Calling all pro's and enthusiasts....I love my body dearly...but when didya.....

[PrincessInOz]

I've had my CAMERA body for about a year now and whilst I love it dearly, I'm starting to think forward to a time when I should trade up and get a new (dSLR camera) body.



The (dSLR camera) body I have is the only one I have...:rolleyes:

It's also the only (dSLR camera) body I've ever played with. :rolleyes1


So, for this *Madonna*, I'm curious.....


When did or when do you know it's the right time to get a new one (and I do mean camera body)?

How much does cost factor into the equation for you....especially if you *lust* after that...er...model that you know is completely out of your weight range?



(And excuse me if this next question is going to kick any elephants in the room...I've been hanging out here for about a year now and I don't think it is an elephant because I've never seen it...but you never know....)

For those of you that shoot with crop cameras, did you stick with the crop (camera) body when you got a new one because of the lenses you currently have or did you consider going 'full frame'?
How much was it a "limitation" to have lenses specifically designed for crop cameras in your decision?


Anything else that I should know or consider about changing (camera) bodies?



Thanks in advance.


princess::upsidedow

[Gianna'sPapa]

For me it's the technology. My camera was introduced in 2006. Over the next two generations there wasn't enough upside for me to upgrade. In the past year my manufacturer introduced a body (camera) that warrants serious consideration for upgrade. That new technology came with a significant increase in cost. Now the question arises, are funds available. Not yet. So my dilemma is saving enough to make the purchase for this body (camera). By that time, there may be another and then the question that is posed is, do I buy the one I'm in love with now or the new one! Again, probably, with a price increase, this dilemma will continue. In the meantime, I keep shooting with the two that I have.

[Frantasmic]

If you get a new (camera) body, flaunt it (the body) (of the camera).

[x19]

Do it for the improvement in quality, but that means a lot more than megapixels. The new camera bodies from Nikon and Canon do great in low light, and do HD video which is nice to have. However, instead of buying a new body that you'll want to replace in a year put that $500 - $1000 into a good pro lens that will last a lifetime.

[zackiedawg]

Do it for the improvement in quality, but that means a lot more than megapixels. The new camera bodies from Nikon and Canon do great in low light, and do HD video which is nice to have. However, instead of buying a new body that you'll want to replace in a year put that $500 - $1000 into a good pro lens that will last a lifetime.

Lenses are certainly a good investment and important part of photography since they can be transferred to newer bodies. BUt upgrading the camera body is also something worth doing when you get to the point the old body is limiting your photography. If the body you have can still do all you ever ask of it, and still works properly, it doesn't matter if it's 1 or 10 years old. For me, moving up in camera bodies is about expanding or growing in ability photographically - such as needing faster burst because you are getting into action/wildlife photography, needing better tracking focus systems, needing better high ISO performance, etc. When I need those things, and a newer body will provide them when my current one cannot, it's time to upgrade.

BTW, the newer camera bodies from all the manufacturers are great in low light - not just Canon or Nikon - the newest Pentax and Sony models are equal or better to the newest from Canon or Nikon. Since the latest enthusiast level Nikon and Pentax both use Sony's excellent 16MP sensor from their A580, all three of those brands have amazing similar capabilities at high ISO. Brand is about the least important thing to consider nowadays - features, performance, price, ergonomics, and available lenses for your personal needs will determine which camera is best for you. And everyone's got lens legacy, and all 5 major brands have well over 300 lenses to choose from - so unless you have some seriously specialized needs for one particular unique lens, or happen to need more than 300-400 lenses in your personal collection, there should be no reason to worry about not having enough lenses to choose from with any major brand.

[photo_chick]

I got a new body when my technology was really outdated (mainly ISO performance and range that came with the T1i/ 50D sensor changes), my Rebel XT was about 5 years old then. When I get a new camera it's going to be for specific features I want (notice I said want and not need) I never felt like I had outgrown the XT, and that's never something I've understood when people say... you have full control over the exposure, what's to outgrow? But technology does progress, which is a different matter entirely) and it's not like film where you could keep a camera forever and just get new film.

