Mirrorless cameras are all the rage these days. While it started with Sony, Olympus, Panasonic and Fuji, Catechism and Nikon finally joined the game in belatedly 2018. But with its popularity, at that place is still some defoliation about the bones of a mirrorless camera.

Namely, whether or not things like shutter count actually matters on mirrorless cameras.

Electronic vs. mechanical shutters

In that location's a common misconception that mirrorless cameras only have an electronic shutter. After all, a lot of the benefits to mirrorless cameras include things similar silent mode, and an ultrafast frame rate. And while mirrorless cameras practise accept an electronic shutter, they as well have the more than traditional mechanical shutter.

Why?

Well, while electronic shutters are great, they can simply do and then much. Traditionally yous're limited in terms of using things like strobes and speedlights. You also tin experience things like banding in your images due to the light source in the room. With mechanical shutters, these problems disappear, simply of form, you don't get some of the benefits that electronic shutters take. That's why mirrorless cameras have the option of both.

Does shutter count affair for mirrorless cameras like Olympus?

What about shutter count?

If you've ever sold a camera, you've undoubtedly been asked how many actuations the shutter has on it. In layman'southward terms, this is how many clicks you've made on your photographic camera. This matters because mechanical shutters are rated for a certain number (usually effectually the 200,000 to 400,000 mark) before they start to fail. Having a high shutter count could, in plough, lower the value of your camera — unless y'all replace the shutter.

Notice how I said mechanical shutter. When you use the electronic shutter, it doesn't impact this number. Just the other thing to keep in heed is, because there'southward no mirror to flip up and down, shutter count does not affair as much on mirrorless cameras. Yous'll essentially find a longer life span. That said, shutter count does yet matter somewhat.

And, only to be sure, I asked the Olympus for confirmation of this.

"A mechanical shutter count life span does matter with mirrorless cameras likewise," said Mr. Masami Takase, Manager, Imaging Product Development for Olympus. "A life span of the camera could [as well] be afflicted past other devices apart from a shutter, for example, the parts that require mechanical movement, such every bit a release button."

The fact of the matter is, even though I have a mirrorless photographic camera, I probably use my mechanical shutter 98% of the fourth dimension. The only time I use the electronic shutter function is when I know I take to be repose, for instance, during a pianoforte operation.

So should you lot pay attention to your shutter count?

Aye and no. If you ever sell your camera to a private party, you lot'll probably be asked for it. About mirrorless cameras do not count the electronic shutter actuations in the number presented, then you lot tin can exist rest assured that the shutter count you receive is truly just from the mechanical shutter.

Depending on your camera, it might be like shooting fish in a barrel or rather hard to check your shutter count. Each camera is different; consult your camera's user guide or YouTube to run across which method is right for your camera.