If you want to see exactly what I do for my marketing as a pro commercial photographer, head here www.tinhouse-studio.com/product/photography-marketing-101/

My heavily (ab)used Nikon D 800, bought april 2012 is nearing the 1,9 million shutter count without any service except for some sensor cleaning. It worked, time lapsed starry skies through a lot of frosty nights. It rolled 100 m of a mountain slope with a 90 mm macro and technically it survived unharmed... still works great, like my F3 and F5.

My city lost our last camera repair guy a few years back :( The local shop sends everything in to the manufacturer now. Although one of the biggest problems here is the lack of Right to Repair laws for more modern cameras. Lack of repair schematics and manufacturers outright blocking sale of board level components to end users and independent repair shops is a huge problem in the increasingly electronic world.

When I got back into photography 5 years ago a good friend who was a professional photographer lent me his backup camera, a Nikon D700. It was released in 2008 and sported 12MP. I bought one used after returning the loaner and love the look and feel of the camera. It is a tank! And the quality of the images is outstanding. No plans to buy a newer camera.

you are probably the most down to earth photographer i have ever seen. no new gear no nonsense just straight pure photography, I cant say im the same but its so refreshing and awesome to see. youve earnt my subscription keep it up man!

Hi I'm the "Infant Mortality" dude. :) Quick note in general on electronic and mechanical system failures. Mechanical systems, cogs, levers and springs degrade with use. If you put a clockwork clock on the shelf and leave it for a hundred years, provided it's a non corrosive environment and you never wind it, give it a clean and lube and it'll still run like new even after 100 years. Same applies to all mechanical cameras. All solid state electronic components are chemically based. Chemicals degrade over time, with or without use. Cameras that rely on microprocessors which include film cameras made after about 1980 will have degrading electronic components inside them. So how long do solid state electronic components last? Simple answer is no one is sure. However the earliest microprocessor cameras like the Canon A1 are now starting to fail. No one including Canon and myself ever expected them to last for half a century! Both my A1's are now dead. Switched them on and the LED (Not LCD) readout said F*** Off, leave me alone! The problems made worse by the fact that those early processors are no longer manufactured and cannot be remanufactured . My oldest electronically controlled camera that still works is a Nikon F90X film camera bought new in about 93, but I fully expect it to spontaneously die one day. So to sum up. there are two kinds of electronic camera, (Film or digital). Those that are dead and those that are gonna die. So use them and enjoy them. They are an absolute bargain on Ebay. How many electronically controlled Canons and Nikons end up in landfill? Most of them.. How many all mechanical Leicas end up in landfill? None of them. My personal favourite DSLR is my D700, I'll cry when it turns up its toes and ceases to be. Or maybe I'll be first to go, who knows?

Between you and Martin Castein you've saved me a lot of money. I was looking to "upgrade" my Canon 6D but woke up to the fact that it is an absolutely, perfectly great, camera. Martin makes the point that the actual image quality, the colours, the important things, are superb on the 6D, possibly better than its replacements. I accept that a working Pro may need dual card slots and "usability" features, but, for us enthusiastic amateurs, cameras were more than good enough 10 years ago.

Years ago, I heard of something called the "bathtub effect", which is to say that the failure rate of electronic devices is "high" at first, then low for a while before they begin to fail on mass.

Got a 5d mark ii in 2008, a real tank, it is still my only camera. I shoot almost every day. Brought it under every weather condition and it never failed me. We are talking about quality when you buy something that you want to last. And I do not have any intention to replace it

I upgraded to a mirrorless from DSLR because it just makes my life so much easier. Eye-AF, edge-to-edge focus points, 20fps etc etc. As a result I reckon I’m far more likely to get the shot I want, and I get way more “keeper” images in %age terms. The decision was nothing to do with image quality. I occasionally use the DSLR, and it’s like going back to a relic, but if you’re shooting in a studio tethered or doing landscapes, none of those features would make any difference to you. A camera is just a tool, if you need an electric screwdriver, there’s no point in buying a really expensive garden fork.

Thanks for that. I really needed it as I was looking to buy a new camera. New perspective on things, thanks to you.

