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I have a Canon DSLR with a magnesium alloy shell. What does this mean, what are the other metals that make it an alloy, and why was magnesium used and not aluminium and steel?

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Magnesium alloy is one of the most preferred material used in DSLR Bodies, Laptops and other Gadgets. It is a mixture of Magnesium and alloy which is often aluminum, zinc, copper, silicon, zirconium and other minerals, and to answer your question why not aluminum? Well, not only aluminum but a combination of the said minerals. This mineral is also used in aerospace and automotive industries.

It is preferred by manufacturers because:

  1. It is the lightest structural metal which makes it ideal for gadgets of everyday use. It's lightness is one of its key property. Weight reduction is one of its advantages. Aluminum is twice heavier while Steel is five times heavier than of the Magnesium alloy.
  2. It is easily machined, cast, forged and welded.
  3. It has good to excellent corrosion resistance. Corrosion is the gradual destruction of materials usually metals by chemical reaction, which comes from its environment. As we know that DLSRs usually exposes to these chemical reactions which makes Magnesium alloy a very good choice for its body.
  4. Magnesium is the eighth most common element on earth's crust and fourth most common element on earth as a whole. It's abundance means more productivity and because of its availability, manufacturers can produce cheaper gadgets. Not to mention that it is also recyclable.
  5. Although not a big issue for cameras, but it has a good high temperature mechanical properties. It is a common choice for high temperature applications like automotive.
  6. About its densities, it is stronger than plastics, and even strong enough for cameras bodies.

All these stuffs makes Magnesium Alloy a promising material. Here are some tests that was done on a Magnesium-made Tripod.

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    \$\begingroup\$ magnesium alloy is in the middle of two metals..aluminum and titanium..aluminum is much heavier and titanium is much expensive metal..therefore businessman is much preferred to magnesium alloy... \$\endgroup\$
    – Camera Lover 360
    Aug 2, 2013 at 6:50
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    \$\begingroup\$ Just to give a sense of the weight reduction: The weight of a 7D is 840g. Assuming a 500g of the weight weight are due to it's magnesium shell, it would weigh 1140g made of aluminum, or 2540g if made out of steel! \$\endgroup\$
    – akid
    Aug 2, 2013 at 7:26
  • \$\begingroup\$ @CameraLover360 Titanium has a much higher density than Titanium. \$\endgroup\$
    – akid
    Aug 2, 2013 at 7:27
  • \$\begingroup\$ Jez'r, I disagree with 2). Magnesium is most certainly not easier to be handled than aluminum or steel. Welding magnesium alloys is notoriously difficult, and I can't imagine working with comparatively new magnesium alloys in other ways is easier than with very common aluminum and steel. \$\endgroup\$
    – akid
    Aug 2, 2013 at 7:31
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    \$\begingroup\$ even though the titanium is strongest to aluminum and magnesium and came out that it also the disadvantage its very hard to mold compare to magnesium..in photography, camera weight vs strength is critical.also titanium much heavier than magnesium..titanium says...I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose fire away, fire away ricochet, you take your aim fire away, fire away you shoot me down, but I won't fall I am titanium.. \$\endgroup\$
    – Camera Lover 360
    Aug 2, 2013 at 8:14

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