Constant upgrading.

I watch a lot of videos that relate to photography. I've joined several photo forums as well. What truly intrigues me is how those that make the videos or post photos and tips on photography say that they purchased this specific camera because… or to replace such and such camera.

I'm not wealthy and I do not like debt! Unless one is making a living in photography, how does one spend so much on so many different cameras? Do they sell or trade their "old" gear to fund the new "gear" If so, don't they still take a hit when trading/selling. So, what is an acceptable percent that one can expect to lose when trading/selling?

I'd value thoughts on how members here handle the constant changing/upgrading.

I wonder if "constant upgrading" is a result of not realizing 1. that no ONE lens will do it all, it depends on what you like to shoot and 2. not understanding that it really, really is smarter to put your money into the lens and not the body (if you have to choose between the two) and 3. failing to realize that it isn't the camera. Until you realize that, you will spend and spend, thinking each new piece of gear will be the magic piece of kit that will bring your photography skills to the next level. It won't. Having said that many people are just gear heads and they just like having the newest, the latest, experimenting with different genres, etc. Nothing wrong with that. I really do believe that a solid knowledge of the technical side of photography can compensate for much of what others try to buy.

Maybe you can't afford an expensive camera body that does well in low light and handles high ISO's beautifully. Or a really fast lens that performs better in low light. If you have good shooting technique (how to brace your arms/body etc) and knowledge of the exposure triangle, (or a much less expensive tripod), you can figure out how to the get a decent shot without the fancy gear. If you don't have the artistic side (an eye for composition etc.), all you might get with ANY camera or any technique is a technically nice but artistically poor image, but that's an entirely different discussion.

I suppose everyone has their reasons for "constantly upgrading" their gear, but I'm willing to bet that my hypothesis covers a great deal of those reasons as I've outlined above. Don't worry about what others are doing with their money. Enjoy your hobby or profession because you can make beautiful images with whatever gear you have and with the stuff you have in your creative brain, regardless of what you have in your wallet. s.

Don't knock constant upgrading. It keeps the manufacturers happy as they sell more cameras/Lenses and of more importance it keeps the price down for when we do upgrade.
Personally I cant see the point as most of the improvements are relatively minor upgrades unless you are looking at significant upgrade from say a 5DMk1 to a Mk111 or to a 1 Series body

It's easy to get caught up in the minutia and thinking that a new ________ will make a real difference to the photography. Been there, done that. These days there's not much new that comes into my studio. Other than keeping pace with the some of the technology because my client's expect that I'll be on the same page as they are (mostly software), I'm working with cameras,lenses and lights, some of which go back to the 80's. I've got to admit though that sometimes something will catch my eye and I find myself starting to give in. Typically though if I hold off on acting, that feeling will subdue.

Look at the bright side...at least we don't have to trade in our cameras simply because the rechargeable battery has reached the end of its useful life, or we don't have to break into them to swap out the battery per the YouTube video, like our tablets and ultrathin laptops or smartphones! You will KNOW when we are 'in trouble' when our cameras start to lack the battery door and Canon expects us to send the camera and $99 for a battery swap, and it is just as expensive as getting a new camera, or we are forced to using a battery grip (again, sealed with batteries) in order to get decent daily shooting capacity!

runnerpsu wrote in post #17549573
I'm not wealthy and I do not like debt! Unless one is making a living in photography, how does one spend so much on so many different cameras?

I'll say the obvious. Some people are wealthy, and some don't mind debt. In either case, a person might think nothing of making purchases that seem excessive to someone more frugal.

Thanks folks! Interesting perspectives. I realize that when I purchase a vehicle it immediately loses a significant amount. I never mind paying for quality. I find it interesting that so many want to latest and greatest in phones, computers, and cameras and are willing to lose money doing so.

Sometimes it's vanity. The "Look at me" mentality. You know the type... you might have a good friend or neighbor that has all the new, cool stuff first. New car, iPhone... whatever it is.
I tend to wait a little while hoping the early adopters will work out all the kinks.

I'm almost to the point where I'm happy with my gear assortment. Of course there's always new shiny baubles to go in debt for. This forum doesn't help the pocketbook, that's for sure.

