Just read a repair manual from 1978 and the shutter count spec blew my mind

I was digging through a box of old papers from a retired repair guy in Phoenix and found a Nikon F2 service guide. It says the focal plane shutter is rated for 100,000 cycles minimum before needing a full rebuild. That's way more than I ever guessed for a mechanical camera from that era. I've been telling people 50,000 for years based on what I heard from other shops. Makes me wonder how many perfectly good shutters I've replaced because I thought they were worn out. Has anyone else seen official numbers that were this different from the common shop talk?

2 comments

2 Comments

owens.ben4d ago

Hold up, you're taking that spec at face value? That's a minimum lab rating under perfect conditions, not real life. A shutter in Arizona heat or New York humidity for 50 years is totally different. The manual is a goal, not a promise. I've seen plenty fail way earlier from normal use, so telling people 100k now just sets them up for disappointment.

the_betty4d ago

Remember my buddy who bought that camera based on the shutter rating? It died at maybe 30,000 clicks. He was in Florida, so the heat and damp air just cooked it. The repair guy said the spec sheet means nothing once real weather gets involved. That's why I never quote those numbers to people asking for advice. It just gives a false sense of security.