The most popular full-frame DSLR: checking the mileage of the Nikon D750

Nikon D750 is perhaps the most successful and long-lived full-frame DSLR in history. An excellent 24.3-megapixel sensor with excellent dynamic range, a flip-out screen, built-in Wi-Fi and a reasonable price have made it an absolute hit among wedding and reportage photographers. Many years have passed, and the D750 is still considered a work tool, and is actively bought and sold on the secondary market. But it is precisely the venerable age and commercial history of these cameras that makes checking the mileage absolutely mandatory.

Wedding and event photographers didn't spare their D750s. In one season, the camera could easily take 100 thousand frames. In addition, the first batches suffered from a well-known problem with frame flare/banding - Nikon issued service bulletins twice. When buying a D750 secondhand, you need to know not only the mileage, but also the service history.

The famous D750 shutter life - reality and myths

Nikon officially declared the D750 shutter life to be 150,000 guaranteed operations. Service practice has shown that the reality is much better: the shutters of this camera often worked for 250-300 thousand frames without any problems. The mechanics are very reliable and responsive to reasonable loads.

However, the math is simple. If you find a D750 with 80k shots, it's a great buy, the shutter is still in its prime. A camera with 180-200 thousand is a “veteran” that is worth buying at a discount. A device with a mileage of 250 thousand is a lottery, and the only justification for buying it can only be a ridiculous price.

How Nikon hides the frame counter and how to get it out

Nikon didn't advertise the mileage display feature, but data about the number of shots was always recorded in the metadata of each file. The ShutterCount tag (or equivalent) is stored in a private EXIF-standard MakerNotes block. Standard photo viewers and Windows do not show this information.

However, the data is there, and our service can retrieve it. To do this, you'll need an unedited original photo - preferably in RAW (.NEF) format or an untouched JPEG straight from the memory card. Files that are run through Lightroom or Photoshop and then saved may lose Nikon service tags.