Peter1972m Loc: Essex, England, UK

Three years ago I decided to purchase my first DSLR Camera it was a Nikon D3100 with the 18-55 kit lens. Within two months and with a lot of help from the Internet I had learnt how to use my camera in any of them modes it had to offer. Slowly bit by bit my kit grew in size, first a lens then a tripod, then another lens and a better more expensive tripod with matching ball head quick release mount, a sling back type bag for quick access, an sb600 flash slowly a second one followed then a flash trigger and 2 receivers. This was only about 8 months into my Journey. very dear friend of mine lent me his Nikon on D5100 for a couple of weeks while he was on holiday, it was great so much better than mine, it had a built in interval timer so I made a timelapse movie, the lowlight capabilities were outstanding compare it to mine too. even little things like the screen resolution on the back blew mine out of the water.
It was almost a year later I finally upgraded my body, it felt like forever before I could afford a new one, well what with buying myself a Lee Filters foundation kit and 7 different filters, and not forgeting another lens (macro this time) my kit was getting to big for my bag. Well the day had come, my new Nikon D7100 was here, but what's this, it doesn't fit in my bag, I needed a new one, I also treated my new body to a new lens, a 70-200 f2.8.
I finally solved my Nikon D3100, 2x lenses and first bag to my nephew.
In October last year I went to Florida for three weeks and took most of my camera equipment and a lens that I borrowed off a friend for wide-angle landscape photography, most days I found myself going out with just one lens and the body. My kit had become to heavy, and if I'm completely honest a real pain in the backside to the point where when I got home I put it all up for sale.
Well this was back in November, and last night, after I had completely forgotten all about it being up for sale, completely out of the blue I got a phone call saying they wanted to buy the whole lot for almost the price I had asked for. I got a say I did overprice it a little bit just in case I had sensible offer.
When I was in America with all my kit, going out daily with only one lens on my camera even that started to get my nerves, so on a couple of occasions all I took with me was my mobile phones camera.

So what to do now with all this money?
do I buy another DSLR and have it sit indoors while I'm out having fun with my phones camera, I absolutely love photography but do we need all this kit. Come on guys what's your opinion what would you do with my money if it was your money to spend?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Ditch the DSLR...go mirrorless with primes. Half the size and weight, quality is just as good if not better. I said goodbye in 2013, and haven't looked back...or go with a fixed lens camera like a Sony Rx-1r or Fuji X100t and really simplify your life.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Maybe different cameras for different things? There are smaller format cameras that offer the option of high quality interchangeable lenses. I have a DSLR Kit I love it and use it a lot, when I don't mind having a bigger camera. I have a M43 kit which is my go to travel camera. In fact I just put my M43 camera in my backpack for my MTN bike ride later this morning.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

Buy quality. One will never be disappointed with quality.

Bill_de Loc: US

If you are happy with today's phone cameras, and that is what you like to shoot with, don't buy anything now. You know that there will be an upgrade, and phone cameras will have more capabilities. It won't be long and you will have something you really want to spend that money on.

--

willie_gunn Loc: Oxfordshire, UK

It's a real challenge.

After years with 35mm I went mirrorless and loved the quality, the lack of bulk and weight, and the superb convenience. Also the ability to use my older lenses, which still deliver great quality.

However for the area I like to specialise in - nature, wildlife and particularly deer photography - I've now gone back to a DSLR. Currently I have a Nikon D300 and a number of prime telephotos and super-telephotos, and I'd be hard-pushed to go back to mirrorless, at least until the new Olympus 300mm prime telephotos appears.

But having recently gone to Africa using both my, and my wife's, hand baggage allowance for my camera kit I have to say that the size of the kit is becoming a major issue. I've even found myself looking at a Nikon V1 or V2, so interested to read the other replies you get.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Did you see this post on Camera vs Phone camera - short video
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-361176-1.html

And I agree with Bill - if you're happy with the results - why change?

Personally, I've tried point and shoots and my phone camera and have found that I like the balance and feel of a DSLR when shooting but everyone has their own preference.

And I remember what a professional told me years ago (and what is repeated in this forum all of the time) - it's not the equipment that makes a photo - it is the photographer...

