There are a million reasons to buy a new camera. Some are more valid than others. In this article, I take a look at some of the silliest rationales for buying new cameras.
1. Because It’s New
Camera companies go out of their way to sell you the latest and greatest equipment. Sure enough, they should, because camera companies know exactly what you need and why you can’t get the next best picture. How can you possibly photograph a decent studio portrait if your camera only goes up to ISO 25,600?
In all seriousness, though, you may want to rethink exactly why you’re buying a new camera. Try to limit your exposure to direct camera marketing by devoting time to art books, art history, and photographers working in your genre. Visiting the camera store less and unsubscribing from a few newsletters will help a lot in immersing yourself in the art of photography, not the cameras in photography.
2. Celebrity Endorsement
Alright, I talked about direct marketing, so here is an example of indirect marketing. This tactic was pioneered by Juicy Couture (remember those awful tracksuits?) when they boosted sales and became famous because they gave away their clothes to celebrities. Seeing a popular YouTube persona use the latest cameras instantly triggers a mechanism of “I want to be like them.” This is very natural, as most humans desire to be a better version of themselves by looking up to someone. However, simply owning items that have an affiliation with your idol won't make you any better. Therefore, before buying a new camera, ask yourself “how many celebrities use it?” If you can list a significant amount, you may want to rethink your purchase.
3. More Megapixels
When Canon made the 5Ds, some photographers jumped on it, thinking that 50 megapixels were just that they need to produce better work with detail never seen before at full frame. Yet, some don’t realize that the amount of resolution the camera has is also dependent on the lens that’s in front of it. A good example would be a medium format lens on a full frame body: it will resolve tremendous detail and be extremely sharp even wide open. Compared to a cheap full frame lens with a smaller image circle and reduced optical quality, it is evident that the camera is by far not the only thing determining how sharp and detailed your images are.
4. Bad Technique
Most bad techniques can be corrected with Photoshop nowadays; still, it is frustrating to see undesired results in camera. A lens not being sharp enough is probably not the reason someone can't get sharp photos. There hasn't been a bad camera since 2009, so blaming the equipment for your lack of skill is a bit silly, to say the least. Of course, if you do feel that your equipment is limiting you, feel free to prove yourself wrong by renting whatever you want for a day and seeing how that pans out. A monkey with a Leica is not a great photographer.
5. Current Lack of Excitement
The age of consumerism is described by one word “more.” Marketing leads us to believe that new stuff is exciting. Apple is known to have teams dedicated to making the unboxing experience as pleasant as possible. Small details, such as the time it takes for the box to open, are meticulously thought out.
Opening a brand new camera is also very exciting, going around and taking photos with it constitutes a new chapter in your photography, especially since the idea of “switching” has been made into such a big deal in the past decade. To me, it seems like switching is a matter of choosing what allows you to be creative freely without having to fuss with settings.
6. Desire for Respect in the Club
While I’ve never been part of a camera club myself, I know that it’s a benefit if you have the best camera in the club. In a way, it makes you look more professional and therefore somehow better than your peers. This reminds me of a scene in Borat where the annoying neighbor “gets front step because I have front step.” Every camera club is bound to have someone like that. If you truly want to be on top, improve your skills beyond what the club is capable of.
7. Too Long With the Current Camera
Is there such a thing as having a camera for too long? According to some, yes. While this topic deserves a separate article, it is still worth a short mention here. There is no such thing as having a camera for too long. A parallel would be people who say they have done photography for 30 years. Owning a camera for 30 years and actively shooting for 30 years aren’t the same things. Hence, simply having something in your drawer isn’t an excuse to upgrade. Believe me, if you use your camera, it will eventually fail and you will have to buy one out of necessity.
8. Because It’s Mirrorless
Look, I’m not a full-on mirrorless critic, although some of my readers would regard me as one. My criticism stems from people over-hyping the whole thing. This ties in with upgrading because something is new. Being new doesn’t make it a necessary purchase. Weighing up, independently, the benefits and drawbacks of every new camera you buy will lead you to be a much more cautious and efficient consumer.
