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

[Zo0m]

May 2010 - Panasonic GF1
Oct 2010 - Nikon D7000 (& sold the GF1)
Oct 2011 - Canon 550D (& sold the D7000)

I was spellbound by the amazing canon lenses and finally couldn't resist any longer after a friend gave me his t2i. My favorite lens is the 70-200 IS2 which I shoot a lot with (Although I must admit it is too long for indoor use on the APS-C sensor...). I was really tempted to get the 5D Mk2 & feel it is the most needed gear acquisition for me. Especially since I already have some nice EF-lenses. But doesn't feel I want to pay 1500 £ for 3,5 yr old tech. I will be making a 2 month trip to China & Japan next summer and will either get the 5Dmk3 or 85/1,2 lens if the mark 3 isn't released until then :O

So... three bodies in 1,5 years

[JackSw1ss]

LOL this thread is fun...

I thought I was the only madmad to have changed bodies so fast (receiving also the non-approval of my girlfriend) but in reality I see there's people even faster than me, a loooot faster LOL.
As for me was:

- April 2009 Nikon D60
- December 2010 Canon 7D....and 3 L lenses LOL
.... maybe December 2011 Canon 5D II since I'm wanting FF sooooo baaaad.
will get also 2 non L lenses to gain on pockatability and light weight ability when I go street photography.


I made the swithc from nikon to canon mainly for the video feautures which was (and still is) waaaay to ahead. Plus I was always fascinated by those red rings lenses LOL.
But how difficult it was to sell everything. Expect for 2 lenses, the rest was a PIA really. I ended up givin away the D60 almost as a gift LOL

[alipaulphotography]

2009 - 450D (sold)
2011 - 5D

That's it so far. I will upgrade to the MKII when it comes down in price unless the mkIII offers anything spectacular. The original is superb for the price but I really would LOVE 6400 ISO....
I'll need a 2nd body before next wedding season as renting is a pain.

I upgrade only when there is something I specifically need for better images. 90% of the time that will be glass.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Of digital SLR bodies I've had and used, I've had the D30, 10D, Digital Rebel, Digital Rebel XT, Digital Rebel XTi, 20D, 30D, 40D, 1D MK II, 1D MK III, 5D, 5D MK II, and the 7D over the past 10 years.  Usually at least two at the same time.  Most of them I bought used and sold them after a year for more than I paid, but my 5D MK II will be three years old in about three weeks.  I also had a Kodak DCS 620, but it was mostly as a collectible, and not used other than to test.

In order of IQ, I'd say 5D MK II, 1D MK III, 7D, 1D MK II was what I saw.  Certainly the 1 series cameras have a lot more going for them besides IQ, the ability to AF at F/8 or even f/11 (with stacked TC's) is a huge plus, and will be missed with the 1Dx, if I decide to get one.

[cdang]

I'm amazed at how many of you change/acquired so many lens and cameras in such a short period of time.

I wish I had that luxury 

[TexPhoto]

I'm amazed at how many of you change/acquired so many lens and cameras in such a short period of time.

I wish I had that luxury 

There will always be somebody with a newer/more expense camera and lenses.  The key is to outshoot that guy, out sell that guy, or at least have more fun than that guy depending on why you take photos.

Me I buy a new camera when I have the money, and the improvement warrants it.  That was every 12/18 months for a while, but now I've had my 5DII for 3 years, and it is still awesome.  I think progress in DSLRs has slowed, and there is less need to upgrade, but in the end it comes down to want/need and the avaiablility of $$.

Do what you can to buy low and sell high though.  I minimize my cost by ussually buying used, especially with lenses.

[CowGummy]

I bought my 400D when it first came out in 2006.
So far it's the only digital slr I have ever owned. I do often feel that a lot of people shoot with equipment way over qualified for the job. Now I totally understand that there will always be people who earn very good wages and have photography as a hobby,so can afford to spend a few thousand pounds/dollars/yen/euros etc on new equipment every year. No problem with that at all! But I sometimes chuckle when I see flickr photostreams that are shot with 5DMkII's or 1D's and then you realise that all they post is a snapshot of their family sunday roast once a week...

The bottom line is (as well we all know...) that gear alone doesn't make a photoghrapher. I've taken 20000 shots on my 400D in the last 5+ years, and although I'm not a photographer by trade it does flow into my work - I'm a graphic designer. That being said, I've had some great successes with it - a selection of my images were picked up by Getty, I've shot numerous record sleeve covers and even won a photographer of the year award last year with my trusty 400D.

The camera will only ever be as good as the brain behind the viewfinder.

