how often do you (hobbiests especially) upgrade bodies?

I bought a 20D when the 30D came out to let someone else take the hit on GAS. I then didn't see anything that made me want to upgrade until the 7D was released and even then it took me until April of 2010, and a lot of prodding from my wife, before I was willing to drop the cash. Also, I am "frugal" by nature so Instead of just buying it I sold a watch and a nicer knife to fund it. It drives my wife nuts.

Pretty much the same as what most said. When the camera I want to get matches the play money I have in my bank account. I"m lucky enough that I have someone already lined up to buy my current 7D when if I upgrade to a 5d or the new 7D this year

I'm saving up for my upgrade now, I want a 5d3 and I have had my 60D 5 months. I'll have it by mid summer unless the 5D4 comes out.

Still have my Xti, would love to upgrade, but it's just not practical.

I started this hobby about two years ago and I'm on my 4th body upgrade.

Whenever I feel it's necessary. My 1d2 was my main camera for 8 years.

This may not be the best place for this type of survey, because the folks here are likely to upgrade much more frequently than a typical amateur out there who doesn't hang out on gear forums!!

That being said, I think about every 3 or 4 years is about right. In my opinion, upgrading more often than that is either due to gear fever or a real need, like a big change in the type of photography done. Gear fever symptoms include pixel peeping, and obsessing over the next new body.

I went from a 300D to a 50D in 2008 to a 6D in 2012.

Got a Rebel XT back in Dec 2005, 40D in June 2008, and then the 7D in Sept 2011. I'm jonesin for a 6D right now...I seem to buy a new body with each new child I have

I upgraded from the Rebel XSi to my 7D after a year, because I felt I was being held back by the poor low light performance and sub-par AF.

I purchased my 6D as a second body (not an upgrade) to complement my 7D, which is still getting the job done for wildlife and action photography.

I bought a Canon AE-1 back in the early 80's and over the next 15+ years slowly acquired FD lenses as and when I could afford to buy them. When that stopped working, I traded in the lenses and bought an EOS film camera and started buying EF lenses.
I bought the original Digital Rebel (300D) in 2004. I then traded the film EOS for the 60D through the CLP in early 2012.
The 60D is my primary camera when I need to take good photos. But the 300D is the one I leave in the car - it still is far better than the one in my smart phone!
If and when one of these breaks, I'll buy whatever is current at that time. Otherwise, I don't see myself replacing the 60D for years to come. I'll spend my money on buying better lenses.

I change slowly. It took me years to abandon my F-1 FD body, and until my EOS Elan was stolen (with some lenses) did I change to Digital -- at that time a choice of the 30D or 40D. I went with the just released 40D and have stayed with it. I've identified some specific things I want in an upgrade that the 40D isn't doing for me, and am waiting. The 6D is close but decided to (patiently) waiti to see what comes with a 70D and/or 7DII -- The 5DIII is beyond my budget. So -- I guess every 7-10 years for me . . .

6 years or so with the 30D. Even though I've owned a lot of bodies, my true upgrade was once to the 5D2. Would love the 5D3, but not worth it for me, as I find my keeper rate pretty good. More interested in stills rather than action. I'll probably update eventually, but this hobby is pretty expensive. I have a lot of responsibilities that need to be taken care of first before my hobby.

Fernando wrote in post #15782430
I bought a 20D when the 30D came out to let someone else take the hit on GAS. I then didn't see anything that made me want to upgrade until the 7D was released and even then it took me until April of 2010, and a lot of prodding from my wife, before I was willing to drop the cash. Also, I am "frugal" by nature so Instead of just buying it I sold a watch and a nicer knife to fund it. It drives my wife nuts.

lol, I dont even let my wife know about my purchases and at the same time, I do keep it low key.

she's happy with our prints, but little does she know how much my gear is worth. She says to her friends that it's a good hobby and keeps me away from other women, so she doesnt mind.

boerewors wrote in post #15782317
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

Wealth is not necessarily an indicator of purchasing frequency or budget. I can afford much more than I spend, but I choose not to. I have a brother-in-law who is a extremely wealthy, and he's happy with his Rebel.

My upgrades are based on deficiencies in performance for me. If I'm not getting enough keepers, I analyze why, and see if skill/technique or equipment is the best solution. The move from the 550D to the 1D3 solved a lot of problems for me, so I'm good for a while, but a 1D4 isn't more than 2 years out (need a few bits of glass in the mean time).

Well I got "semi-serious" about photography around Memorial Day of last year when I purchased a Sony NEX-5N on sale.

Hated not having a viewfinder and didn't want to buy more lenses for it, so started using my wife's XSi (she bought it in 2009 but only used it on special occasions).

Got the "bug" and bought a 60D last September.

Then bought a 6D 3 months ago.

No plans to upgrade for a long time as the 6D and 60D combination is perfect for what I want, but I probably would have come out even if I had just bought a 5D Mark III from the getgo or something.