Walk or ask for a discount if the shutter count is exceeding high (see below for more info). When buying a Canon DSLR in person, always check the shutter count on your computer before taking it home.
Here is a list of applications that can help you with the task. Buy a camera with too high of a shutter count and your investment might not last as long as you planned. The lower a camera’s shutter count, the more life it has remaining (barring unforeseen defects). Just as you should know a car’s mileage before buying or selling, learning how to verify Canon shutter count is a no-brainer if you’re in the market for a used DSLR. Canon DSLRs are generally rated to sustain anywhere from 50,000 to 300,000 shutter actuation before a shutter replacement is necessary (at a cost of several hundred dollars).
Circuit boards and other non-mechanical components have a virtually infinite lifespan, but a shutter can take quite a bit of wear and tear over its life.
The shutter count is to DSLRs what mileage is to cars.
