How often do you go through a body? Why do you upgrade?

[mariusx1]

It's fun reading through this year-old thread. As someone who's on the verge of a big upgrade, it's also fun looking back on my own history.

1990s - EOS Rebel (my dad's camera that I used throughout high school)

1996-2000 - Gave up photography during college

2001 - EOS Elan 7E (Decided to get back into it. I'd always wanted an Elan 2E. This seemed better!)

2004 - Digital Rebel (An inexpensive digital SLR...no more costly fim processing)

2007 - SD800IS P&S (Wanted something more portable)

2008 - Sold Digital Rebel (Wasn't using it much anymore)

2009 - 40D (Caught the photo bug again and chose this over the 50D.)

2012 - S100 P&S (Needed to upgrade my point & shoot)

That's how it stands today (40D + S100). But, I've recently been taking more photos than I ever have in the past, including volleyball and basketball in a dimly lit gym. And the 40D is starting to show its age. I still love a lot of things about the 40D, but the high ISO performance, AF, and lowish megapixel count are starting to matter.

It's between the 6D and the 5D3, but the 6D seems like a bit of a downgrade is some key areas (FPS, cross-type AF, build quality). Unless the 6D sensor is game-changing, I'll be getting a 5D3 before long...especially since the price keeps dropping! I'm hoping the 5D3 will give me at least 4-5 good years.

I change the body once its limitations begin to hinder my shooting ability.

[Marine03]

Marius I feel the same way, but I'm using a 450D and if I'm not outside or all the windows in my house are open at peak daylight times like yesterday for Halloween, it gets dark where I live early this time of year and so just to get an okay shot I'm at max iso at 1/60 but when taking pics of little kids running around its sort of a challenge to not get blur.  Which tells me I've maxed out my camera's ability.    I hate shooting flash.

so 6D being able to shoot ISO 6400 or so will give me more options than 1600 max.

[eddiemrg]

Only when the tecnological improvement is RADICAL.
i.e. from 300D to 7D.

alternatively: when the number of shutter speed meets the "limt" declared from Canon.

[Bob Howland]

Last Spring and Summer, I replaced a 5D with a 5D3 and 40D with a refurbished 7D. The 5D was 6-1/2 years old and the 40D 4-1/2 years old. Both still take great pictures. The 5D was given to a friend who attached her 28-200 and now has far more camera than she will ever need. The 40D was replaced because the shutter release button is becoming increasingly flaky. It will probably be used primarily as a remote camera triggered by Pocket Wizards. The 5D was replaced because I needed the better high-ISO image quality and wanted the much better focusing of the 5D3.

I'm set for another 5 years or so.

[dshipley]

I upgrade/buy gear based on a number of things...

1. What I'm primarily shooting
2. If the quality of my images are being limited by the item
3. If the item will improve my productivity (time=money)
4. If maintaining/repairing the item becomes more expensive than investing in a new item
5. Product update cycles/life cycles/price cycles

My Body History:

2005 - Nikon D50
2006 - Nikon D70s/Nikon D100
2007 - Nikon D70s/Nikon D100
2008 - Nikon D3/Nikon D70s
2009 - Nikon D3/Nikon D70s
2010 - Nikon D3/Nikon D70s
2011 - Canon 5D2/Nikon D3/Nikon D70s
2012 - Canon 5D3/Nikon D3/Nikon D70s

Currently I use the 5D3 (gripped) as my primary body, the D3 when I need speed, and I don't really use the D70s (emergency backup).

[bdunbar79]

5D Mark II was my first DSLR after having used film (i.e. EOS-3)
Shortly after got 1Ds Mark III

Started shooting sports 1 year later and got 1D Mark IV and 7D as backup
Got rid of everything above this year and then went:

5D Mark III
2 x 1DX

I don't think my photography is better due to different bodies now, but I get more shots as keepers in more challenging situations.  It is advantageous to use technological improvements.  I can now keep my shutter at 1/1000s and above at night sports whereas just a few months ago this was not possible.

[albron00]

2009 - 500D
2010 - 7D
2012 - 7D

[Mick]

2007 400D my first camera. Added a 5dmk1. Had the crop for distance and full frame for everything else.
2010' bought a near new 1DS3 only because its built like a tank and I'm clumsy and out in all weathers. This is my landscape camera and unless Canon do something incredible will remain so. At A3 I can't see to much of a differance to my old 5D but the autofocus is excellent and again the build is top draw. 2010 bought a 7d as I'm now into sport. Full frame was way to short as my friend with his 1DX found out recently, no trackside passes so distance is everything, and it was bought for distance frame rate and autofocus. It excels at this but isn't so hot quality wise for landscapes.2012 bought a 1D4' my fav camera. Bought for autofocus, build quality frame rate and it excels at every thing. Top image quality better than the 7 close to the 3. So now I'm covered at all sensor sizes and distances. Will I upgrade, no I personally don't need to. The x is as close to perfect all round camera but for what I do I'll miss the crop and wouldn't like to use extenders and its no better at landscapes than my 3 at the low iso and sizes i print.But for lens,s its a different story. Buy quality used, keep until the upgrades come out, sell make a profit and buy a used new gen lens. The lens is defiantly the biggest influence on image quality for me that's why I'm breaking my used rule and my new 500 arrives tomorrow.

