body any improvement in film didn't require a change in body.
DSLRs aren't like that & many early DSLRs whilst still functional are no longer used much because the rate of change in technology & especially sensors has been fierce.
Of course this suits the manufacturers who would much rather sell us a new body every 3 years than 1 every 30 years ...
 
TweedleDum said:

What are the common reasons for DSLR failure? Impact? Dust? Humidity? Rain splash? Manufacturing faults? Other causes?

Does the better build quality of a mid-range camera actually make it any more reliable than an entry-level model?
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Impact - anything can be smashed eventually, just make sure you give it enough :bat:
Dust - try Sahara desert, or scooping up the send with the lens removed. That would have killed film body too.
Humidity - Canon 1-series are impossible to kill unless you decide to bath them in the water, something lesser might give up in the amazon jungle or in a downpour. With plenty of electronics inside, water is certainly 'fun'
Manufacturing - like with everything else

The pro bodies will be most durable, and rated for longest life (well exceeding anything the film has seen), mid-range will have some compromises, and entry level will probably need to be treated like your mobile phone.
 
My experience:
Reconditioned mid range camera (in the days when this meant metal construction) - Really reliable
S/H pro camera - Shutter failure
S/H high end camera - Shutter failure

If you're planning on buying second hand I'd budget for getting it serviced and buy from a shop with a warranty.
 
Many thanks for everybody’s thoughts on this.

heidfirst, you remind me that I am, like my old film camera, an anachronism. I always feel that anything I buy now, as an OAP, ought to see me out. My Pentax cost about £140 in 1984, which works out around £5/year. Hopefully a £400 DSLR will last me at least 4-5 years.

daugirdas, having worked near the southern edge of the Sahara and in Bangladesh, I appreciate your comments re dust and humidity. Nowadays I remain within UK, but the Southern Uplands and Cheviots can of course be moist. Pro cameras, unless very old, will be outside my budget, so the choice seems to be either new entry level (1100D, D3100, K-r) or s/h mid-range (40D, D80, K-7). Weather-proofing might steer me somewhat towards the K-7.

Craikeybaby, those shutter failures are a bit alarming, especially the fact that they involved pro and high end cameras. Was it worthwhile having them repaired? Were the shutter counts very high? I take the point about getting a warranty; I am too ignorant to risk ebay, and as far as I can see the s/h prices at Ffordes, Skears, SRS, etc are in line with those from most ebay sellers.
 
As a guide I bought a used 1Ds from ebay, it had done 242,000 frames when the shutter failed. I got Canon to put a new shutter in at Elstree, it cost around £220 and took 4 days door to door. I then put another few thousand shots on it and sold it on, it is still going with the next chap I sold it to. I wouldn't worry unduly about shutter life, my 1Ds had belonged to a Premiership photographer and had seen a lot of life, still it never let me down.
 
Check shutter actuations against predicted shutter life and I'd try to stay below half. If buying from retailer, I'd give a vote for Ffordes. They check thoroughly and frequently undercut Ebay prices.
 
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