Longevity of digital cameras

[ramarren]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

My 2003 Olympus E-1 is my oldest digital camera. It works perfectly, just as it did in 2006 when i bought it. 

As long as you can get batteries, and forestall internal corrosion, theres no reason a digital camera cannot last for decades, virtually forever. Particularly ones without the complex mechanical shutter/mirror assembly on an SLR. 

G

[pop]

2 hours ago, ramarren said:

no reason a digital camera cannot last for decades, virtually forever. Particularly ones without the complex mechanical shutter/mirror assembly on an SLR

I have been using a film SLR for twenty-five years. Point is, that thing already boasted several motors and about three processors. In the end, I gave it to a student in perfect working order.

[Al Brown]

I read somewhere that the mean estimated expected lifespan of analog M cameras is 75 years and of digital M cameras 15 years. We are hitting the latter number with M8 as we speak.

Edited December 28, 2022 by Al Brown

[Al Brown]

On 12/24/2022 at 4:47 PM, mmradman said:

Its good point batteries, ability to operate old camera may be limited by availability of fresh batteries once manufacturer stop producing accessories. 

True, but no fear needed that the M8/M9 batteries will be out of production for the foreseeable future, there is enough after market options even 15 years after their launch.

[pippy]

14 hours ago, Al Brown said:

True, but no fear needed that the M8/M9 batteries will be out of production for the foreseeable future, there is enough after market options even 15 years after their launch.

As there were somewhere in the region of a quarter of a million M8 + M9 bodies built - most of which are probably still be being used - I can't really see why Leica would stop manufacturing batteries for these cameras any time soon.

Philip.

[Ouroboros]

My oldest digital camera is a Nikon D200, bought in 2005 and it’s still going strong.  It’s a veteran of 100’s of weddings, has never needed to be serviced and is still in very good condition. 

I kept it because I’ve always liked its 10.2mp ccd sensor.  I’ve just searched to see what they sell for now, it seems you can pick up a D200 in good condition for less than £100.  That’s an absolute bargain for anyone who wants to use a camera with a ccd sensor and is not concerned with needing higher than iso 400 or a high capacity buffer.

My wife still uses it when she’s working with me at summer weddings. 
 

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by Ouroboros

[jaapv]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

On 12/27/2022 at 12:02 PM, dpitt said:

• Leica M5 - 1972 transformed for modern batteries but otherwise works fine
• Nikon FE - 1978
• Nikon 990 - 2001
• Digilux 2 - 2004
• R8+DMR - 2004 - batteries almost gone - otherwise fine
• M8 - 2007
• M9 - 2011 - replaced sensor 2016 

All of them still in working condition.

2 of them almost unusable because of unobtainable batteries. In case of M5 solved relatively cheap, I heard that you can have the innerworks of DMR batteries replaced by newer iphone batteries for ±500 euro a piece !

Same story with all of them, sudden death on the first essential part that fails, but lucky survivors can reach 40 years IMO

DMR batteries can easily be refurbished. 500 Euro sounds ridiculous to me. Try these guys: https://www.akku-mainz.eu/leica-camera/leica-14447/item/leica-dmr-14447  It is years ago, but I think they did mine.

[dpitt]

On 12/28/2022 at 8:32 PM, ramarren said:

My 2003 Olympus E-1 is my oldest digital camera. It works perfectly, just as it did in 2006 when i bought it. 

As long as you can get batteries, and forestall internal corrosion, theres no reason a digital camera cannot last for decades, virtually forever. Particularly ones without the complex mechanical shutter/mirror assembly on an SLR. 

G

Decades are possible, but in the end the Barnack and M3's will outlive them all. Maybe film will be unobtainable in 100 years but none of the electronics will work then.
Capacitors die around 40 years after production. Transistors can last a little bit longer, but not indefinitely. The sensors are basically a kind of (photosensitive)transistor array, so I expect similar max lifespan.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Olaf_ZG]

43 minutes ago, dpitt said:

in 100 years but none of the electronics will work then.
 

Neither will I, so that’s fine…

[dpitt]

8 hours ago, jaapv said:

DMR batteries can easily be refurbished. 500 Euro sounds ridiculous to me. Try these guys: https://www.akku-mainz.eu/leica-camera/leica-14447/item/leica-dmr-14447  It is years ago, but I think they did mine.

Actually, i think it was in this video that Thorsten Overgaard talked about losing his batteries for the DMR. It may cost 90 Euro to refurbish your battery but buying one without turning the old one in can get very expensive apparently.

.

Edited December 30, 2022 by dpitt

[ramarren]

1 hour ago, dpitt said:

... in 100 years ...

That's about 70 years past my expiration date, at the best.   

G

[Kiwimac]

I have a Leica Digilux 1 I found in a box when we moved house last year. No charger though so no idea if it works.

[costa43]

I have an M8u, M9p and M9M all working as new. I also have an old Technics hifi system from the early 1990s that is still working if that counts

[sometimesmaybe]

i just got started in the exciting world of 'digicams' and im currently rocking this 5.1mp beast. 1st released in 2003 and still works like a dream. im keen to grab a Leica digicam though, but have no idea where to start 🤷‍♂️

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Keith (M)]

Reference my earlier post (#8), whilst looking on a backup drive I came across photos from 2005 with the Nikon Coolpix 5200, so flicked through them to refresh my memory on typical results from this little 5Mp 'shirt pocket' camera.  Seems to have served me quite well.  

Click for higher res.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Herr Barnack]

On 12/28/2022 at 4:59 PM, Al Brown said:

I read somewhere that the mean estimated expected lifespan of analog M cameras is 75 years and of digital M cameras 15 years. We are hitting the latter number with M8 as we speak.

With a 15 year mean estimated life expectancy for digital M cameras, it sounds like the strategy is to either sell/trade the camera in question at about 7-8 years of age, giving the next owner a decent life expectancy or stock up on batteries for the camera and use it until it dies of natural causes.

Edited January 17 by Herr Barnack

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[jakontil]

3 hours ago, Keith (M) said:

Reference my earlier post (#8), whilst looking on a backup drive I came across photos from 2005 with the Nikon Coolpix 5200, so flicked through them to refresh my memory on typical results from this little 5Mp 'shirt pocket' camera.  Seems to have served me quite well.  

Click for higher res.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

So filmic looks or at least quite mesmerizing… 

[Camaro5]

I think anything can last a long time if it's well cared for and you don't drop it off of a cliff.  Everything needs maintenance once in a while to keep it going and useful, including ourselves.

My oldest camera is a 1954 Zeiss Ikonta, a medium format folding camera.  I had it serviced and it still works fine.  It uses 120 roll film.  I don't use it much these days, and it resides in a display box on my fireplace mantle.  

I expect my Leicas to last just as long with the proper TLC.