Great slide show at the end! Nice to see the possibilities of older gear in portrait work.

Good, straight forward advice from a working professional photographer. I enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the photographic community.😊👍

I´m in my 60's and a hobbyist - mainly weekend photography. I expect my latest purchase - a Canon 90D - to last for the most part of the rest of my life. I know someone with a Canon 40D who has had it for absloutely yonks. It must have had many hundreds of thousands of shutter actualizations, and it's still going strong.

Another excellent video, Scott! 👏I am rapidly coming round to your way of thinking about using older, high-quality gear. Especially since my new-ish Fujifilm 27mm f2.8 R WR has suffered "infant mortality". 🙁 Look forward to your next video. 👍

I bought a 1DS when they came out and am still using it now for portraits. Bought my son a 5Dmk2 when they came out for his tenth birthday and it is still his main camera- 15 years later. Funny thing about that is that we both have 1DX's as second bodies and three megapixel D30's for fun. L Series lenses seem to bring out the best in anything that you put them on!

Gorgeous work my man. Truly 🙏 I've had my 5DM3 for 10 years now, and only recently have i pulled the trigger to upgrade to an R6. As for glass, my 85 1.2 ef is going strong! doubt i'll ever get rid of it.

We just bought aCanon 1dx mkii three months ago, it’s an amazing camera and the image quality is very special. Great video.

I just took my 5d mark ii out with me for a walk yesterday. I bought it used 2 years ago. Love it! I have a RP that I use for festivals and portraits but the 5d mark ii, the weight and the ruggedness of it is just so satisfying to shoot outdoors!

Great video. We are all being hyped on the new tech despite old can still do all we really need.

Failure rate in electronic equipment is described as the bathtub curve, where the failure rate is higher at the beginning and end of the product life cycle.

I have a 5D mkll that has 500k+ shutter count and it won't quit. I se it as a backup for a MK III and MK IV. The 5D series is a tough critter.

You do great work! Very generous with your wisdom.. Thank you

That's a proper real world vid, thank you .

You make some very valid points!

I mainly shoot studio portraits and movement shots with a Canon R5 these days, with an EOS R as a backup. I do have a 2008 5D Mark ii that I have recently started using again. The pictures from the older camera have great colours and a slight softness that suits studio portraits very well.

I've just bought a Nikon D7000. 12 year old camera. Hardly a mark on it. 7,000 shutter actuations. £150. Over £1000 new! I really don't think there is any point in buying a new camera these days, unless you MUST have the latest all-singing-all-dancing piece of kit.

I bought a used 6D back in 2019. It was cheap. I asked how many shots it was. Lady said "A lot". Bought it anyways. I get home, hook it up to a program that tells me an aprox of the shutter count "Hmm only 460k! Yeah that's a lot" and it I probably took at least another 15k on it before I sold it off cheap.

Great topic! I still have and use my Canon 20D as my "beater" camera when I go camping and while it needs a servicing/cleaning, it still shoots really well. I don't do tethering so my Canon 70D and 5DMk IV has been a perfect combo for me.

Great videos and sensible perspective. Just bought a Canon 5D Classic in near new condition for AUD$250. Loving the build quality, simplicity and the shutter sounds amazing too. Images from the 12 megapixel sensor look film like. Like the anticipation of seeing the pictures on my computer screen as LCD screen is low res by today’s standards. As close as you can get to that film camera experience which is simply awesome.

Just to correct you Canon 5D Mk2 is 2008 not 2005. And as you mentioned independent repair services, could you recommend me some in London you personally used and trust. Because, to find good, trustworthy third party repairs, I think the best way is if it's recomended by professionals who used them. Thank you.

Retired my 23 year old 1DS last week - been everywhere with me - survived being frozen / left outside the tent in -30c in the Arctic to +55c never serviced. Still works in it's primitive way. Hoping the Z9 gives me the same level of service.

Glad to hear mention of he F-1. I was a U.S. Army photographer in the early to mid-70’s and shot almost exclusively with one. Attached to an armored division, we photographers had our own “tanks.”