[Takuma]

I still have my first dslr body, the 30D for 5 years soon. I'm shooting wildlife mainly (as hobby) and am planing a trip to africa next year. I will upgrade before then, probably to a 7D or 7DII if it is out by then.
I want the best camera I can afford there, as I can't afford to go there again soon. Crop body for the extra 1.6x + the only FF I could get would be the 5DII and from what I hear and read I'm not sure if I would be satisfied with the AF and the fps.
My upgrades have been on lenses so far:
started with a Sigma 70-300 in may 2007 and added a Sigma 18-50 later that year (both cheap but I could take some nice photos with them). I upgraded the zoom to a Sigma 50-500 in januar 2008 and then I decided I would need IS this year, so I got the EF 100-400 L IS and a bit later the EF 24-105 L IS. Next think will be something for landscape as the 24 mm is not really wide enough at a crop body. My idea for that is the EF 8-15 L.

[Chewy734]

Powershot S10 - 11/1999
20D - 09/2004
5D2 - 07/2011

I don't switch bodies often.

[lol]

My DSLR history would go something like:

1st: Sony A350, now sold.
2nd: Olympus E-510 used, bought at a price I couldn't refuse with the 70-300 lens.
3rd: Canon 50D and my first step into Canon. I wanted a more serious body that neither Sony nor Olympus could provide at the time. Sold the Olympus kit to fund it. Two systems are more than enough.
4th: Canon 300D used, I wanted a dedicated IR camera so got this cheap to modify myself.
5th: Canon 7D - I really wanted the updated AF over the 50D and just went for it. This is still my main camera.
6th: Canon 5D (mk1) used. Traded in the 50D towards it. I wanted full frame. Found I didn't need it though, so didn't keep it long and sold it again towards some lens or other.
7th: Canon 450D used. Intended for modification for astrophotography, I left it unmodified as I found myself needing it more as a 2nd body now that I no longer had the 50D or 5D.
8th: Canon 1D used (mk1, no "s"). Too cheap to say no. I don't really have any other reason than that! Currently mostly used as a paperweight.
9th: Canon 600D. This is my new 2nd body, allowing me to get the 450D sent off to be modified. The tilty screen helps in many applications. Couldn't see the extra value in the 60D to pay for it, and a second 7D seemed excessive.

So that's 9 DSLR bodies in erm... just over 3 years. I still have 5 of them. Oh, I also have a film EOS 300 I never used. I bought that just to get the lens it came with.

If/when Canon bring out the sub 1D level full frame high MP body, that will be next on my shopping list. I really don't like the 1D series bulk.

[K-amps]

Of digital SLR bodies I've had and used, I've had the D30, 10D, Digital Rebel, Digital Rebel XT, Digital Rebel XTi, 20D, 30D, 40D, 1D MK II, 1D MK III, 5D, 5D MK II, and the 7D over the past 10 years.  Usually at least two at the same time.  Most of them I bought used and sold them after a year for more than I paid, but my 5D MK II will be three years old in about three weeks.  I also had a Kodak DCS 620, but it was mostly as a collectible, and not used other than to test.

In order of IQ, I'd say 5D MK II, 1D MK III, 7D, 1D MK II was what I saw.  Certainly the 1 series cameras have a lot more going for them besides IQ, the ability to AF at F/8 or even f/11 (with stacked TC's) is a huge plus, and will be missed with the 1Dx, if I decide to get one.

- Kodak DC-120 1997 went kaput in 2001
- Nikon CP-4500 2002 went kaput in 2005... decided to go Canon
- 350D / Rebel XT  Oct 2005 Gave to daughter in 2011, still works just fine.
- 1D mk.II Mar 2011
- 5D Sep 2011 (Sold 1D2)

I found the IQ of the 5D much superior to the 1d2. However performance wise the 1d2 was much better. On RAW's the 5d is slightly better, but in jpegs it sweeps the 1d2 away.

[K-amps]

I'm amazed at how many of you change/acquired so many lens and cameras in such a short period of time.

I wish I had that luxury 

Buy and sell used...

e.g. I bought the 1d2 for $875 then sold it for $831 after 5- months... for $44 extra spending, What I got was a a wonderful experience 

[parsek]

I went from 30D to 40D to 7D over the course of 5 years. Next up is 5D Mark III if it turns out to be a great camera, otherwise I will wait for it´s successor while I stock up on L series glass.

[LuCoOc]

I still have my first dSLR: The trusty 1000D.
Within the last 3 years I shot at least 20.000 Pictures with it and quickly found out, that glas is more important therefore got 2 L lenses. Currently I'm trying to justify a 7D. The 10 MP from my 1000D are enough for 23x35 inch prints but the AF is a pain as well as it's viewfinder.

[WildBill]

First camera: Old Konica    [late 60's/Early 70's]  (hand me down from dad)
2nd camera:   Canon FTB     [~1972] (another hand me down)
3rd camera:   Canon EOS 650 [August 1987]
4th camera:   Canon 7D      [September 2010]

Would like to get a full frame camera someday.  But for now the 7D is great for my needs.