Today my Canon EOS 40D was put in the post after refusing to recognise a
CF card. I ought to be gutted but I’m not.

I have a Canon EOS film camera in a cupboard a few yards from where I
now sit. It still works, or would if I put a battery in it. It resides
alongside a 20D which doesn't work with or without a battery.
I traded my old Canon film cameras for the new film camera when the kids were a kid.
The oldest is nearly 30 so the camera can't be far short of that.

The 20D was bought in Spring 2005. It died in April 2010. From February
2008 I had the 40D so the 20D was kept aboard a boat to take pictures when we
were out in that boat. Prior to that it had been thoroughly soaked to the point
at which it stopped working. More than once.

The first time was during a long walk from a river confluence to the
head of the valley in the cold greyness and back in a deluge. I took it home,
opened all the "doors" and let it dry with a little help from a
hairdryer and RS Switchcleaner spray.

I should also add that a co-photographer present at its first washing
was also present on the occasion the camera preceded me down a cliff slope at a
pace greater than I as my progress was impeded by the drag of "Cheesy
Tina" hanging from my shoulder. At the foot of the slope we were reunited
and once the earth had been scraped off and the grip removed all was well(ish).

Resurrected, the 20D continued doing what a 20D should until Monday 10th
March 2008, at which point it was drowned in salt water and stopped working. I
got a good photo of a vertical wall of seawater, though. Stripped and sprayed with
fresh water, RS switchcleaner and some other "stuff" I was advised to
try and it returned to functionality. Not fully as the hotshoe ceased trading
current with an external flash.

I had bought the 40D the previous month so I was not camera less.
I was less a 24-105 f4 L IS USM though, as it had taken to
behaving strangely. Fortunately a warranty repair restored it to its former
glory. The repairers phoned to let me know that “it looks like it’s been
immersed in water.” “Does it?” I asked, grateful that he didn’t ask whether it
had.

At this point I stowed the 20D and a 17-85 IS lens aboard that boat.
From then on it did sterling service until one day I happened to lean over the
side with it hanging around my neck. I distinctly remember feeling a little
silly as it trailed just below the surface. Alas I could not immediately lift
it as I was using both arms for purposes other than photography. Colleagues
present didn’t even bother to repress their laughter. Why is someone’s
misfortune so often a source of great mirth?

Back ashore and the lens cost me 80 GBP plus tax, plus postage plus tax,
plus packaging plus tax to have a new innards fitted and the camera never did
return to full functionality.

I did take it to the camera shop from whence I bought it and suggested I
may part ex it for another EOS xxD. Once they'd stopped laughing I realised
that I may not succeed in this endeavour, either.

I was asked there and then how many rolls of film I'd put through my
film EOS (also bought from them) in the previous quarter of a century, 20 (720
frames), easily, 100, (3600 frames) more than likely, 1000 (36000 frames) don't
be silly. I had to go to work, I couldn't have afforded the developing costs either.

So, probably (a lot) less than 36,000 frames taken in a quarter of a century.
How many had the 20D taken in one fifth of that time? 36,000? And the rest. I
bought it to go to Paris with and I'd eyefulled the Eiffel tower from every
direction and distance. The novelty of not being constrained by film was still
strong then.

36,000 a year, then? Quite likely. And more. Many, many more. As I sit here, of the first years photos that
I imported into Lightroom I have kept just over 10,000 and that represents the
last year that I used the 20D exclusively. Now, assume that I’m not a great, or even a
good photographer and my “keeper” ratio is like yours and we are talking
significant multiples of unkeeped frames which all add to the total shutter
count.

That doesn't count the thousands taken in a season of time lapses, nor
the many taken of sponsored walkers on behalf of a local charity, a couple of
weddings and a whole mass of playing around with drips and a macro lens which
never made it past the first critique. Nor does it include any of the jpg
frames shot. There were quite a few of them. Quite a few.

So, it's quite likely that the 20D took well over 150,000
frames in its first three years, how many over? I've no idea. I do remember
being annoyed at folders being created on the CF card and IMG_9999.cr2 being a
common sight.

Somehow, when the card pins turn green, the inside assumes a truly manky
state and the screen shows signs of water ingress you just know that it's time
to use it for doorstop duties. Indeed my co-photographer who watched me slide
down a cliff and made me walk miles up a valley thus causing my 20D’s initial
dampness once came round for a cup of tea when the camera was on a table in
bits. Damp bits. Green bits. Missing bits. He expressed the opinion that “It’ll never
work again.” It did, that time.

Initially I considered it truly awful for it to just give up serving the cause and was a trifle petulant toward it, if not downright annoyed.
Then I considered, had I ever treated any other camera like I'd treated that 20D? A certain, no.
Have I looked after the 40D better? You bet.
Is it still dragged all over the place? Of course.
Does it show the scars of my ownership? Indeed it does.
Has it taken any less frames than the 20D. Nope.
And as for how many it’s previous owner took I have no idea.

Somehow 160 GBP and postage and taxes to repair a second hand 40D is just great value for a truly great computer housing to which tubes of glass can be attached and images made.

And I’m still not camera less.
I have a Fuji E550 which still does sterling work and which was the “discount” for buying the 20D at the shop price.

My son has shown admirable pity on his dad, too.
He's let me borrow his 30D as he also has a one series.
I hope he’s left me a lens or two to put on it .......

Mostly I'm amazed that he trusts me, although maybe he realsies just how good cameras are.
Even when used by me.....!