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Hi! Does anyone here have a sense of how long do professional camcorders last. Any estimate based on your experience/knowledge would be helpfull. I'm asking this because I might buy a used Canon XL H1 that has been used for at least 3 years. Can I still reasonably expect it to work years, or are professional camcorders today as flimsy as laptops?
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Answer Best answer as chosen by user Zifflerix
A few years. Under 5 but wait.
by R. Proffitt 
- 10/30/11 1:21 PM
In Reply to: How long do camcorders last by Zifflerix
Remember that such things are never free from trips to the repair shop. Given we can fix such things we can make them last well past the usual few years.
You may want to avoid such things if you are unwilling to take it in for repairs when needed.
Bob
I agree with Bob...
by boya84 - 10/30/11 9:57 PM
In Reply to: A few years. Under 5 but wait. by R. Proffitt
but it should be noted that pro-grade cams do not sport the marketing and pricing elasticity of consumer cams which rotate out annually. There are many news outlets that use "professional camcorders" that are BetaCam and Digital Betacam systems that go back 5, 10 or more years. The large lenses and imaging chips are what cost - and as long as the expense to repair is less than replacement cost, the older gear keeps seeing action.
A lot depends on how the equipment is used. If it is abused, then expect a shorter life. If it is properly used and maintained, then expect a longer useful life. A camcorder used for three years in in the depths of the Amazon forest with daily video capture will be in different shape from a camcorder used for three years primarily in a climate controlled studio.
The professionals buy certain gear for many different reasons. One is a long life cycle. There is no profit in turning over gear that can't last.
Total posts: 3 (Showing page 1 of 1)
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