Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Good advertising. The job of advertising is to create demand even when there may not be any.

I myself will not be "upgrading." I have a Canon 5D mkIII that I bought around four years ago and I intend to use it until it is not worth repairing. The latest and greatest equipment will not make my images more interesting or better. That is work that I have to do.

mcmama

It’s a combination. You can have the best driver driving a VW bug in a race, or my ex-husband driving a Corvette. Neither one will give you the best results. But a combination of a ‘Vet and the best driver? Now yer talkin’.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Oh, but there is an answer. We love shiny new things! Surely in 2018, a new camera will make only a marginal difference in image technical quality, although it might make the process easier and more fun.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

I bought my first digital DSLR in 1998. It was by Kodak. When it broke in February 2007, I took it in to get it repaired. They wanted $250 just to determine what was wrong with it. There on the counter was a selection of 11 P&S cameras with seven times the number of pixels that the Kodak had. All 11 P&S cameras were $249 or less. Bought a Canon P&S. It was so good that I bought 9 more, one for each of my employees (our business needed cameras) and one as a backup. Didn't buy another DSLR until the Canon Rebel XSi in July 2008.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I don't.
Had my 1995 F-150 super-cab for 20 years. One of my daughters has it now.
(Loved my truck.)
The next longest was a 1979 Chevy Impala wagon for 14 years.
Good vehicles don't need to be replaced.
My T1i is 8 years old so far.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

BebuLamar

When I said upgrade I don't mean replace. If your camera is dead then you have to replace it. I mean a lot of people buy new camera while their existing one still functions like new.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

GAS - & some new features every couple of years seem to actually make a difference. Besides, we have to keep Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pany, Oly, Fuji and others in business, or we will be stuck with cellphones...…………… and this from a guy who will rarely buy something new (not in the retirement budget).

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

So that begs the question why you only had the Chevy for 14 years.
I replaced my cars because I wanted modern conveniences, things like, seat belts, lumbar support, power brakes, heated seats, heated front window, heated rear window, power steering, fuel injection, FM radio/8 track tape/cassette tape/CD/USB stereo, cruise control, power windows, backup cameras, lane change cameras, power mirrors, tire pressure monitoring system, oil change reminder, tire rotation reminder, better collision construction for side impact, head on, rear impact, and roll over........... so many things that make driving a car so much safer and easier.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

I upgraded from a Canon Rebel XSI to a Rebel T2i because the T2i had video whereas the XSi did not. I donated the XSi to my home inspection company and we used the hell out of it. I upgraded from the T2i to the T6s because the T6s had better video autofocus and zoom, as well as a tilt screen with touch controls. When a new feature comes along that makes my life easier, I don't mind upgrading since I make a lot of money in my Photographic Art business, and since time is money, something that saves me time is going to get my attention.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

"We love shiny new things"

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Why are people answering? Because it's not rhetorical.

If you hare tired of seeing the same question in all of its various incarnations followed by all of the same answers, why did you respond?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Sorry, sometimes it's hard to tell what's a joke here and what isn't.

In order to thoughtfully discuss your opinion, we need to define "better." Technically better, perhaps, but that depends on subject - such as birds in motion. It also depends on how much value you place in "sharp at 100%."

I'm sure you know the oft-quoted "there is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept." There is ample evidence right here on UHH that better gear does not magically bestow a better "eye" nor does better gear void the need to learn exposure and to understand the qualities of light.

Points to ponder: the impact of some photos shot by cell phones (see contest winners), and one close-to-home example: MinnieV. Some of the "dam bird" photos that won her a grant that led to museum exhibits and to a feature article in Luminous Landscapes were shot with an older M4/3 Oly EM-5 + a kit lens:
https://luminous-landscape.com/the-dam-birds-luminous-endowment-grant-winner/

But most importantly, a "better" camera does not directly address the goals and style of the photographer. Though I often fail, here's the philosophy I subscribe to:
https://photographylife.com/whats-important-in-a-photograph-and-what-isnt

The first four points mentioned are emotion, light, composition, creativity. I can see the value in upgrading from a bridge camera to a dslr for dealing with tricky lighting situations, but the rest? Please show me the...umm, money

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The Chevy finally started needing regular repairs. More stuff started wearing out.
(Most of that stuff is becoming standard nowadays.)

BebuLamar

First of all I am not judging any images are good or bad or how they have to be in order to be good or bad.
My question came from my observation on the UHH and yes for better or worse I do spend a lot of time here.

I see a lot of people feel offended when someone see their work and praises their cameras. They always said it's the photographer that took those nice pictures and not the camera.
The same people would go out and buy the new version of the camera shortly it was introduced. The new camera is certainly better in some respect but why the photographer needs to do that if he didn't think his great images were because his nice camera and now he want nicer camera.