This is the third frame of a time-lapse animation I made of Angela and I taking down her Christmas tree. I started experimenting with time-lapse photography last week. I figured it would be something interesting to do this winter. Unfortunately, my Rebel XT isn't a very good tool to use for this task. It is perfect in every way except for one: The shutter only has an expected lifetime of 50,000 pictures.

For a normal user this would be fine. The camera would last more than ten years before you would need a replacement shutter. Unfortunately, I could easily blow that limit in just a month of doing time-lapse experiments. I did some research and there is no digital camera on the market now that has all the features I would want for a decent time-lapse shot. All of the cameras that are good enough have mechanical shutters that are prone to failure over time.

Oh well, I guess I will have to find something else to do for the winter months...

Comments

I wouldn't (and don't) worry about the shutter thing.  The 50k is just a mean
number and is based on all kinds of factors.  Your shutter could last a lot
longer, and even if you did have to replace it, it only costs something like
$200.  Even doing a lot of time-lapse stuff, I think you'll have a couple of
years of shutter life left.  Think of all the great time-lapse shots you could
be taking in that time!

Well, that's a pretty good argument.  I will continue my experiments... I just
won't go crazy and shoot an hour of full framerate video over the next two
months.  ;)