Camera Labs

How often do you upgrade or replace your existing digital SLR Camera?

(This is a general question for those of you that do upgrade)

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

I havent voted because ive only just got into digital photography and so can only say on film slrs which probably have longer lives and dont really get outdated as easily.

I probably get a new camera every year or so though but mainly to have a play around with and will probably trade in one I already own. So that doesnt really count.

To get a new camera because I needed one? Probably every three years or so, and thats after what I think is quite heavy use (200,000 shots ish)

EDIT: When I plan to upgrade in 3 years or so, I plan to get a rarely used D300 which hopefully will be cheap by then

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

I have owned my D60 for 2 years now. Despite the newer D3000 and D5000 it continues to soldier on.

I plan to upgrade to a D300s or the next iteration of it next year.

This poll is not efficient. I voted 2-3 years,because it will take one more year before I will upgrade my dslr. I also should vote that this is my 1st dslr,but I have only one option.

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
Visit my work here

I bought a second body within 12 months.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

I bought my Minolta film slr used and used it 16 years. I then had my 350D for 2.5 years before I upgraded to a 7D The 350D is now my wife's elaborate point and shoot. I expect to use the 7d for 5-10 years

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Canon 7D/350D, Σ17-50/2.8, 18-55IS, 24-105/4 IS, Σ30/1.4, 50/1.8, 55-250IS, 60/2.8, 70-200/4 IS, 85/1.8, 580ex II, 430EX II, 270EX II.

I voted for the option of using My first DSLR. I think I shall probably upgrade (keeping the existing camera) in about 3-4 years, if I do choose to upgrade it.

The reason for starting this thread as a matter of interest was because I have read the rumour articles about new cameras being released, and within 6 months of release, I see loads of people owning them. I got the impression that a lot of enthusiasts couldn't get to the shop quick enough, every time something new came out.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

This is true, which is why there are countless D200s or 40Ds etc sitting on shelves of second hand shops with a shutter count of only a few thousand waiting to be picked up at bargain prices

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

Something else that would be interesting to know, would be whether professionals or non professional users upgrade the most.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

My bet is on nonprofessionals, from what I've seen.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

I think I'm settling down with kit now, but I think I've kept DSLRs bought from new for 1 to 2 years. I see upgrading as a form of preventative maintenance, as I don't hold back on using them come rain or shine. Used ones don't stick around long at all, I guess I'm distracted by the low price more than real need.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I'm with Citrus here. More non-pro users are changing cameras faster than pros. (& yes,I know pros are generally more "shutter happy"...I still remember what Chase Jarvis said in Gordon's interview about weddings )
And the reason is simple....there's a lot more amateurs or "vacationists" than pros,so the camera demand is generally established by them.

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
Visit my work here

5 years sometimes more. I'm on my first DSLR since 2007, which is an XTi, and still, pros suggest me to get better lenses instead of upgrading to a newer body.

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Canon Rebel Xti (400D), EF-S 18-55, 50mm f/1.8, Sandisk Extreme III 2gb.
Http://cr4zyh3ad.sisimple.ca

I am not a frequent "upgrader" myself. I researched things to death (and then some) before I landed on FourThirds and likely won't upgrade for at least 5 years -- just makes no sense to me to get a new body when I can put money into other kit.

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Olympus e-620 / 14-42mm / 40-150mm
Metz 48 AF-1
Kata 3-N-1 20, LowePro Orion Mini, LowePro Nova 2
My Flickr

Would you say that once you have your lenses sorted, that it is time to start upgrading the bodies?

I know that image quality is not always about mega pixels, but when point and shoots have higher resolutions, and DSLR manactures bring out better processors, and more features - is it not time to upgrade?

I'm not saying that the minute a manafacture brings out something new, I'd rush down to the shops to buy it, but what I am saying is, I think every so often (even if it's several years away), I would aim to upgrade, and then put my existing camera(s) into backup mode.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II