jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I never bought anything with the intention of selling it later for more than I paid. We buy the next better camera because we want the features it has, or we just want a new camera. I've bought and sold dozens of cameras over the years, and it's been nothing but a net financial loss. At least I can resell old cameras, unlike old TVs or toasters.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

"just t'ain't worth it"
I think you have to take into account ego gratification the elevation of "self". Do you need a new this or that hell no? Do you want it....yes. Why?? It's new. They are leaves before the wind.
If you are a professional and I mean a real professional, everything you have done before this new toy has been crap. What? If you are Joe smo taking pictures do you really need some new camera/lens to take more pictures to add to the 10-20,000 you already have...What?
There is this guy named Bryan Peterson. He is a professional photographer, an author has written about 8-10 books on photography. He has expanded his business to include various trips to different locations and a variety of seminars. He is smart and actually makes a living doing photography and related subject matter. This is what he thinks, the title of one of his books. "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera", (Paperback) By (author) Bryan Peterson. Maybe the boys and their toys could gain some insight from one of his books.

treadwl Loc: South Florida

I only upgrade when the camera I currently have will not allow me to take the kind of images I want to take.
The shiney new toy does not appeal to me if what I have is getting the job done.

For example: I up graded to my current Nikon D800 because my clients wanted to purchase my images in very large format (20x30, 40x60 and larger) and my D300s would not deliver such images. When I needed a second body as a backup, I got the D810 because of the lower native ISO that helped my images. I have no interest in the current D850 or the new mirrorless cameras because my two current bodies are getting the job done.

For the record, I only purchase a lens if it is needed for a purpose. Some of my most used lenses are quite old.

nikonnate Loc: Woodbury MN

This is evident in every hobby - some folks just gotta have the newest and the best. Others get attached to their gear (more my style) and hold on to it til it really just doesn't work anymore. My main gig is flyfishing, photography is a nice accompaniment to it, and the major rod manufacturers are coming out with a new gen of top-end rods every 3-4 years. Put that over half a dozen makers at the top of the pile and there is always a "Model X vs Model Z" argument. The real difference there is, there's relatively little push on the secondary market for vintage camera gear (vintage bamboo rods from a handful of makers meet and exceed top-level body prices today).

My camera upgrade was somewhat out of necessity and opportunity merging. I learned on a T5i with a set of 4 lenses but sold it off back in 2016 because it had horrible noise handling when shooting at night. I kept my 1 favorite lens with the intention of going back to Canon. Buuuuuut it was stolen, so that kind of opened up the game a bit. Following a move in late 2017, my bride and I had adult jobs, solid incomes, and a kid that we were expecting in January, so I took my chance for a major upgrade. We went D850, since going from APS-C entry level to pro-level full-frame was going to be a major change anyway, and since I had no lenses to tie me to the 5DmIV, I took the D850.

If you can afford it and like it, have fun.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Personally I have never understood the people who have a half dozen mid level cameras and 25 lenses. I would rather have one really capable camera and a half dozen really great lenses for the same money. That's just my preference and it appears I am in the minority...

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I have resisted the urge to say what is coming below. It is not intended to be directed at Chris or any other individual. But I see it every day in the increasingly one-dimensional people I work with and around. In my experience, it is driving the demise of photography as a hobby (and of most other hobbies, except gaming). You probably won't agree. I may not completely agree a month from now. Read further at your own risk.

One reason we work at whatever our career might be is to earn a living and provide necessities for our families and for ourselves. A second goal for many (or at least some of us) is to be able to donate some of what we make for the benefit of others through our churches or other appropriate channels. But a third goal that many of us have is to be able to use a little bit of what we earn to satisfy (or at least feed) a couple of our interests. For some of us, those interests run very deep. Some folks have less to be interested in.

I have grown very weary of what seems to be a new 'movement' that is running rampant in our society, especially in the younger generation, but also spreading to many of the rest of folks. I don't have it completely figured out, because it seems quite mysterious and ambiguous. As far as I can tell, it says that all we should be doing is spending our time making as much money as possible in order to live as convenient a life as possible. The only other thing allowed is to occasionally give a little bit away so that we can draw attention to how "generous" we each are. The record of what we've done can be reported on social media (or better yet on some sort of mass media) in a manner that elicits the maximum number of tears from ourselves and those watching.