I'll play devil's advocate for a second, but will give a few qualifications first. I drive a 2004 Toyota Avalon, have a 4S iPhone, live in a modest house.

I got my first DSLR in 2012 (a 60D). After a few months using just a 15-85, I picked up a 70-300L and started shooting wildlife, mostly birds. I had an upgrade plan but when the 7D2 kept being delayed, I bought a 70D to get faster frames per second and a bit better auto focus.

After the 7D2 had been out a couple months, I knew about some of the problems a few people here were having but decided to roll the dice because I believed it to be a better wildlife camera than my 70D. Not long afterwards, I got a 100-400ii.

Now.... did that equipment open up new doors for my wildlife photography? I believe it did and my photos reflect it. I'm getting more keepers of birds formerly out of range with the 70-300L and birds in flight became so much easier.

At this point, I feel content with my gear. I no longer suffer from G.A.S. since I haven't run up against any obstacles my new camera/lens combo can't tackle with relative ease. Is it a 1DX with an 800 F/4L: of course not, but it's close enough for me and keeps me within a budget I can afford.

To Kim's point,(I think I'm speaking to his point, lol, )he figured out what he liked to shoot (wildlife) and bought gear suited to shooting small, faraway objects, that move quickly and now feels content with his gear. Will there be gear coming out that will help him shoot wildlife easier? Probably, but he can shoot what he likes to shoot NOW and doesn't really need it. What if Kim decides that he has what he needs for wildlife, but he now ALSO wants to shoot in studio portraits? Yes, he will be able to use some of his wildlife lenses some of the time, but typically? No, they will be too long to use indoors and he'll probably want a 85mm portrait lens or something that is better suited to portraits. And so it goes. That's one of the reasons why we tend to collect more gear. As our interests change, so do our needs.

Sue,

You explained my thinking better than I did. Thank you.

We also enjoy visiting botanical gardens. I tend to use my 100 L macro for the orchid room or greenhouse, but use my 15-85 while out on the grounds. Would a 5D III or 6D with accompanying lenses do a better job? Most likely, but at this stage, what I have works well enough for me.

Over time, I'm sure, as you mention, my interests might expand and I'll need something else. I think that's a rational way to look at things.

I would hardly call photography an expensive hobby, at least depending on what level of gear you desire and what you want to do with it, and more importantly not snapping up any new thing that comes out. I've only gone through 3 Canon cameras in 10 years, bought three lenses and now sold two of them.

Your camera won't suddenly get worse when something new comes around, so if you get perfectly usable results with what you already have, you can continue to do so. Lens choice is a really personal thing, and you may be inclined to upgrade for any number of reasons that may not even have to do with the optical performance of the lens itself. For instance, stabilized versions of lenses tend to cost significantly more, but could mean the difference between you finding the lens likable or not; in my opinion the 70-200 f/4 IS is very much worth nearly double the price of the non-IS version.

Im not wealthy and also dont like debt but spend at a level im comfortable with when it comes to my hobby. I also keep a spreadsheet that shows the purchase (and sale) prices of every single piece of kit ive owned. This very quickly lets me realise the cost of changing my mind as you always lose out on resale, if its not in the price you sell it for its in the ebay and paypal fees and postage costs etc etc.

That being said I am guilty of sometimes getting caught up in the hype of things and thinking that if I sell ___lens and buy ___ lens things will be better. Its very easy on a gear forum like this to get caught up in that. It also seems I am always on a quest to find the perfect lens lineup for my needs. Right now I feel I have that but it was only within the last two weeks I got two of the lenses (and sold others) so I could easily find myself in the buying and selling game again in months to come in search for that perfect lineup and losing money as I do it.

When it comes to justifying spending on a hobby, it's very much a personal decision. How much you like the hobby, how many hobbies do you have. And obviously, how much money do you make and how many bills do you have.
There are people on this forum that make far more then you do and think nothing of dropping a thousand dollars. There are also people that will make less then you do and still justify spending more then you will.

It's not a cheap hobby but there are definitely more expensive hobbies out there.

The only advice I would say is just stay out of debt. Unless you're trying to become professional, don't buy it if you can't pay cash.

I would write something close to this

I don't have a car but I'll most probably buy a 1Dx Mark II when it comes out and keep using the taxi