ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

I still shoot with my D50. One of three DSLRs I use and still quite amazing for a 15 year old camera.

Imagemine Loc: St. Louis USA

we all suffer from some level of GAS the thing is to control it and realize why you do photography, now days it's hard to buy a bad camera

anotherview Loc: California

Success in doing the craft of photography arises from four sources: effective composition, good exposure, interesting subject, and conscious intention. After much practice along these lines, a photographer may produce worthy photographs.

The measure of success with photography varies. How much money one makes and the amount of recognition one receives for his photographic activity present two measures. Another measure arises from the sense of the photographer that he has done justice to the subject in photographic terms.

None of this discussion has much to do with the gear used in producing photographs and a great deal to do with the skill and talent a photographer brings to the work of photography.

Chian Kho

Thank you Gene for your articulation of shared sentiments. I couldn't have said it better. Acquiring a new equipment is one of the biggest motivation to get out there. Chian

gessman Loc: Colorado

There's so many variables involved in this subject that it's often impossible to get a sensible answer to a simple question, motive, need, intended purpose, desire, and the list goes on ad infinitum but there is an old saying that applies to about everything if a person wants to be competitive in life - "you don't want to be the guy in the fight with the shortest stick."

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Creative people have a deep curiosity about when to buy a new camera.

Deecee

Or to quote Arnold Palmer:

Someone once asked him how he was able to win so many golf games, was it just luck? To which he replied "It is just luck, but I find the more I practice, the luckier I get"

I found this true with myself. I started out with a Minolta system many years back which unfortunatly got stolen. After many years of not doing any photography, I invested in a very nice Nkon system. But I soon noticed my photography still wasn't that great. So I started reading books on photograpy, subscribed to a couple of good photography magazines, getting out more on photo runs. NOW, my photography is soooo much better. Having a good camera does not make you a great photographer, but when I do get that one winner of a shot, it's nice to know that it was recorded well using a high megapixel camera with a pro lens..

scooper44 Loc: Layton UT

When all is said and done, the most important "thing" is the person behind the lens.

tomcat

If you take crappy poor photos, then all a new piece of equipment is going to do is to allow you to continue to take crappy poor photos---but at a higher price now.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

So true.
Just "more" crappy pictures at a higher cost.


Improve the skill first, that will show when a new tool is needed and what tool would be perfect for the need.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

In agreement with the gist - it is impossible to give a simple answer,
hence may i add, we must keep in mind the shortest stick also has its place. There are times and places where a short stick is a better tool for the fight.

The shortest fighting stick is called Yawara (Japanese - Jujitsu) or Pasak & Dulo-dulo (Philippines - Arnis stick-fighting) but is more commonly known as Kubotan which is actually a trade name by Kubota who manufacture and sold a keychain version of it.
In Arnis, i would actually be more careful and leery of the person who has the smallest stick as that would mean mastery of the longer ones.

While skill & tool always go hand in hand, the best tool do not always meant it is the best aid to get the skill.
In Arnis, rattan sticks are used to get the skill as even the best blades will get destroyed in training.
Every F1 driver got into the best car when they already have the skill. Fighter pilots train first in a Cessna or some other simpler aircraft, gradually growing their skill before taking the top aircrafts.

A better point would be to "have the right tool for the right job and the skill & knowledge on how to use it".
It's a system, full circle that complements and create a whole.

oregonfrank Loc: Astoria, Oregon

[quote=tomcat]If you take crappy poor photos, then all a new piece of equipment is going to do is to allow you to continue to take crappy poor photos---but at a higher price now.[/quote)

Tomcat, I think your statement is over simplified. If you have a certain level of skill and you replace a mediocre lens with a high quality lens (e.g., pro level Nikon or Canon or Zeiss), then your images should improve to the extent that the pro lens is better than the original. Don’t you agree? Frank

oregonfrank Loc: Astoria, Oregon

[quote=oregonfrank][quote=tomcat]If you take crappy poor photos, then all a new piece of equipment is going to do is to allow you to continue to take crappy poor photos---but at a higher price now.[/quote)

Tomcat, I think your statement is over simplified. If you have a certain level of skill and you replace a mediocre lens with a high quality lens (e.g., pro level Nikon or Canon or Zeiss), then your images should improve to the extent that the pro lens is better than the original. Don’t you agree? Frank[/quote]

A 2nd thought. There are at least 3 ways to improve your images: 1) improve your skill, 2) improve your equipment, especially lenses, and 3) do both. Frank

tomcat

I think what I was trying to say is that unless you improve your skill, then your crappy images will be just as bad, if not worse, on a new camera body. Once you refine your technique and get better with the older camera body then get a new lens. From my own experience, when I ungraded to the Z6 system, my sports pictures in low light (ISO around 12,800) were really kicked up a notch due to the clarity, sharpness, and better color rendition of the Nikkor Z 85mm S lens. The "keepers" are really fantastic images. But did it make me a better photographer? No, it did not make me better because old age has reduced my mental alertness to the point that I miss a lot of shots because I'm following the action and watching the game instead of leading the plays with my autofocus trigger points. In other words, I like to anticipate and lead the camera to where I think the play is going to and be there, already focused, so when that decisive moment arrives, I've got the shot. However, is the new Z6 camera better----absolutely--the Z6 sports pictures are head over heels better than the D3s. But the landscape and portrait shots from the Z6 are not better than my D750 is. I find the Z6 jpg landscape pictures in bright sunlight to be too sharp and contrasty---it's like the dynamic range is not yet there for me. I have seen some incredible, amazing, and striking images from Z6/Z7 that have been posted on this website and others on FB pages that I follow. So I know the Z line from Nikon is a winner, but I just am not there yet. I just need more experimentation with the Z6 in bright sunlight.