When to upgrade? (Page 3): There are some good answers here, and elsewhere on this website: 1. Professionals use their cameras to make money, (not to spend money.) 2. If your camera...

Low Budget Dave

There are some good answers here, and elsewhere on this website:
1. Professionals use their cameras to make money, (not to spend money.)
2. If your camera still takes the pictures you want, don't upgrade.
3. If your camera does not take the pictures you want, have a plan and a budget.

So, for example, I am worried that a lot of my indoor "kid" pictures are blurry. Now I need to figure out if it is the camera, the lens, the settings, or the technique. If I spend $1000 on a new camera, and find out it was the lens, I am going to feel pretty stupid.

anotherview Loc: California

About right: "My policy is to do it (upgrade) when your artistic ability exceeds your camera's capability."

You will sense when you've outgrown your gear. Then upgrade.

gvarner wrote:

My policy is to do it when your artistic ability exceeds your camera's capability. Your thoughts. I’m not there yet so my D7000 is just fine. I’m still an inveterate snap shooter and I can still get the "perfect snap shot. Perfect for me anyway.

repleo Loc: Boston

gvarner wrote:

My policy is to do it when your artistic ability exceeds your camera's capability. Your thoughts. I’m not there yet so my D7000 is just fine. I’m still an inveterate snap shooter and I can still get the "perfect snap shot. Perfect for me anyway.

There are no pockets on a shroud. You can't take it with you. If you can afford it, and you want it more than you want anything else, go for it. Just don't spend the money for your wife' heart medicine on it.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I will never outgrow the gear that I now have, but I will upgrade.
Simply put, I want the best I can afford; and it is fun to buy new things.

nikonnate Loc: Woodbury MN

I upgraded when I realized my camera couldn't do what I wanted it to (T5i and low-light noise handling). I sold it a few years ago and put the funds in the house IOU fund. The upgrade came this year, finally, with both a birthday in August and our first-born arriving sometime in January. My bride said "if you're going to get a camera, at least get a good one" so we splurged and took home a D850 instead of the 5DmIV I'd had my eye on for the years since selling. I would have stuck with the Canon line had someone not stolen my macro lens sometime in the last couple years.

I can only hope to come close to the capabilities of that camera.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

gvarner wrote:

My policy is to do it when your artistic ability exceeds your camera's capability. Your thoughts. I’m not there yet so my D7000 is just fine. I’m still an inveterate snap shooter and I can still get the "perfect snap shot. Perfect for me anyway.

If you can afford it, upgrade and enjoy it, you only go around once. Having a new tool is always fun, like a new car....you really don't necessarily need one but the newer ones are cooler, nicer and have more features....enjoy

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Kmgw9v wrote:

I will never outgrow the gear that I now have, but I will upgrade.
Simply put, I want the best I can afford; and it is fun to buy new things.

....its all about fun and enjoyment

twice_shooter

traderjohn wrote:

I'll bet she thought lance made her happy.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I am sure most have noticed. Cameras have been coming in new versions faster then ever. Sony came out with a very good camera the RX100 compact. Now in a few years
they have put out 6 upgraded versions. Believe might be 7. I owned original and II
And now I own 4. eBay has allowed me to recover some of upgrade spent by selling versions. Take quality bodies Canon, Nikon, Sony. I crave one upgrade 10 bit. A big difference in image.
Not sure about others but my Sony’s don’t have it like my a7s II doesn’t.
Touch screen. Panasonic GH5 think it has 10 bit. But not full frame. This game is getting
old.

bastro

Ok, I give up.
You have GAS?
Other than the obvious😉, you have what😮?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

gvarner wrote:

My policy is to do it when your artistic ability exceeds your camera's capability. Your thoughts. I’m not there yet so my D7000 is just fine. I’m still an inveterate snap shooter and I can still get the "perfect snap shot. Perfect for me anyway.

When you get the Christmas Bonus or Tax Return - getting camera gear has little to do with artistic ability, and more about abating the itch that corresponds with reading promotional materials that tell you how great the new stuff is.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

gvarner wrote:

My policy is to do it when your artistic ability exceeds your camera's capability. Your thoughts. I’m not there yet so my D7000 is just fine. I’m still an inveterate snap shooter and I can still get the "perfect snap shot. Perfect for me anyway.

I just made my last upgrade (I think 🤔). I’m perfectly happy with the D500. I started with the D5000, which my husband has now, then bought the D7100. It failed me on several occasions, so I sold it and bought the D500. Considered the D750; but would have wished I had waited for the D850. Therefore, I am content, and glad I didn’t put out the extra money for the full-frame Nikon plus expensive lenses.

For a lightweight travel camera, I take the Sony a7iii & 3 lenses with flash. Everything fits in a Velocity 7 Tamrac bag.

EDIT: A lot of people sell their Nikon or Canon gear when they go mirrorless. I’m not there yet.

gordone Loc: Red Deer AB Canada

Nice combination and upgrade. I have no interest in mirrorless either as what I have is so familiar to use.

truckster Loc: Tampa Bay Area

gvarner wrote:

My policy is to do it when your artistic ability exceeds your camera's capability.

If I stuck to that premise I would still be using my point and shoot Sony 370. I always wanted a Nikon (even though I started with Canon and liked what I owned ... a FTB and later an AE-1) so I went with the D3300. I got my hands on a well used D7000 and promptly sold the 3300 because I just stopped using it. I really still had a way to go with the D3300 but I really like using the D7000. Will I upgrade? Yes if I can find a good price on a used D7200, but then again most people who have a 7200 hold on to them. So my next camera might be in the Fuji line ... a used XT or X100F.

One note though ... I have taken pictures of the night parade at DisneyWorld with the Sony and the Nikon 3300. Artistic ability not withstanding, there is a world of difference between the two. So if you can afford an upgrade and you would like to try a new or "new to you" camera, I say go for it.

larryzplace Loc: Elk Grove Village Illinois

gvarner wrote:

My policy is to do it when your artistic ability exceeds your camera's capability. Your thoughts. I’m not there yet so my D7000 is just fine. I’m still an inveterate snap shooter and I can still get the "perfect snap shot. Perfect for me anyway.

Have seen a few youtube videos of pro's using a barbie camera that produced some really nice images...
For the most part it is who is behind the camera not what the camera is... Just my 2 cents worth...