On full frame... I only have 2 crop only lenses. I'm looking at getting the 1D mark IV next tax refund time (for specific features I'm drooling over) and although it's APS-H it cannot use crop lenses. But it's not a big deal to me because I would not be getting rid of my crop cameras and would still see myself using my crop cameras often. I have a 50d now and I still pull out my Rebel XT with the 50mm f/1.8 when I want to go really small and light.

[C&B Young]

We initially upgraded from our starter body, Canon Rebel XS, to a 50D because the body was limiting our shooting (namely, we needed a higher burst rate for sports). We kept the XS as a 2nd body though. We recently, however, had to sell the XS because I "accidentally" won an eBay auction for a 5D (made a low bid, didn't expect it to win but it did). Having a full-frame and a crop is essentially the best of both worlds - we can keep all of our crop lenses, but also have the full-frame with a few lenses that work with it too.

[ukcatfan]

Do it for the improvement in quality, but that means a lot more than megapixels. The new camera bodies from Nikon and Canon do great in low light, and do HD video which is nice to have. However, instead of buying a new body that you'll want to replace in a year put that $500 - $1000 into a good pro lens that will last a lifetime.


BTW, the newer camera bodies from all the manufacturers are great in low light - not just Canon or Nikon - the newest Pentax and Sony models are equal or better to the newest from Canon or Nikon. Since the latest enthusiast level Nikon and Pentax both use Sony's excellent 16MP sensor from their A580, all three of those brands have amazing similar capabilities at high ISO. Brand is about the least important thing to consider nowadays - features, performance, price, ergonomics, and available lenses for your personal needs will determine which camera is best for you. And everyone's got lens legacy, and all 5 major brands have well over 300 lenses to choose from - so unless you have some seriously specialized needs for one particular unique lens, or happen to need more than 300-400 lenses in your personal collection, there should be no reason to worry about not having enough lenses to choose from with any major brand.

Excellent explanation as always Justin. I don't know why brand was even introduced into the discussion. It is irrelevant since the OP already has a brand commitment. x19, are you getting kick-backs from Canon and Nikon for mentioning them as much as you can? :rotfl2: Just kidding

[crz4mm2]

We initially upgraded from our starter body, Canon Rebel XS, to a 50D because the body was limiting our shooting (namely, we needed a higher burst rate for sports). We kept the XS as a 2nd body though. We recently, however, had to sell the XS because I "accidentally" won an eBay auction for a 5D (made a low bid, didn't expect it to win but it did). Having a full-frame and a crop is essentially the best of both worlds - we can keep all of our crop lenses, but also have the full-frame with a few lenses that work with it too.

:lmao: sounds like something I would do....

[NYCNatalie]

Princess what do you shoot with now? Which lenses do you have? Some lenses are better suited for crop of full frame, but sometimes full frame lenses actually benefit crop sensored cameras in giving longer focal lengths. Let me know what you currently have and I'll gladly recommend what may be a reasonable next purchase if you're interested in upgrading. If you did sell your crop lenses, you can do so on ww.fredmiranda.com which has a very reputable buy/sell board, which I've used to sell and buy from in the past (I'm a photographer).

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks for all the "food for thought" everyone. I'm not ready to ditch my current (Canon - not fishing for kickbacks ;)) T2i right now....but I can see a time when I'm going to need a faster burst speed and better focussing capability.

I'm currently saving pennies....might be 5 years before I get there! Who knows? Maybe there will be a 7D Mark III or a 5D Mark V by that stage.
(Beginning to sound like a Star Wars telethon!)

NYCNatalie - I've got the (Canons) 17 - 55mm f/2.8, 10 - 24mm f/3.5-5.6, 50mm f/1.8 and both beginner kit lenses. I wouldn't be getting rid of any of the lenses I currently own in a hurry. And will be considering a better telezoom for my next lens; or another prime.


And yes....I hope we're all around when/if I get my new (camera) body, so that I can flaunt it! :rotfl:


princess::upsidedow

[Wcoaster]

Reading through the thread it looks like everyone is pretty much on track. In my opinion I think that bodies/processors have plateaued a lot more than they were even 5 years ago. A camera bought within the last year should keep you in the game for quite a while. 10 years ago we were changing cameras every 18 months just to keep up.
Good shooting.