When you shouldn’t (and should) upgrade your camera gear…
In the last few months a ton of new cameras have been released and while it’s tempting to upgrade every time, in this blog I want to share a few reasons why upgrading might not be as big of a deal as you think. These opinions are based on my own experience, running over 100 workshops and speaking to thousands of you over the years. Finally at the end of the blog I will touch on scenarios where upgrading your gear is going to be worthwhile.
What The Pros Use
Just because the photographers you look up to or follow use high end cameras, it doesn’t mean you have to buy the same. I use the XH2s which is the top of the range Fuji, however for 90% of people this is not the camera I would recommend. That’s because most people who like photography, don’t need a workhorse. The funny thing is that most people, including myself will not be able to even tell the difference between the photo out of the XH2s and an XT3 which is less than a third of the price.
You might be asking well the XH2s is a waste of money and why did you even get it? I got it because there is no lag when switching between photo and video. I got it because it’s built like a tank. I got it because the CF card inside lets me copy files 10 times quicker than the SD card. All these smaller details is what makes pro cameras pro. Most people will never use nor care about those features. Where’s for someone who uses a camera daily to pay their bills, these features really do matter.
Finally circling back to image quality, about half of the photos I’ve taken which have been very popular, were on the Fuji XT3 which has the same sensor and the same image quality as almost every Fuji in the last 6 years. If I wasn’t doing this for a living, if the XH2s wasn’t a tax write off, I would still be on my XT3 with the f2 primes which is what kicked everything off in the first place.
Feeling Uninspired & Bored
Feeling bored or uninspired with our creative hobby is totally normal and common. In most cases it’s a simple sign that you need to either rest, change something up or challenge yourself. There are many different ways to get out of a creative rut however buying new gear with the hope that it takes you out of said rut… well in most cases that is not gonna work.
The main reason is that humans are generally very good at adapting to changes. When that change involves an upgrade, it doesn’t take us very long for that upgrade to become our baseline. So your new £5000 Leica will only feel new and exciting for a short time. Initially it will be the motivation you need to get out and feel inspired again. However in a fairly short space of time, it will become just another camera and whether you like it or not, you will be back where you started… and now what?
The same happens when people upgrade cars, fly first class or start to earn more money. When something in your life is upgraded, it very quickly becomes the normality and the baseline. So any underlying issues will always rise to the surface again.
Don’t Like Your Photos
This is one that we can all relate to. For whatever reason we just don’t like our photos. Maybe it’s the perceived image quality or lack of detail. Perhaps it could be how the colours are rendered or a general feeling that our photos are just poor quality. However just being able to identify good light and use it to your advantage will remove most of these issues.
By working on your composition skills, you can simplify your scenes thus giving them a minimal and clean appearance. Furthermore being able to properly edit photos and know how to manipulate colours will take you a long way. Unless you’re using a point and shoot from 2008, you can go far but just working on the three things I just mentioned.
Upgrading to a 60mp sensor or an f1.2 prime in the hopes that it alone will take your photos to the next level is a bit like upgrading to a Ferrari hoping that it will make you a better driver. It won’t and you will not even know what to do with all that power anyway.
You Like Someone Else’s Photos
This is a really common one and it always starts with a question - oh I love your photos, what camera are you using? Equally I get messages from people saying - oh I love your photos therefore I got a Fuji to try and get similar shots. As flattering as this is, I am not sure it is the best way to shop for a camera or justify an upgrade. With a modern raw file you can push the colours in any direction. For example if you shoot with a Sony, you can make it look like a Fuji if you know what you’re doing.
So if you’re scrolling through instagram and you come across a photo you love. Asking what camera was used and assuming the camera was responsible for that shot, is not gonna be helpful. Instead ask, what focal length was used, what the light was like, what the conditions were like, why did you compose the shot like that, etc?
Physical Barrier & Specific Feature
Now let’s look at some legitimate reasons to upgrade and the first one is a physical barrier. This is when you want to achieve something but you are physically limited by the gear. For example you want to shoot at night but your f5.6 cheap kit lens is holding you back. Upgrading to an f2 prime would be a good option. Another example is that you want to shoot in heavy rain, storms or by the sea. Upgrading to a camera with good weather sealing is something I would definitely consider.
Upgrading for a specific feature that you need is also a legitimate reason. For example if you have shaky hands, then getting a camera with IBIS or a stabilised lens, will help. Or maybe you love to shoot self portraits, then looking for a camera with a fully articulating screen could be a good option.
Don’t Enjoy Using Your Camera
There is some merit in saying that cameras are simple boxes that capture light and the enjoyment comes from the act of photography and not the gear you use. However I only think this is valid to a certain point. If you simply hate using your camera, you just wont shoot with it. For example I always dream about only shooting with my iPhone. The thought of only going out with a phone and nothing else is extremely freeing. But I just hate using my phone as a camera from a basic ergonomic perspective. So I just don’t use it.
In the same way you might own a huge full frame DSLR which is just not fun to carry round, you don’t enjoy using it or even don’t use it at all. This is where upgrading to a small, light mirrorless APSC camera can put that enjoyment back into your photography. You need to enjoy using your camera. You need to look forward to using it. To a degree.
When You’ve Convinced Yourself You Must Upgrade
The last and the best reason to upgrade is when you have talked yourself into it so much, that you physically can’t sit still until you’ve upgraded. In that case, just upgrade and don’t listen to anyone else including me. Because for most people to truly understand everything I’ve just shared with you, they need to learn the hard way by upgrading and then realising it wasn’t all they thought it would be. So go and get that camera because we’ve all been there at some point.