9. Because the Lenses for It Are Better
This is clearly linked to point eight. Sure, many newer lenses that have been released for mirrorless cameras are optically superior. But, do you need that? Really, how often do you struggle and not get work because your images are not sharp enough?
Closing Thoughts
To buy or not to buy is a question that will always be in the heads of most photographers. Most of the time, one should consider improving their craft before the tools. Oddly enough, the tools improve with you as you learn more skills and refine the craft. I’ve seen this happen first-hand and suggest you give yourself a few more months and tutorials first.
Questions? Ask away!
But it isn't stupid for someone to buy a new camera if their old camera is malfunctioning and cannot be repaired or serviced. In fact, if one's old camera is broken, and neither the manufacturer nor independent repair shops can fix it, that seems like a really good, intelligent reason to buy a new camera.
Right to repair on cameras is actually a very interesting topic. Pondering an article about it(having recently overhauled a few analogue lenses haha)
I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about camera warranties, because I only buy used gear.
One thing that irks me is that some people buy a camera/lens only because someone else bought the same camera or lens and got great results rather than spend the time and effort to learn why someone else got a great shot, and then practicing what they learned. And don't get me started on those that come up and ask, "What settings are you using?", without regard whatsoever for the fact that the one being questioned may be shooting something else and/or using a different setup.
Yep, check out this article I wrote recently! https://fstoppers.com/education/here-what-should-not-care-about-photogra...
I get what you're saying but I think 'stupid' is not the right word to use. It's harsh and judgmental. I do agree with your closing thoughts that focusing on improving your craft with the equipment you have will make more difference than a new camera for sure. Sometimes the only way to learn that is to buy a new camera and find out your photos are really no better.
Well, yes sometimes that's the only way haha)
Ngl mirrorless is fantastic. Being able to preview the image as it is recorded before hitting the shutter has definitely improved my keeper rate. Plus it has so many benefits, like being able to view the histogram in the EVF, being able to punch in when using manual focus, zebras, etc.
Totally agree with the other 8 reasons though. I can't really think of any others that I'd add.
Mirrorless is the future, absolutely. Not present for me personally.
I really love mirrorless myself but the exposure preview and histogram really aren’t that much of a step up over the light meter, at least imo. With my dslr, if I’m worried about clipping highlights or shadows, I just under or over expose a couple bars.
Yeah, lots of people used light meters with film and DSLRs and it's certainly a tried and true method. I do like having those exposure tools though because in fast paced conditions (shooting events or any time where you're switching lighting conditions a lot), they make it pretty obvious if you're making a mistake.
Whilst I agree with the sentiments regarding illogical reasons to buy a new camera, we're looking at a luxury goods market with cameras, just the same as we are with cars, motorbikes, televisions and even houses.
So logic goes out of the window to some extent and new luxury goods are bought just for the luxury of having something that the buyer perceives or even believes is better. That's the whole point of a luxury goods market.
Looking at it logically if buyers didn't go out and by luxury items on a whim, we wouldn't have such a fast technological race in so many product lines..
These arguments go back along way.
Now I'm just off to create some pictures the original way by spitting out ground up pigments and daubing them on some rocks.. It should be great, one of the rocks I've seen already reminds me of a deer. No I don't think that man down the road should be allowed to shape the rocks first, that's cheating..
Then again if he offered to trade with me some of the rocks he uses to shape the rocks he paints, for this pretty stone I found, I might be interested..
But would my other neighbour talk to me again?
Indeed, seeing tourists with 1DX bodies really makes me wonder if they are buying it for the price.
Probably the same reason you see people driving G wagons. They are rich and like to buy stuff.
Fully agreed. A worthy article.
Thanks for reading!
I've thought for a while that cameras have become the new smartphones. People have to have the latest and greatest because it adds a certain feature that their previous 1 year old camera doesn't have. Heck, many people regularly upgrade to the latest version "just because" it's the latest version - just like their phone.
