Technical life of a digital camera

We talked about how long many pro film camera lasts -- 30 years and still running. Anybody has some theory of how long the digital camera will last? Here, I am not asking about its technological age. It's technically obsolete in just a year. But I am asking about how it long it will last before failure.

I was one of the first to use the B&W LCD Apple powerbook laptop computer before 1990, and a common problem was dead pixels. I stopped using the machine in less than 3 years.

The heart of the digital camera is the image sensor, and how long do you think before a few pixels will start dying. And how long do you think manufacturers carry spares before you turn a dead digicam into paperweight.

Finally, between the CMOS and CCD imager, can anybody tell us which inherently is more reliable and more lasting (5 years, 10 years, 20 years, lifetime, what?)

Hello Ismail

Here in Canada manufacturers are only obliged to carry spare parts for 7 years. I think we will be lucky to get a decent 5 years from our pro digital camaras.

Techonology is advancing so quickly and you are on the digital tread mill with digital and will want rid of any camerat by three to five years just to keep up with the latest features and quality.

Just look at Kodak's five year old digital cameras who really wants them today, only the desperate for digital or cash strapped photographer??

Stephen

ismail said:

We talked about how long many pro film camera lasts -- 30 years and
still running. Anybody has some theory of how long the digital
camera will last? Here, I am not asking about its technological
age. It's technically obsolete in just a year. But I am asking
about how it long it will last before failure.

I was one of the first to use the B&W LCD Apple powerbook laptop
computer before 1990, and a common problem was dead pixels. I
stopped using the machine in less than 3 years.

The heart of the digital camera is the image sensor, and how long
do you think before a few pixels will start dying. And how long do
you think manufacturers carry spares before you turn a dead digicam
into paperweight.

Finally, between the CMOS and CCD imager, can anybody tell us which
inherently is more reliable and more lasting (5 years, 10 years, 20
years, lifetime, what?)

Click to expand...

ismail said:

We talked about how long many pro film camera lasts -- 30 years and
still running. Anybody has some theory of how long the digital
camera will last? Here, I am not asking about its technological
age. It's technically obsolete in just a year. But I am asking
about how it long it will last before failure.

Click to expand...

At this time the technology is not any better from year to year - or much so the technology file of a 4~6MP class camera will be 2~4 years. The innards depend on who made the components and for what market and who bought them for a different market. The ill-fated Nikon D1 has all but been withdrawn because of component failure and replaced in 18 months, the newer version is carrying better quality components designed for its environment – this is not so much a technology development rather a hardening of components to resist a variety of influences that they were never originally designed to withstand. Ergo this machine has a life expectancy of just two years – how long it will actually last in a second, third and fourth-hand scenarios remain to be seen – those in the know though will still only buy new. The new D1X and H should be good for 2~3 years professional first life and a have a healthy trade in value and probably a 10 year useful lifespan.

ismail41251 said:

I was one of the first to use the B&W LCD Apple powerbook laptop
computer before 1990, and a common problem was dead pixels. I
stopped using the machine in less than 3 years.

The heart of the digital camera is the image sensor, and how long
do you think before a few pixels will start dying. And how long do
you think manufacturers carry spares before you turn a dead digicam
into paperweight.

Click to expand...

Two years = current state-of-the-art with current metals. However, thereafter the question is how fast the deterioration will continue to the point that 'film scratch lines' appear in the files and become too much to repair. How long will a CCD stay around - the newer ones 2~5 years – but it is not beyond the technological capabilities to build an upgradeable camera – one just needs the will, like and oil crisis to motivate the designers.

ismail41251 said:

Finally, between the CMOS and CCD imager, can anybody tell us which
inherently is more reliable and more lasting (5 years, 10 years, 20
years, lifetime, what?)

Click to expand...

Don't know - but take it as a lead that the CMOS was designed for the "cheaper" applications and multifunctional applications whereas the CCD will still be found (for the foreseeable future) in high end products - even if they are less specified with less features but higher raw quality - and presumably resilience -- but I don't think any real comparisons can be drawn from that.

Stephen Livick said:

Just look at Kodak's five year old digital cameras who really wants
them today, only the desperate for digital or cash strapped
photographer??

Click to expand...

Yes, but two things - firstly they were developmental - now the development is finished but refining will continue - obviously.

Secondly - Kodak got their sums wrong - they f* ed up and cannot be taken as a model of "how to do it right" influence people and win customers.

I suspect that the Kodak involvement will eventually merit a single line in history books in relation to the digital development.

ismail41251 said:

Anybody has some theory of how long the digital
camera will last? Here, I am not asking about its technological
age. It's technically obsolete in just a year. But I am asking
about how it long it will last before failure.

Click to expand...

I have extensive experience with three models, and from them I have come to believe that it will be different for different cameras. I should explain that I use my cameras in an application where we shoot several thousand frames per day, so I see a lot more wear-related failure than most others might.

First, the Toshiba PDR-M4 just isn't all that well put together. One failure mode is that the screw which holds the mode dial may simply loosen and fall into the camera body after a six months or a year of use. I have had five M4's fail, while shooting about 500,000 frames. Each of the failures was different, but they all suggest that if you get 100,000 frames before needing service, you're doing well.

Second, I tried an Olympus C-3030Z. Very nice camera, but a bit too delicate for my use. At about 40,000 frames, the shutter mechanism began making grinding noises, and it failed at 45,000. Olympus fixed it under warranty, but I really have the impression that Olympus makes precision equipment, and the cameras are not suitable for cracking walnuts. I sold it.

Finally, I have bought five Toshiba PDR-M70's, with which I have shot maybe another 600,000 frames. Not a single failure yet, although that may just be luck. I haven't seen references to needing service for them (unlike the M4, where there are long discussions about how to fix various problems.)

I have no idea what sorts of stress will damage the CCD or the optics, but I guess I'd say the mechanical aspects of the camera body and electronics are likely to be good for very roughly 100,000 frames on the average, which is far more than most people will ever attempt.

6 Months. By that time even if your camera is not dead the new cameras will make you not to touch these outdated cameras.

I disagree. My D30 is 6 months old and there is no sign of it being superseded any time soon. Canon will release a Pro model soon but it'll be in a different price bracket. My guess is that it will be around a year before Canon releases a replacement to my D30, and a further 6 months before it's widely available.

And besides, even when they do that, it wont detract from the enjoyment I get from using the D30. I don't expect I'll replace it for at least 4 years, maybe longer. The bottom line is that it does what I want it to do - good photos printed to A3 size - I don't need better than that.

Mark Mullai said:

6 Months. By that time even if your camera is not dead the new
cameras will make you not to touch these outdated cameras.

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My point is The camears will become obselete sooner than their usefule life. This will improve with the digital market getting matured
Mark

md said:

And besides, even when they do that, it wont detract from the
enjoyment I get from using the D30. I don't expect I'll replace it
for at least 4 years, maybe longer. The bottom line is that it does
what I want it to do - good photos printed to A3 size - I don't
need better than that.

Mark Mullai said:

6 Months. By that time even if your camera is not dead the new
cameras will make you not to touch these outdated cameras.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...