How relevant are shutter actuation cycles?
When you're shopping for a new camera you may come across a specification telling you the number of shutter actuations (or cycles) the camera's shutter mechanism has been tested for. We say 'may' because this information is rarely provided for entry-level cameras and only occasionally for mid-level models.
However, it is almost always included in the marketing brochures (although not necessarily in the technical specifications list) for professional and high-end enthusiasts' cameras, where the buyer might expect greater durability for the price they paid. Cameras at this level are also more likely to be traded-in and/or sold secondhand.
The 'tested for x cycles' claim has been in use since the days of
