Over time, the forces involved in opening and closing the shutter are going to lead to the parts wearing out and the shutter mechanism breaking down. In order to stay open for such a short amount of time, it needs to start moving very quickly and then stop moving just as fast.
This process also often moves incredibly quickly, which can subject them to a surprising amount of force:įor example, if you’re taking a picture in bright afternoon sunlight, your shutter may only be open for 1/1000 of a second or less. Then, a curtain will move from top to bottom, exposing the sensors, followed by another curtain covering it. It’s a mechanism that flips a DSLR’s mirror out of the way, built from tiny and delicate parts. It’s an important number that indicates the life expectancy of your camera. Shutter count is the amount of photos that your camera has taken. This is also very important when considering purchasing a used camera. As a camera gets older, it’s important to be aware of your camera’s shutter count. The most important are the shutter mechanism and the motor that flips up the mirror in a DSLR. Modern cameras have complicated electronics, but only a few moving parts.
