how often do you (hobbiests especially) upgrade bodies?

I used my XTi for about a year then upgraded to the 50D which I've had about 4 years. I wasn't impressed by the 60d. 7d maybe, but it's not dramatic enough to justify the money.

I used my xsi for around 3 years. 2 years ago I picked up a 60d and around 3 months ago I upgraded to the 5d2

For me it was:

XTi -> 50D = 2 years
50D -> 5D Mark III = Just under 4 years

Nikon FM2 from 1986-1994 (8 years)
Nikon N90s from 1994-1998 (4 years)
Nikon F5 from 1998-2004 (6 years)
Nikon F100 from 2000-2004 (2nd body - 4 years)

Canon 30D from 2007 to 2012 (5 years)
Canon 5D3 from 2012 to current (<1 year)

Chet wrote in post #15782527
Still have my Xti, would love to upgrade, but it's just not practical.

This only way I can practically upgrade is by selling off my XTi and around here everyone wants a DSLR for peanuts since they figure well I can get a T3 at walmart. . Oh well as someone put it low end body+better glass>high end body with ****** glass. only things I'm thinking of upgrading are grabbing a 17-50 2.8 to replace the god awful non IS 18-55and then swapping my 70-210 to get an F4L. Though I guess if I grab the 17-50 I can sell my pancake and my 50mm 1.8 and then just grab an 85 1.8 for portrait/low light

Film Rebel was summer 2002
10D in 2003
Xsi (partial upgrade with some trade offs) in 2008
7D in late 2012
The 10D was the most expensive out of the group still.

So I know I can make them last 3-4 years. The 10D was starting to have major shutter issues I still have it it works about 50% of the time, I figure I put around 100-200k clicks on it but I can't make it work with any of the software for the official number. The Xsi, still goes strong, but I hit a wall where it cannot keep up with what I want it to do and I was regularly at the limits of the envelope of image quality I got from it; it also had a row of dead pixels on the sensor that began showing up in prints. The 7D was a leap in technology for me and a return to proper build quality, while it meets my needs there are still times I'm asking a lot of it, for what I expect it deliver. As a hobbyist I'd run it into the ground or until it can't meet your needs and there is something else out there that will. I'm looking to go part-time pro with my photography, but before I can really make that leap I need to add in a 2nd body which is likely going to start skewing the time tables.

I usually upgrade when it breaks or I find a really good deal on something better.

Whenever I can get a better body for less than I can sell my current body for. Or if I find a deal too good to pass up.

Over the last year: 350D > 30D > 40D > 60D > 5D > 7D > 1D3

I basically got my 1D3 for $250. I also was able to afford a 5D as a second body with some of the profit I made in there.

I don't see myself upgrading either body in the foreseeable future. My plan is to buy the 5D3 to replace both bodies once it's around $1500.

I didn't upgrade on a time scale. My moves were predicated by wanting/needing something my current setup couldn't do.

Film to digital. Upgraded because film became too limiting.
Digital (P&S) to bridge. Upgraded for full manual control and better lens.
Bridge to APS-c. Upgraded to eliminate shutter lag and get useable ISO higher than 200.
Rebel to 60D. Upgraded to get dual control wheels and better AF.
60D (still have it) to 5D. I just wanted to see full-frame digital.

As far as lenses go, the story is pretty much the same. I started with 18-55, went 18-135 for range, then gave up some range with the 15-85 to get IQ and build quality. I tried some L-primes, then sold them for a Sigma 70-200 OS to get the versatility. I tried the EF 70-300 IS USM, and was not impressed. I took a beating on that lens in order to upgrade to the 100-400L. It was worth every penny of it.

Now I am restraining myself from making the choice between 6D and 5D3. I don't need the 5D3, and frankly, for what I do the AF system is complete overkill. The 60D has never let me down in that regard. My next upgrade will come when I find something I can't do with either the 60D or the 5D. I've got a feeling I be shooting these bodies for a while.