I personally am interested in a number of subjects. Some of them are listed below in my signature. Pursuing some of them involves going places and doing things. Pursuing others involves buying equipment and supplies and learning things, doing things, and comparing what happens. I have more time to do all that now, along with things that I pursue to try to help others that none of you will ever know about. There is no guilt around any of it. And rarely any second thoughts.

khorinek

Over the years, this has been my progression, (all Canon), 30D, 7D Mark I, 6D Mark I, 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark IV, EOS RP. I like experiencing new beginnings and new trials, trading up is a fun and exciting experience and with $$ being no object I do it to keep up with technology and to be sure I'm not using equipment that may be holding me back from being the best photographer I can be.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

It matters to you and others, but to many cost: gain/loss is irrelevant. Many people that can afford what they want don't look at cost, they just buy, period. This include some people that can't afford, but buy anyway.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I traded twice. The first because I wanted to be able to use lenses my camera wouldn’t support. The second because I just couldn’t bear the weight of my gear and I couldn’t afford to keep that gear when I knew for certain I would never use it again, not even for back up. I have absolutely no regrets! I thought I loved my old set up, but I adore my new micro 4/3s. No fall off in image quality either, in fact just the opposite.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I only buy a new camera when I need capabilities my older one doesn't have. I have several old cameras I have never used again. I would have been better off selling them when they were newer and could command a higher price.

rond-photography Loc: Connecticut

Trade up (or in my case, just buy the newer camera cuz old one no longer has value) IF you have exceeded the capabilities of your present camera. It took a long time to get to the point where I could blame the camera for a missed or bad shot. Now I am 4 years into the new camera and see no point in moving up - works just fine and when I don't make a shot, it is not the camera's fault!

Nikon1201

If you have to think if you should trade up , then it’s NOT the regent time.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I agree with you up to a point, but I have to say that I don't think this is in any way a "new" movement - it's a cycle of social involvement and withdrawal into "me first" attitudes. Not to drift too far afield, but the young people I meet as interns with my non-profit, as political volunteers in various candidate and issue campaigns, as volunteers in all kinds of causes, and in my photographic hobby are as passionate, committed, and interested in learning new stuff as any of the kids who grew up with me in the activist 1960s. In fact, they are probably a lot more informed and a lot more inquisitive (sadly, that inquisitiveness is why a few drift off into conspiracist or other fringey ideas).

When we attend the annual Photographica show in Boston (devoted mostly to film and vintage photography), I continue to be amazed by the proportion of young people who are learning old school equipment, techniques, and craftsmanship - the antithesis of "convenient". Last year I wasn't sure whether I was at a vintage photo show or a craft beer hipster convention.

I have to say, from my perspective, "The kids are a'right"! It's some of their seniors who seem (to me at least) to have gotten a little too wrapped up in their stock portfolios and expensive toys.

Just my perspective, but I actually do have contact with a lot of millennials. Maybe I'm just in contact with the right group?

Andy

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Not really. This makes sense to me. It is too easy to succumb to “gas” and I was guilty of that. As I age, I need lighter, more portable gear that will produce great images, and now I believe I am there. My focus now is on better glass, filling in gaps that meet my needs, rather than over buying. If trading in equipment will get me where I want to be, I will do it. Holding on to older bodies until they have no monetary value, and in most cases no attraction to most people, is not something I choose to do.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I upgraded from a Nikon D5000 to a D7100 to a D500. Sold the D7100 for a good price. Kept the D5000 as a back up No regrets and my collection of lenses all work on the newest camera.

However, I upgraded my Sony from the a6000 to the a7iii, sold the a6000 and all 3 lenses and sometimes think I should have kept the a6000. In this case, I needed new lenses for the new Sony. I keep asking myself if the upgrade was worth all the expense. It certainly wouldn’t be IF I decided to sell the new Sony. That’s my take!!