Lol best part of this video was 6:50-7:00 lol The absolute bliss on your face. I do the same with some of my older cameras. I've upgraded a few times in my career, mostly because I moved from APS-C to Full frame. But I still kept my older bodies just due to personal memories. That, and I wasn't going to get much for them on the second hand market anyway since they weren't very sought after bodies. But I will often take them from my shelf, look them over, fiddle with the nobs and wheels and just remember the good times I had with them.

I bought a 5D2 and 5DsR recently, it's amazing how accessible professional, heavy duty gear is now.

I personally think the 5dm2 was the greatest camera ever made lol .. when i travel to sketchy countries i exclusively use that body $200-$400 value

Loved that last bit

Got my 1Dsii just over 4 years ago w/ 283k actuations, really pleased with the images sharpness with non L glass. Last week I was considering trade it in on a 1DX, but I didn't have my charger with me as I'm on trip, so they would take my 1Dsii on trade. Which then lead me to reluctantly trade my 5Dii to cover half the value of what they wanted for the 1DX. The 1DX I got is in immaculate shape, but close to 750K actuations, so I'm hoping for the best on the shutter...But glad I retained the 1Dsii as I love of the it's shutter clack, it's magical, reminds me a lot of my T90. Enjoy your opinions from one that makes a living with his gear, appreciate your content.

Still using the Fuji XT2 from 2016 , great stills camera & it's more than i need .

I just bought a Nikon D610. 5700ish shutter count, and I love it. It came out in 2013, 24.3 MP, full frame. It's got everything you need for a great photography experience.

I deal with inkjet printers, particularly the waste ink pad issue, so planned obsolescence isn't a new concept for me but the point you made about Canon forcing you to pay stupid money for something as basic as a charger made me realise I hadn't considered the same issues when it came to cameras. This is particularly important for me right now as I'm in the process of deciding how to upgrade from 1080p camcorders to 4K options including mirrorless units like Sony alpha 6500 / EV10's or the Panasonic GH5's. I'm now starting to question what I'm missing about those units that might life limit their use as video cameras for content like this... Food for thought so thanks for adding a new variable I need to consider...

I've had a lot of fun this year picking up pro bodies and glass for pennies from y2k and shooting film. I got a cherry 80-200 2.8 to play with this weekend for 200 bucks shipped.

Its amazing how much the industry or generally consumerism promotes "New Gear Means Better" So its refreshing hearing the opposite from someone with your experience on KZfaq.

I still shoot Sony A-mount, which Sony officially abandoned only a year or two ago but really abandoned about 6 years ago. The two A99ii bodies I have are absolutely amazing, and while the new ones can do things mine can't the difference is tiny. I will be keeping these for MANY years to come, unless I win $10 million - but even then I might buy the newest, but I'll still keep and shoot these!

Still using my D300/MB-D10 combination from 2009,and it still produces excellent images.Recenty went more modern,with a D5100,and couldn't resist buying a D3200 two weeks ago,for £30.I use all three,with various lens combinations,but have paired an old 18-70 with the D5100,and am impressed with the results.

I just recently got a used Sony a7SII, and it absolutely is a beast despite the years it has. Your entire point on infinite mortality is the reason why I chose to get a model like that compared to a newer Sony A line camera. After 7 years, the camera is still going strong, and least likely to break. With how fast Sony seems to launch new cameras, I'm in no rush to upgrade anytime soon. Plus once you start building out a rig, it's far more affordable to stick with that than to keep on seeking out a new camera body with a rig system that varies in which company does it best.

Nice didn't know you shot ash widdicombe. Cool!

what did you film this on? Very good quality video

I buy the lasted gear as soon as it is released. Always have. I don't gamble, I don't' drink, don't do drugs, I don't play golf and am happy with 'whatever' car. I love photography and the latest camera and lens. I am addicted.

I have one of those old phase cameras and I bought a MacPro to shoot tethered with it, Love that setup

It’s the classic case of don’t worry as much about the camera as you do about the lens. The market’s thirst for new tech makes great cameras from 10+ years ago cheap… but even old lenses are expensive if they’re any good

My Nikon D3s has around 180k on the shutter. I still use it very often, over my Z6ii and D850. It shoots at 9fps which is more than enough for my hobby 😂I love the way the photos look. It definitely has a more "film" style look to the files over these 2 new cameras. I never had a need to upgrade, those 2 other cameras are wants.

