Mirrorless sensors deteriorate faster than DSLR?

[Overrank]

But mirrorless digital cameras are older than DSLRs. If this were an issue, we would have heard about it by now. Just seems like you're looking for something to worry about.

Is that true ? In the sense of “mirrorless” that’s used now (MILCs/EVILs)

 

[f1point4andbethere]

I've read a few discussions and articles about camera sensors deteriorating over time, or more specifically the CFA component gradually fades. There is a general consensus that yes, this does occur, but is dependant on a few factors; original durability and materials used, age, and possibly most importantly the collective amount of exposure. Like window tints on a car that slowly fade and you don't notice until you roll down the window and see that little strip at the top that's normally covered by the window seal and hasn't faded like the rest of the window. The big takeaway was that is happens so slowly, that the average life of a camera would likely not net any significant fading, which could meant 20 years before anything noticeable...

But, all of these discussions and articles are older and based on DSLR usage. A DSLR sensor would see the tiniest fraction of a sliver of exposure during general usage compared to a mirrorless. If exposure of the sensor is the main driver of CFA fading, then would that not dramatically expedite the aging of a sensor in a mirrorless vs a DSLR?

There doesn't seem to be much out there specifically updated to consider mirrorless, but I'm wondering if anyone here has any insight?

Can you provide links to the discussions and articles? Thanks!

I have not heard yet of a camera failing because of sensor deterioration due to CFA fading.

Just Google "camera sensor deteriorate with age" and you'll find pages of results with tons of discussions.

I think the general consensus is that your camera won't suddenly fail, but very slow degradation is expected.

 

[f1point4andbethere]

We have ~50 years of data on video cameras, has this phenomenon been noticed for those cameras?

Why look into that, when we can just rely on speculation and FUD?

Not a helpful comment at all.

OK, that was a bit crass. But mirrorless digital cameras are older than DSLRs. If this were an issue, we would have heard about it by now. Just seems like you're looking for something to worry about.

I can see how it might come across that way. Honestly, I'm more curious if anyone has any insight on the topic, rather than being worried about it. It's a genuine curiosity, not a worry. After all, isn't this the place to discuss these little curiosities?

 

[SrMi]

I've read a few discussions and articles about camera sensors deteriorating over time, or more specifically the CFA component gradually fades. There is a general consensus that yes, this does occur, but is dependant on a few factors; original durability and materials used, age, and possibly most importantly the collective amount of exposure. Like window tints on a car that slowly fade and you don't notice until you roll down the window and see that little strip at the top that's normally covered by the window seal and hasn't faded like the rest of the window. The big takeaway was that is happens so slowly, that the average life of a camera would likely not net any significant fading, which could meant 20 years before anything noticeable...

But, all of these discussions and articles are older and based on DSLR usage. A DSLR sensor would see the tiniest fraction of a sliver of exposure during general usage compared to a mirrorless. If exposure of the sensor is the main driver of CFA fading, then would that not dramatically expedite the aging of a sensor in a mirrorless vs a DSLR?

There doesn't seem to be much out there specifically updated to consider mirrorless, but I'm wondering if anyone here has any insight?

Can you provide links to the discussions and articles? Thanks!

I have not heard yet of a camera failing because of sensor deterioration due to CFA fading.

Just Google "camera sensor deteriorate with age" and you'll find pages of results with tons of discussions.

I think the general consensus is that your camera won't suddenly fail, but very slow degradation is expected.

Google results return lots of nonsense as well. My brief perusal of results shows no indication that CFA fading being an issue.

 

[OpticsEngineer]

A few years ago for my job I read through a few dozen papers and patents on color filter arrays, Long term stability of the chemicals, considering time, temperature and light exposure, were covered. I got the general impression from what I read that stability was becoming a solved problem. Just by the decline in discussion about it over the decades.

 

[alcelc]

that my first mirrorless, which is 17 years old this year, still has a sensor working perfectly. So are the 3 compacts and 6 MILCs after it. No need to guess.

I suppose anything in this digital world, if 10 years or older, should have been upgraded or about to upgrade. Since mirrorless are technology driven product, theceariler generations of mirrorless were replaced much sooner with the advancement on hardware and software. Sensor is a, not one of the most major reasons of me, to upgrade.

Therefore, on top of the durability of the sensor, I shall never bother with this.

 

[alcelc]

Mirrorless also uses electronic shutter. No physical shutter movement.

 

[Paul B Jones]

As a chronic worrier myself, this looks like a concern for which there is no known problem.

 

[sportyaccordy]

But mirrorless digital cameras are older than DSLRs. If this were an issue, we would have heard about it by now. Just seems like you're looking for something to worry about.

Is that true ? In the sense of “mirrorless” that’s used now (MILCs/EVILs)

For this conversation, the only meaningful difference between a P&S and MILC is that on the P&S the lens doesn't come off (easily). Fixed lens digital cameras have been around way longer than DILCs but we haven't heard of any of them having these kinds of issues.

 

[f1point4andbethere]

A few years ago for my job I read through a few dozen papers and patents on color filter arrays, Long term stability of the chemicals, considering time, temperature and light exposure, were covered. I got the general impression from what I read that stability was becoming a solved problem. Just by the decline in discussion about it over the decades.

This is the kind of insight I was hoping to gather here. Thank you.

 

[sybersitizen]

Mirrorless also uses electronic shutter. No physical shutter movement.