Use what you are comfortable with and take a lot of pic's :)

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I have 2 Hasselblad cameras, 3 Hasselblad lenses and accessories. 3 Canon 1d body styles, several L series lenses. and other lenses in an online shopping cart. 9 studio lights, portable power packs, more light modifiers than I can keep track of, a dozen flash units, slave units, pocket wizards lot of light stands, A couple dozen back drops in canvas, muslin, wrinkle free, at least 100 books on posing, lighting, and other topics in photography.
Photography can be a money pit. If I were to do it all over again I would get a medium format digital, with 3 lenses.
What I have learned is to buy what you need to get the job done, not necessarily what you want.

hcmcdole

Some people are content with a phone camera, others are content with oodles of gear. I have a DSLR, a compact, a superzoom, and a phone with a pretty good camera and a wish list for the future (I hope).

Traveling with a camera and all associated gear can be heavy (been there, done that) but if you can lift it, why not take what you think you "might" need. Better safe than sorry?

That way you can take camera A for landscape/street photography if you're going to be doing tours, camera B if you're going on a boat for swim & snorkel trips, camera C if just going out to eat or shop at a mall. And you always have your phone on your person to get the photos when you don't want to go for the big guns.

There is no "one size fits all" solution in my book.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

And I remember what a professional told me years ago (and what is repeated in this forum all of the time) - it's not the equipment that makes a photo - it is the photographer...

While I have to agree somewhat with what is said here, I would like to add to that and remember that bad equipment can also destroy a good photograph. The reason the pro said that is because some people think no matter how bad they are, buying better equipment will solve their problem but it will not.

Leitz Loc: Solms

I'd buy what I wanted, and let the devil take the hindmost as far as what anyone else thought!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Nikon and Canon don't seem to be as interested in small high quality (expensive) cameras as Sony and Panasonic. One that really does fit in a pocket is the Sony RX100, now in version 4. One that is a little larger, but fits in a small belt pouch is the Panasonic LX100.

Larger, but with longer lenses, are the Panasonic RX10, now in version 2, and the Panasonic FZ1000.

All four are capable cameras with larger sensors that can be fully automatic or fully manual. They shoot RAW or JPEG.

Additionally they shoot video. Not interested in video? Think in terms of a new twist. 4K video is 30 shots of 8MP photos every second. Each "frame" can be saved as an image file.

Besides the easy to travel with form factor, they have the advantage of helping you be invisible. The population is less likely to notice you when you are shooting and potential thieves may not either.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

If your old kit was too bulky and interfered with your enjoying photography you probably ought not buy another just like it.

When my old kit got too bulky for me to carry without pain and aggravation, I switched to M43 and found I'd compromised nothing on quality but got a kit I could carry all day hardly knowing I have it. There are so many options now, go try some out in a camera shop and see how they respond before buying anything.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

From what you say it looks like you would be a match for a high end bridge camera or one of the high end pocket sized (sometimes a coat pocket) zooms.
They are smaller, lighter but much better cameras than any built into a phone (or is it a phone built into a camera?).

Look here to start research on which type of camera fits your needs:
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/digital-cameras/1403360/best-camera-2016-compact-csc-slr-picks-and-buying-guide/page/0/1

Look here to start research on bridge cameras:
http://www.cnet.com/topics/cameras/best-digital-cameras/megazoom/

Look here to start research on pocket zooms:
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-10-best-pocket-zoom-digital-cameras-2015-19720

MarkD Loc: NYC

I have different kits for different subjects. For shooting around the city (NYC) I carry a D5500, a Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6, a Sigma 18-300, and usually a Nikon 10.5 Full frame Fisheye. All together it weighs around four pounds.

For the zoo or aquarium I carry a D5500, Sigma 17-50 f/2.8, a Sigma 50-150 f/2.8 (the older and much lighter non-OS version) and either a Sigma 18-300 or Nikon 55-300 VR. This kit is heavier than the city kit, but it's still not heavy enough to be a problem.

I'm 72 so I like to carry as little as possible. I find these two kits meet my needs without being too heavy.

I also have two compact cameras and I carry one or the other at all times. One is a Nikon P7800 and the other is a Panasonic ZS50.