Couldn't agree more, I got a 1ds mk2 a couple of years back. Superb camera, brilliant for me (a keen amateur) to get used to shooting in Manuel mode. Also, I paid £200 for it with two batteries and a canon charger, as you said the charger is worth more on its own now. Not that I'll part with it though! 😊

I look forward to continuing to shoot my Zanza Bronica S2a from 1969 and my Pentax 645 from 1985. They work flawlessly still. And yeah, they don't have the creature comforts like eye autofocus and live view and tethering like my R5 or some of the features of my 6D Mk II. But I have zero issues with them. (Save for the battery housing on the 645 which I'm having 3d printed as the last one fell apart, which it is known for being thin, cheap plastic compared to the rest of the body). Even my 60D still works great. And it's 13 years old. I was showing people in an amateur group that you don't need the latest and greatest by shooting with that 60D and a kit 55-250 F4-5.6 lens. And it looked great. I had to slow down a bit to get the shots but especially for a beginner photographer, that's not a bad thing. Great video Scott. I really loved that photo of the drummer in the library. The feeling and juxtaposition of a drummer in a library was great. The lighting was perfect. Loved it. Great portrait stuff too. Really enjoyed seeing that previous work of yours.

For what it's worth ... my oldest digital camera is a Panasonic Lumix FZ-40 that the earliest pictures I can find for it are from January 2011. More amazing to me is that I've managed to keep both lithium batteries for it working and not lose the proprietary USB cable.

I DAILY USE A 1DS MARK II 😃 such a beautiful camera and definitely built like a tank 😊 love it and probably won't upgrade for a while as im an amateur and this is more camera then I need 😜

My first dslr oil bought was my Canon T3i (600D) in January 2012. I gave it to my daughter in 2018 when I upgraded to an 80D. The camera is still going strong today after 11 years and she's still using the same two batteries I used with it. I now use a 90D and an R7. O also have a 5D mark III That I don't even use anymore.

That happy face when hearing the shutter of 1 Ds MK II...priceless.

My 11 year plus 7D with 140k actuations is still going strong, and the sensor and resolutions is plenty good for 4K timelapse in a studio setup, I even bought a couple of 550D's for next to nothing to complement it.

This is so true ,I purchased Nikon d3s for years now some have lasted some have not.

I just bought one of them 1Ds II’s for next to nothing. It’s refreshing to use a camera that slows you down.

It’s not so much the camera: the lenses and the mentor this is very important …. Thanxs for the video ….

You're spot on by pointing out what amounts to diminishing returns on camera gear, especially modern gear. Why is a full on pro camera of a decade ago any less pro now than it was back then? Nothing really changed other than fancy focusing systems and fast frames per second, neither of which are necessary because of the dozens of years people have been taking amazing photographs before those features existed. The only advancements being made are to improve the fringe cases of photography like low light, less noise at high ISO, and needing better dynamic range. Modern gear makes dealing with those situations more automatic and way easier, but it doesn't mean the old gear can't do it if handled properly. It's the desire for the newest thing and equating newer with better. Only a select few types of photographers actually "need" the improvements new cameras offer. The rest just like shiny new gear, which I totally understand, but it's not the necessity some people think it is. At the end of the day the client is not going to know or care what body the images were taken on, as long as they look good. All the gear does is make life easier for the person taking the photographs, and that's what modern gear does by automating most processes and increasing the consistency of usable images by improving focusing and sensor performance.

I still use my 2001 lumix lc1 for landscape - so good!

Showing off.. Jking lol. Great video as always my friend

I tell you what, me and my manfrotto tripod are still going strong after a decade, the ol gh4 is still kicking as well.

I just bought a secondhand DSLR as my first camera, Canon EOS 600D, cheap, tens of thousand shutter count, and a Tamron 70-300 (also secondhand). And it absolutely destroy my smartphone in lowlight (Galaxy Note 8, yeah, old too) especially when I started zooming in to the image. I really love that thing.