[JPAZ]

Thought I'd add to the redundancy.....

Started with 35mm many years ago (even did my own B&W processing). Back then, the big dilemma was print film vs. slide film and print what you like.  My first digital was a P&S and this opened up new opportunities (although the IQ was marginal and the shutter lag was awful).  I got a G6 and was happy but still limited with the capabilities, although this was and is a fine little camera.  Next came an XTI and this was a major step up.  But soon, I felt limited by menus that were not that quick to go through while using manual modes and the low light capabilities were so-so. 

I struggled for a long time with jumping to FF vs staying in crops, but the lenses I owned drove my decision.  I got a 50D (almost pulled the trigger on a 40D) and was quite happy with that.  As my skills improved, I felt more and more frustrated with the low light noise  (I do a lot of existing light travel photos).  I again began the debate with FF or not.

When the 5Dmkiii Ebay sale from Adorama happened, I made the jump.  I had always thought I'd go that route when the price was right and well........it happened.  I already had a 70-200 and a 50 1.8 so I took the jump and so far am glad I did.  Of course, I just sold a bunch of EF-S glass and got a 17-40 and 24-105 (sold my XTI, 50D as well) and am at a financial break even.  Now, I just need to work on my skills.  The 5D3 is an amazing piece of equipment but there is a learning curve.

[K-amps]

I almost never shot Film:

1997: Kodak DC120 (Stopped working one day)
2002: Nikon Coolpix 4500 (Sensor Died one fine day in Switzerland)
2005: Rebel XT 350d (Workhorse, Sold it on ebay Apr 2012)
2010: 1D mk.ii (Had it for 12 months resold for $50 loss... )
2011: 5Dc (sold Apr 2012)
2012: 5d mk.iii

The bodies just became better and so did the IQ I could get from them. The L Lens additions took the quality to a whole new level. New features improve ease and also the % of getting a good shot. If I have the money, I will keep upgrading but hopefully next time won't get super excited about a new body and be an early adopter... 

[RuneL]

I've never worn a body out. I've had the shutter replaced in a 1D II because of a nasty fall it took.

upgrade path goes something like this: D30, 10D, 1D, 1D II, 1D IV (1Ds III too but that's not that long ago).
I upgrade because the bodies no longer meet the requirements and are beginning to suffer seriously compared to the competition. This is mostly noise and resolution. I More or less follow the 1D's in upgrading, but seeing as I work in a studio 99% of the time I'm not getting a 1D X, I simply don't need the speed. I there's a high res 1Ds type coming I'm getting that.
I've never sold any of my gear, gave away the D30 and 10D and kept all the 1D bodies. They all still work except for the batteries.

[danski0224]

After experiencing the multiple AF points on the 1DIV, I am considering getting the 5DIII to replace my 5DII.

I also like the extended eye relief of the 1DIV, but the 1DX is out of my price range. A 1DsIII doesn't have the high ISO capabilities of the 5DIII and I suspect that the rumored high megapixel body will land somewhere between the 5DIII and 1DX, therefore out of financial reach for me (excluding the extra baggage that the file size brings).
 
Maybe next time one of those "deals" pops up.

Trading my 5DII for a 1DsIII would then be an option I'd be open to.

[sawsedge]

Prior to digital, I kept my Minolta bodies (SRT-102 and XD-11) for at least 20 years without an upgrade.   When it became clear that digital was at least equal to film and I had to pay for repairs annually on the XD-11s, I switched to EOS.  I had the 20D for around 5 years, felt the 50D was a good enough upgrade (then kicked myself a year later when the 7D came out), and recently I found the 50D's AF system just doesn't track well enough, so I moved to the 5D3.  The 5D3 knocks the socks off the previous bodies.  I don't see needing an upgrade for years... as long as the body lasts I think.

[RLPhoto]

Well, Im selling my 7D body and 10-22mm On evil bay right now. The 5D3 has spoiled me. 

[Daniel Flather]

Well, Im selling my 7D body and 10-22mm On evil bay right now. The 5D3 has spoiled me. 

I got $650 CAD for my 10-22mm.  Nice lens, until I got the 24Lii.