It appears to me (as a young whippersnapper of 45 years) that time was with film, you'd use the same body for years - I certainly used the same Minolta Dynax 7000i throughout my teens and early twenties until I lost interest in photography for a few years. The thought of a new body didn't even occur to me. I wanted a bigger lens and "Creative Expansion Cards" (remember them?).
Digital, with all its associated bells and whistles seemingly goes out of date after a few years, or so we appear to have been conditioned to think.
Well, it seems like camera companies make huge efforts to show how the "new camera" is a huge departure from the old camera. Having used a 5D2 in 2019-2020, I was able to do most work without too much worry.
Indeed. Old stuff still works as it always did, and often quite well. There's seems to be this myth that a device stops working when the manufacturer no longer supports it.
I wish Canon et al would take a leaf out of Fuji's book and release feature-rich firmware updates for their cameras rather than simply adding a couple of features to the newer models every year. They are propagating the "upgrade every year / disposal camera" model that's so prolific these days.
Sure I understand they are in the business of making money by selling hardware, but companies such as Fuji, Apple and Line 6 (for any fellow guitar nerds) appear to be thriving whilst still releasing updates for older models. It certainly does something for customer loyalty.
I've seen people who actually believed the newer their camera is the better their photos are, so they never work with the same gear for too long. Seems pretty strange to me but it's up to them anyways.
The 'respect in The Club' thing is an absolute nonsense, too, there are people who would drive themselves crazy trying to understand all the sophisticated Photoshop tools and techniques at once instead of trying something simpler like Photoworks to learn the basics. They just believe they would lose The Respect if they switch to something easier for the start while in fact nobody even cares.
Real pros use Phase One iq260😉
Well yes, I wouldn't know. Compared to you, I'm a mere amateur.
Yes, that’s correct well done for noticing.
At this point in time and with all the excellent used gear out there I see no reason to repair if mine break. Most companies won't repair after a year or two any way, "there are no parts" is what you hear most of the time. For me I can't see spending the resources on the latest and greatest toys, it won't make you a better photographer. I sell a lot of images using "old" gear. Some image even from film done in the darkroom. I see no reason to buy, buy, buy, more and more stuff. If your camera, lens or flash breaks, and can't be repaired, and you like what you had, get another used one, it's cheaper, and you know how to use it, and what it can do. So you go out and buy a new shiny camera, now what? If your in business you hold on to your resources as you may need them in the future. I'd like a mirrorless camera, but to be honest I do not need one. Out of 22 cameras and lenses I had I'm down to 6 cameras and lenses, one is in for repair. The 16 I sold had shutter counts between 235,897 to 435,987 and they still worked fine, they were making me money, and that's all that mattered. As for buying a new camera or lenses, why? What for? Buy a new cell phone you'll get more use out of it.
Be safe
Roger
Planned obsolesce. It's a great way for businesses to make money, but it's incredibly damaging for the environment.
This is one of the reasons I buy most of my technology used. Not only is it cheaper, but I don't need the latest and greatest when the previous generation or two works just as well for me.
Excellent Well said and 150% correct
Hell, there is only one real reason to buy a new camera if you are not a working pro (if you are you know what you need anyways) and it's "I like it, I want it and I can afford it". No more reasons are necessary. Life is shorter than you think so if new camera will make you happier you have enough money -- go and buy it. At least you can always sell it after the feelings go away.
That was a great read! I actually chuckled at the better lenses point. I use an 'old' Nikon D700 with OLD Nikon lenses that are manual focus/exposure. Some of those old lenses are actually superior than their modern replacements. The 'old' D700 is also superb in low light/long exposure conditions (Astro work). The only reason I would like a mirrorless is the absence of body vibrations caused by shutter function (causes sharpness problems in extreme macro photo stacking) I've held off because my collection of lenses aren't compatible without the adapter and the 'Z' body price is prohibitive...
For what it's worth, regarding #8, that's the only choice if you want something smaller. But I visit this site so sporadically that I don't quite know whether the authors and visitors usually prefer dSLRs or not (absolutely nothing wrong with that, btw).