Jeez. And I was worried my 70D was getting a bit long in the tooth. Thanks for reminding me of what's important.

My Nikon D300, APS-C, lasted 13 years. I'm saving for a D850. I have lenses that are older.

Wow awesome shots at the end 🤩 great video. I like seeing your film pictures too. I eventually want to buy a film camera 🤌

Totally agree... I still use D3s, D810 and even D90 (which is still mint)...

I had a 1d mk iii that I bought used and was in love with for the colors but it had an issue with the shutter making the top of the image a little dark. I then got a 1d iv used but a little newer. I love the updated screen resolution and not having a 10 mp camera Haha. With 16 mp, a decent screen and a phenomenal price (about $400 down from, what 4k?) I love the 1d mk iv!! The sensor is unique as an aps-h, sized in between FF and APS-C but it makes it unique and better than an APS-C and of course, those sexy awesome 1d bodies were tanks! I’d love to see you cover an old 1D body! Do it!! 🤣🤣🤣

Right there with you. I'm no luddite and tech has its benefits, obviously, but I do occasionally get nostalgic for the film days when a body could last you your whole career as long as your shutter and winder worked. For all intents and purposes, anyway. No sensors, processors, software, file formats, connections, media, etc. to go obsolete - a fresh roll of film and access to some form of a lab took care of all of that. That said, a pair of 5D mkIII's have been my workhorses for over a decade. God knows how many shutter activations they have, but it's definitely well past 150K and it wouldn't surprise me if it was approaching half a million. My very recently acquired R6 mkII is the first upgrade in all that time, which I made reluctantly and only because it made sense for what I'm doing.

Have canon d30. Their first consumer DSLR. Boought it december 2000. Still working.

I used a 5D MkIII for six years as my all-purpose camera. If I didn't have a need for sports centric performance, I'd probably still have it today. I'd imagine whoever has it now could use it for another six to ten years easily.

I still use my Nikon D70, still takes great pictures. Also, I think I recognized Brian Blessed in the portraits.

Hey Scott! - Does your 5dsr have the back of the back of camera view when tethering? I can't find any info about this happening but my 5dsr doesn't show the image on the camera screen while tethering :/ any ideas how to fix this issue?

Thank you for this video… In these days where every month there is a new camera coming out, we need somebody like you who is sharing the quality of older cameras. Those old DSLRs really have something in them. I dont know if mirrorless will last that long because today nothing is really build with same quality like before, buuuut we really have great Image quality in new sistems.

Canon 7d and 1d4 for documentary. Only thing is very high iso when or IF things get seriously dark. Total tanks. The 1d has been in total rainstorms, perfectly fine. The lens complained, but silica gel… it goes on. Fair points.

I shoot 99 percent sports. The old 1/3 crop bodies are perfect for daytime sports. This time of the year, I get to use my old 1dmk4. I love the way the images look. There is something about the color and grain that looks amazing. I shot over 3k photos this past week alone with it. However, when the sun goes down and all I have are stadium lights, or I am inside a gym, my 1dmk4 stays on my desk and my R3 moves to primary. For high resolution, I have 5dsr on your recommendation. That saved me a fortune.

Still have and use my only camera the Nikon D7100, the only grips i have with it is the weight and size. I’m exited for the mirrorless cameras because of that but my D7100 is standing strong to this day.

My Sony A7R IV buttons stopped being clicky and became mushy within a year of just casual weekend use for wildlife photography. Camera works fine but it is a little annoying the buttons don't feel like new and a couple buttons sometimes get stuck. Should last me forever though, as long as the buttons don't fail

Yup, I started earning money with photography in 2014. I started with a second hand Nikon D700 from 2012 and I have subsequently bought a D500, 2 x D750, and a Z7ii along with some ancient cameras for a bit of fun. They all still work perfectly and I won't fall for upgraditis until there is something I need to do that my current gear won't. I once won a competition with the D700 (12mp) with a pic that had been very heavily cropped to around 4mp and nothing was mentioned or noticed about it being low resolution.

still have the 10D working :) and I dont regret getting the 1dxmk2 :) and canon 6d still rocks! Fed 5C still working and it has a film in it!

just drilled a hole in the top of my R3 I mustl ook profesional . lol great video

My Olympus E-1 was made in 10/03 and is still going strong. I use Linux for the computer end of it and it works just fine for data transfer. Darktable offers a tether function but I have yet to try it.

