Nikon DSLR cameras incorporate a shutter mechanism capable of moving extremely fast to help capture split second detail. The mechanical precision required to achieve shutter speeds up to 1/8000s is awe inspiring. However as with everything mechanical, it will likely need to be serviced or replaced someday.
There is no way to accurately tell the total number of times your camera shutter has released. While there are third party software applications designed to read a cameras shutter count, this number is not always accurate because the shutter release times may be reset by firmware updates, or reset in the Service department if certain parts are replaced or other operations are performed.
Since an exact number of releases before failure cannot be exactly calculated, a formula is used to estimate when it may occur, called MTBF ( Mean Time Between Failures). MTBF is a mathematical system that uses statistical analysis to project an average expected 'lifespan' of a given item. Based on testing and past performance, along with service information, we can formulate an estimated average number of shutter releases ( also referred to as actuations orcycles ) that can be expected before probable shutter failure.
The term Mean is referring to a mathematical average and not to an exact number- the actual amount may be higher or lower. We have compiled a short list of several Nikon models and the test data for each. Data is only available for the models listed below.
DSLR Model | Estimated number of Shutter Actuations |
D3 - series | tested to 300,000 cycles |
D700 | tested to 150,000 cycles |
D300(s) | tested to 150,000 cycles |
D90 | tested to over 100,000 cycles |
D5000/D3000 | tested to over 100,000 cycles |
