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A Guide for Upgrading DSLR Cameras for Non-Beginners DSLR Camera

First of all, this guide is NOT for:
– beginners who just bought their first camera
– main source of earnings is through photography
– those who have tons of money and can afford each new model that comes out
This guide is FOR:
– the serious photography hobbyists who feels limited by their current cameras
– those who are itching for camera upgrade but having second thoughts
Next, this article is primarily focused on upgrading digital camera bodies, specifically digital SLR  cameras.  We won’t be talking about upgrading lenses and other accessories.

Now, on with the guide which revolves around several rules:

Rule # 1 and probably the most important rule:
“The next digital camera body will always be ‘better’ than the previous ones”

According to Moore’s law, the processing power of computers will double every 18 months.  This  law applies to most gadgets, including digital cameras.  In fact, many believed that  the timespan has shortened from 18 months to a year.  So expect new digital slr camera bodies in the next  year or so.

Given that, you can’t be upgrading your digital slr camera every time there’s a new camera in the market.   You need to consider the depreciated value of your current camera and the cost of the upgrade.  Second hand  camera bodies would have lost some of it’s value after a year.  You also have to consider that the price of  new models that come out are often at the high side at first until it goes down a price acceptable to the  general market.

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Sometimes, new digital slr camera bodies have very few updates.  An example would be the  Canon 40D and the Canon 50D.  Although the Canon 50D is still a good camera, it only has very minimal  feature upgrades from the Canon 40D that is not worth as much as you spent.
What you can do is to upgrade after 2 to 3 generations of models have been released.  An example would  be upgrading your Canon 40D to the new Canon 60D.  Upgrading to the Canon 60D gives you more new features.  You get your money’s worth this way.

Rule # 2:
“The PERFECT camera DOES NOT EXIST”

No single camera is perfect.  You can be carrying a Canon 1D Mark IV, but you’re disappointed it’s not a  full frame camera.  By the way, the Canon 1D Mark IV is heavy as a tank too.  The Canon 5D Mark II may be a  lot lighter but it doesn’t have fast fps compared to even the Canon 60D or Canon 7D.  I hope you get the  point.
So you need to stop going over those technical features.  You won’t be able to find the perfect camera.   Well, you can wait for the new model to come out.  Which brings us back to Rule # 1, where new camera  models will come out and will surely be better than the best camera there is right now.

Rule # 3:
“The best camera for the job is what you have in your hands”

Simply, the camera that you have in your hand works and is able to take photos..  It may not have the best  functions but it’s able to capture the moment, right?
I hear many beginners say, “I wish I had a better camera”, and end up not taking photos.  The truth  is, it would be better for them to have taken images with their current camera than to not have taken photos  at all.

What’s really important is to learn how to use your current camera to its limits.  You need to outgrow your  camera first instead of looking for more features to compensate for the lack of skill.  I’ve known photographers  who have shot sports using their Canon 400D, even with its slow fps.  There are photographers who are still  using their Canon 20D, but still earns money by doing portrait photography.

In the end, you need to improve your skills as a photographer first before spending too much on new camera models.   In fact, I’ve heard of a story of man with lots of money who bought himself a Canon 1D Mark III, but had to enroll on  basic photography classes because he doesn’t know how to use his camera.

To summarize, remember these 3 rules when you feel like getting a new camera.  Of course, these are not  hard rules you need to follow.  In the end, it’s your decision which camera is the best for  you.  But we hope that you can follow these rules to help you save a bit of that upgrading cash.

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