It would be good to clarify that mirrorless cameras may have electronic shutters in addition to mechanical shutters. Some have only mechanical shutters. Some have only electronic shutters. Some have hybrid (electronic front curtain) shutters.

 

[hikerdoc]

I can't imagine this being an issue except for cameras, like security cameras, that are in almost constant use.

For our purposes I'd bet shutters will expire before the sensor. Or other electronic components. Just got rid of some film cameras with shot metering circuitry, for example. So I'd think parts of digitals would similarly fail faster than the sensor itself.

I would further bet that the cameras have been replaced by many (?the majority of us) years before potential sensor degradation and hundreds of thousands of shutter releases before shutter failure.

 

[EmmaNems]

So on a mirrorless digital, does the shutter have to close and then open for the appropriate shutter speed for exposure?

In older models yes. Most current models also have the option to use "electronic first curtain" where the shutter stays open at the start of the exposure but closes to end the exposure. Plus for some purposes they can use full electronic shutter so the mechanical shutter is not used at all, but this does not work with flash and can have problems with moving subjects.

Does that make for a longer shutter delay than a DSLR would have?

Possibly, but I don't have definitive numbers.

Asking for a friend. I shoot film. My DSLR is rotting in storage.

Thanks for your response. If I were interested in a new digital, I wouldn't buy mirrorless.

 

[Kgluong]

As a chronic worrier myself, this looks like a concern for which there is no known problem.

 

[GarysInSoCal]

I've read a few discussions and articles about camera sensors deteriorating over time, the average life of a camera would likely not net any significant fading, which could meant 20 years before anything noticeable...

Twenty years!?!?!?... what monsterously blue sky did you pull that pie out of? With DSLR cams lasting approximately 10 years (or 300,000 shutter clicks)... and mirrorless lasting less than 1/2 as much (with significantly heavier usage/ie: video runtime)... that gives mirrorless sensors less than 5 years of operating life. No thanks... I'll stick to my DSLR's...

A DSLR sensor would see the tiniest fraction of a sliver of exposure during general usage compared to a mirrorless.

BINGO!

If exposure of the sensor is the main driver of CFA fading, then would that not dramatically expedite the aging of a sensor in a mirrorless vs a DSLR?

It surrrrrrre would... no one's gonna argue that fact.


Sabrina at PhamExpo... and that was NOT shot at F13... but rather F8... I don't know where the exif data came up with that erronious figure.

 

[BertIverson]

I've read a few discussions and articles about camera sensors deteriorating over time, or more specifically the CFA component gradually fades. There is a general consensus that yes, this does occur, but is dependant on a few factors; original durability and materials used, age, and possibly most importantly the collective amount of exposure. Like window tints on a car that slowly fade and you don't notice until you roll down the window and see that little strip at the top that's normally covered by the window seal and hasn't faded like the rest of the window. The big takeaway was that is happens so slowly, that the average life of a camera would likely not net any significant fading, which could meant 20 years before anything noticeable...

But, all of these discussions and articles are older and based on DSLR usage. A DSLR sensor would see the tiniest fraction of a sliver of exposure during general usage compared to a mirrorless. If exposure of the sensor is the main driver of CFA fading, then would that not dramatically expedite the aging of a sensor in a mirrorless vs a DSLR?

There doesn't seem to be much out there specifically updated to consider mirrorless, but I'm wondering if anyone here has any insight?

If one's CFA filter gradually fades over several years, can one not simply compensate either in-camera or post processing by adjusting saturation, contrast, etc. Seems like a non-issue to me (however, my camera is only 3 years old and I am over 80 so I am not losing sleep over this)

 

[sportyaccordy]

I've read a few discussions and articles about camera sensors deteriorating over time, the average life of a camera would likely not net any significant fading, which could meant 20 years before anything noticeable...

Twenty years!?!?!?... what monsterously blue sky did you pull that pie out of? With DSLR cams lasting approximately 10 years (or 300,000 shutter clicks)... and mirrorless lasting less than 1/2 as much (with significantly heavier usage/ie: video runtime)... that gives mirrorless sensors less than 5 years of operating life. No thanks... I'll stick to my DSLR's...

You sound ridiculous. I have a perfectly functional 9 year old MILC in a drawer somewhere. And it's not hard to find perfectly functioning DSLRs AND MILCs older than that for sale.

 

[dlevitt]

So on a mirrorless digital, does the shutter have to close and then open for the appropriate shutter speed for exposure?

In older models yes. Most current models also have the option to use "electronic first curtain" where the shutter stays open at the start of the exposure but closes to end the exposure. Plus for some purposes they can use full electronic shutter so the mechanical shutter is not used at all, but this does not work with flash and can have problems with moving subjects.

Does that make for a longer shutter delay than a DSLR would have?

Possibly, but I don't have definitive numbers.

Asking for a friend. I shoot film. My DSLR is rotting in storage.

Some cameras - like the Olympus OMD M1 mark 2, 3 and M1X can use flash with the electronic shutter [and I would think it likely the Sony A9 series has this feature as well].

 

[GarysInSoCal]

You sound ridiculous. I have a perfectly functional 9 year old MILC in a drawer somewhere. And it's not hard to find perfectly functioning DSLRs AND MILCs older than that for sale.

You leave a mirrorless camera in a drawer for 9 years... and I sound ridiculous?... LMAO! Do you even have 100 shutter clicks on it?

 

[Ed B]

I don't have any camera in regular use that is older than 2 years.

Why not?