how often do you (hobbiests especially) upgrade bodies?

Hi all,

i have been going through the upgrade process of my smartphone (the one i have now is almost 3 years old...I know, ancient, right?!) hehehe

and it got me thinking about my camera body. I have a few gripes about the 7d, though overall I really like it. I was just wondering what is the rate of "turnover" for other people (especially hobbiests like myself)
I mean, I like the newest bells and whistles like everyone else - but I was thinking of waiting for about 2-3 more generations before switching out.

Do others do the same?

Well I got a 300D when it came out and upgraded to a 600D in Jan 2012 - but I suspect that it is usually more frequent than that
David

I guess when it dies? I might take a bit more photos than most trying to learn though ha... already uploaded well over 15k in the 2 months i've owned it to LR, not including my early shots before I started uploading to LR and the 25k that were on it already. I hear the 50D lasts anywhere from 100-150k ? I'd rather get more glass/strobes/modifier​s first and learn the camera, but I will replace it when necessary, probably with a 5D2. I am a firm believer in shooting as much as I possibly can with this body, I don't care if I kill it off quickly, I am learning new things with it every day! If I keep shooting at this rate it should last about a year..

another reason for upgrading is you need better ISO performance, AF performance, better IQ, and you have out grown the cameras capabilities. I'm not entirely convinced on FF yet, because I sort of like the crop factor right now.. but the ISO performance is something I would like to have.. iso past 1600 is pretty awful on the 50D

As soon as I can afford to. Generally I don't see much point in keeping with old bodies when you can sell them second hand to fund most of a new one.
7D Mark II should be coming out some time this year.

Bought my 7D in September of 2010, and I probably won't be replacing it till dies. As a hobbyist I can't really afford anything else at this point.

Bought a 30D when I first put a toe into the digital water and have upgraded to a 5D2. I've no plans to switch again until Canon produce a modern 1Ds with good low ISO performance, world beating DR and everything else Nikon and Sony seem to be taking seriously but not Canon.

The 5D2 is a fairly recent change.

I bought the original d30 in about 2000 then the 20d seven years ago which i still use and bought the 5d mk11 this year so i guess on average every 7 years .I still have and use them all.

I bought a 600D (when I really wanted a 60D) and 8 months later I'm already wanting something else.

When it dies.
Or
when some tech advance allows me to expand my envelope:ie- when ISO at over 800 became proper useable I upgraded to the 7D and 5D2 from a 10D and 5Dc.
The upgrade costs from my present cameras aren't justified for any improvement I would get.

I expect hobbyists upgrade a working body more often than pros because spending money on your hobby is more justifiable than eating into ones profit unnecessarily.

Whenever a newer model is released. I love new toys Have been shooting with the 5 series and the 1Ds series most of the time. Hoping the 7D2 will be here soon.....

About every 4 years... well, seeing as I've only been shooting w/ a DSLR for 5 years, I can't really establish a trend as yet.

Whenever a new one comes out with specs that I like...

It all depends on how much money one has. The wealthy will upgrade at every new release. i am not wealthy at all so my 60D which i purchased in 2011 will be with me untill it dies... But dang it i am at the point of being a willing body part doner to upgrade. The bug has bitten me so bad but i just cant do anything about it

I keep bodies for a long time. Always have. Probably the longest I kept a body was an old EOS 630 that I kept until 2004 or so (15 years I think). By the time things begin to break the body is old enough that a repair isn't feasible so I get a new, or new to me, body.

Mike

depends on the funds being available, whether or not the specs of the newer body warrant the upgrade, and how forgiving your wife is.

myself, i'm lucky in that my wife appreciates my photography (despite my being mostly a 'hobbyist'), and bought me my last two body upgrades as birthday presents.