Should You Upgrade Your Camera?

Should you upgrade you camera?
If you are watching these 3 reasons why you should upgrade your camera, chances are that you are already lusting after something. I also write for fstoppers and there is a constant conversation about the best camera 2019, the best photography gear and the camera gear that people are currently using.

It is easy to get bogged down in the anxiety of having the latest and greatest gear. So in this video I go over exactly how I work justify and camera or equipment upgrades that I make.

In my bag I have;

[paskrell]

I’m shocked your channel has not massively taken off. Really like your realistic business approach and honesty.

[CptRaynor]

I've been binging through your videos on and off for the past several days but this one struck home in particular. Up until a week ago I was all gung go and dead set about buying a full frame camera on the Black Friday sales, but as it turned out, all the prices were more expensive then they were last year, so I held off. First I was disappointed, but then I became glad I didnt. My current entry-level 24mp crop sensor w/ 50mm prime actually does everything I need, sometimes with some workarounds, but it still works.

I think I got so caught up in gear lust for a brief bit there that I became blinded to the fact I dont really need to upgrade and that I'm better off using that money on something else that could improve my photography, like different lighting gear or more time spent shooting. I mean sure, if there was a *super* good deal I'd take the plunge, but its not necessary. Your video pretty much confirmed this, so, thanks for that.

[Sawta]

I think this video really helped me. I'm working with a lower end camera (Canon SL2) and have been considering upgrading to something like the Pentax K-1 Mk II or the Canon 5DS R. The primary driving factors for me have been: Weather sealing, and Internal GPS. I do a lot of Landscape work and both matter a lot to me. I want something that is more sturdy, can take more physical abuse, as well as something that doesn't require a GPS in my hot shoe slot, so I know precisely which location a photo was taken.

The thing is, I have ways of getting around both of those issues right now, and I have been doing both of those things. I can add in GPS info after the fact through LrC, and I can tie a bag around my camera to keep rain, dirt, and snow off of the camera body. The megapixels on the SL2 are obviously lower than both the K1 and the 5DSR, but the thing that would help me far more than buying a new camera body is going to be better lenses, and even more importantly, better locations and sturdier hiking gear.

Better auto focusing points means little to me, since I use manual focusing almost exclusively unless I'm taking some handheld snap shots of whatever. Improved dynamic range is great, but is it something that I would personally notice the difference of right away? Am I skilled enough to utilize professional-grade gear as someone who is very much still an armature? Probably not, no. So there's little reason for me to shove myself into a category I can't really justify or afford comfortably.

[benharris]

Congrats on the 1k subscribers milestone. Again, three brilliant points.
Every time I start thinking about spending money I don’t have I think about Joanie Simon (The Bite Shot) who built her career on a Canon 70D and a 50mm prime. If she can do it, so can I!

[Cuervo]

Very good points... for me the importance of "stuff" that changes your photography in order of importance is light, post processing, lenses, camera.

[bartfire]

I love watching videos that include a single piece of information I never came across.

...why is it so tricky for cameras to take a picture of a bowl of oranges?

[FoodTechLife]

The problem I have is feeling A little bad because I bought a micro four thirds camera and everyone always talks about getting full frame. Or investing in glass...that’s full frame. Of course I can learn a lot with my current system first. So yeah at least there’s that.

[ActualCounterfactual]

Put some perspective to upgrades, remember that Professionals used EOS-D1 for their corporate work "back in the days" and shot fantastic images.
The list-price on release was a massive 6500 Eur and the resolution was a meagre 4 MegaPixel only but still fantastic photos. Then also consider ... some of the best + most historical images we seen (pre-digital) was taken using a camera that literally was a box with a piece of glass in the front and no technology at all. Still they are fantastic photos lasting up to today.
Now we have people buying gear that is more powerful than the computer that took humanity to the moon... AND it also cost as much as a second-hand car.
Still we often see generic photos that could have been taken with any consumer camera.
We don't need better gear, we need better photographers.

[zillennialtries]

I know nothing about photography but can be certain you are smarter than whatever sort of AI autofocus uses.