Is Shutter Count important when buying equipment?
Evaluating the condition of a camera is very subjective and an art, rather than a science. There are many factors to consider, among them the shutter count, which gives us a fairly objective idea of how long a camera has been in use, a good starting point before considering the more subjective aspects.
Previous owner is an important factor when buying a camera.
Imagine you have a camera with a somewhat high shutter count, but the equipment has always been used indoors and you know first hand that its owner is very careful with the equipment. Now imagine that your other purchase option is an owner who is an animal photographer, you can imagine the conditions that camera will be exposed to: rain, high temperatures, dust, vibrations, etc. Between those two, I would go for the first one, even though the shutter count might be a bit higher.
Also consider that the fewer owners a camera has had the better, not because it necessarily means more wear and tear, but because there is more uncertainty, we can usually find out what the previous owner used it for, but what about the one before that? is there a third owner perhaps? We don't know.
The physical appearance of a camera is an excellent indicator.
The treatment on a camera can be seen with the naked eye and this can give you an idea of how well cared for the equipment is, be skeptical of equipment that has a lot of scratches or dings. If the owner claims that it is an unused equipment but you can see wear on the buttons, or in the rubber, distrust his word, yes, even if it is your neighbor.
We have a full post on what's a good shutter count for used camera that you can read to go deeper.
What to look for when buying an equipment?
Check the camera carefully for:
- Dead pixels on the screen
- Inflated batteries
- Excessive wear on buttons, threads, handles, etc.
- Make sure that if the camera has a built-in flash, it is working properly.
- Make sure it does not make strange noises when shooting.
Where to check Shutter Count Data
There are several of Shutter Count Websites available online, you're browsing one of them if you're ready, so just go to the nav menu and look for the home page and start reading yours. If you'd rather see every method, including desktop software and your camera's menu, read our guide on how to check shutter count.
Still deciding whether the shutter count even matters for your purchase? Our shutter count FAQ covers the questions users ask the most.