The RB shot of Josh is 👌🏽

I freakin LOVE you channel! I plan to shoot DSLR’s until I die!

My 1dx2 is sitting at 1.3M actuations. Still sounds robust, no error codes. The pro bodies have always been built to a whole other level. That said, decided to send it in to replace the shutter just in case 😁

The best part of the video is that the camera shutter sounds. Ooff needs a 10-hour-long video of that camera sounds in a loop.

My Father (an amateur Bird photographer) just gave me his Canon 5DSR, because he moved to Canon R series, for the focussing capabilities and 40fps!!. I just love the 5DSR. As I posted below I have a Canon 6D (amongst a few others) but I love the way the 5D slows me down, and how much of a tank it feels. I've yet to really push that 50Mp capability but I just bought some plastic "fake" surfaces (planks, stone ...etc) with which to try my hand at some product/food shoots. Winter is here and I live in a tourist town, so maybe I'll approach some restaurants to do some money-making shoots.

Only had one shutter fail which was on my 1DmkIIn and that was at about 300k, both my original 1Dx’s are at over 600k. But I have finally semi retired then to move to mirrorless

In 2005 I bought a Pentax *istDL 6 megapixel CCD sensor camera I still own and use it with the firmware update I can use SDHC memory cards I use AA rechargeable batteries i n it so I don't have to worry about a special charger . I can use M42 lenses , manuel and autofocus lenses on the camera

Great video and very much a question of mine. I am an amateur and don’t shoot more than 5,000 images per camera a year. I like to collect cameras and have 9 bodies. My question is will digital cameras last 20+ years? I am not worried about the mechanical bits, it is the sensor, boards, connectors, data ribbons and all the other “digital” parts. If they will last, don’t tell my wife because I am going out to buy more (old) cameras! I completely agree that an “old” 16mp camera can still take wonderful photos. I get a chuckle out of all the talk about the latest 40mp camera being crap because the auto focus didn’t detect the eye of the mosquito flying by. Time for a firmware upgrade to add mosquito eye detection. I hope to keep buying used cameras that others think are too old and lacking in the latest features but I love to collect.

All pics look great watching videos on KZfaq when using my phone. I think most people won't appreciate the much higher resolution in more modern cameras when watching videos/ pictures in this format.

Still have my old reliable 1DS MKII and it still my most used camera, mainly due to so used to it and love it. I have multiple other bodie including a 5D IV, iDX mkIIi, a R5 along with a an OLD 30D and a 7d I. Love them all and appreciate the R5 the more I use it. MY old 30D is in need of repair and the7D has had 2 shutter replacment with each over 250K shots. All have there purpose, but the one that is always with me for the quick snap is The 1DS, teh 1DX is my BIF in camera when I go for dedicated BIF such a eagle migration or California Condor capture. Just can not beat a well designed and manufacture body and Canon does that in spades.

I have a Canon 1D Classic, every once in a while I dust it off and take a few images. I love the unique look of Canon's first Pro-DSLR.

I couldn't agree more! My Nikon D700 (which came out in 2008) I've bought in 2017 with around 92k clicks is my go-to-camera. I'd never wanna part of it anytime because the results it delivers are straight up amazing. At this point I have roundabout 40 cameras, ditigal and analog. But if I have to perform, if someone wants me to take pictures of something, it's the D700 I'll take with me. I own around 40 cameras but the good old trusty D700 is "my camera".

Still have my old Canon AE-1, AT-1, and T70 cameras. Only one that has any problems is the T70. It's fussy. Had them since the early 80s, except for the T70 which was given to me in 1998. What I miss is color infrared film from Kodak. Still have the old motor drives and filters.

I have an eos r but I love shooting on a 6d mark1 that I bought for 150$, it has its issues sometimes but its good enough for most work