We are constantly pressured to buy the latest cameras. Since the camera market has bottomed out, perhaps it’s time for camera manufacturers to rethink what they have to offer us. However, there are good reasons for upgrading and changing your system.
If you read comment section on a previous article, you’ll know I’m upgrading my camera. Before doing so, I went through a lot of internal turmoil, not knowing if I should or should not.
Let’s face it, all cameras these days are great. After all, you’ve been shooting with it for several years now, and you’ve won awards and contests with it and even sold a few prints. If you haven’t already, that has little to do with your camera. The point is, over the past six years, our cameras have been good enough; We don’t need to upgrade. This is part of the reason that the market is plunging.
Despite what many camera reviewers will tell you, there is little difference between the capabilities of most modern cameras, especially those made by the big three. There are, of course, odd exceptions. However, writers, vloggers and journalists make a fuss about what small differences are because we get paid to write about them and we want to keep you entertained. It wouldn’t be very interesting if we assumed that the latest Canon, Sony and Nikon in each price bracket are all similar. So we make a fuss about performance levels that make little real-world difference.
Gear review is one of the most popular articles here. I find this odd because knowing more about other cameras won’t make you a better photographer. Reading interviews of great photographers and educational articles is much more beneficial if we want to expand our rich knowledge.
Arguments against system upgrades or changes
Historically, individual camera models were produced longer than they are now. The original Olympus OM-1 was produced for seven years, the Canon AE1 was produced for eight years before it was replaced, the Nikon F2 lasted for nine years, the Pentax K1000 was 16.
Over the past 20 years, some, not all, camera manufacturers have upgraded their camera models almost every year, as well as producing multiple models with little difference between them. Here in England, Canon has 25 interchangeable lens cameras on the market. Sony has 22. While, Nikon has narrowed their range from where they were a few years ago with 15, that’s like Fujifilm. Panasonic has 10though their choice is bewildered by a bewildering array of different lens kit choices.
From a consumer point of view, this is bad. Sometimes, the difference between a brand’s models is only a few minutes, especially in the basic consumer. We would have been much better served if they had streamlined the range and included all the basic features in one or two cameras at each price point.
But many big businesses are derisive and look down on consumers. They know beginners will be forced to upgrade because the camera will lack the features they will soon need. Like drug dealers pushing drugs through a gate, they hang extremely cheap cameras with limited ability to entice people into their system. They know that an initial $500 investment can turn into a long-term investment of thousands of dollars. So regardless of the cost to the planet, and at the risk of disappointing many with their shoddy low-end products, they still hit the market on the cheap.
Also, choosing too much is bad for our mental health. Psychologists call it “excessive”. It leads to cognitive dissonance, as it increases our chances of being overwhelmed and making bad decisions, thus leading to feelings of regret. People are more satisfied with their choices when there are fewer choices.
Therefore, we should forewarn OM-System has only six mirrorless ILCs with viewfinders (OM range), with three of them being high-end models with dedicated features. Similarly, Pentax makes customer choice simple with only four DSLR camera models. They make the decision easy. It wouldn’t be great if Sony, Canon and Nikon perfected their entry-level cameras and reduced the range to a model or two that had all the features a novice needs and then did the same for the camera. Professional and passionate photo?
One thing to consider before upgrading is its impact on the planet. It’s not just the CO2 it produces, but the plastic and toxic heavy metals that end up in the environment, the damage caused by lithium mining to make batteries and, for some manufacturers, the cost production labor costs in countries with oppressive regimes.
In the end, the camera is an expensive acquisition. Not many of us have unlimited budgets.
Arguments in favor of upgrading or changing the system
Despite what I wrote earlier, there are significant differences between some of the systems, and it’s especially noticeable when you move away from the big brands.
If the type of photography you take has changed, a different camera format may be a better fit for you. If you are a studio photographer and want to venture out into the wild or start photographing wildlife, then you are out of luck. Hasselblad behind and slide a Micro Four Thirds Cameras into your backpack.
Then there’s the look that some camera system images have. It’s subjective, but I like the feel of some camera/lens combinations better than others.
I make a living from photography and have happily used my Olympus camera for six years, and the nine-year-old version of the Mark I has become my backup. There are significant improvements between the two cameras, but no one has complained about my image quality with both cameras, and I have shot for some of the world’s biggest, well-known household brands. However, despite the similarities of many cameras, sometimes the latest release is a big improvement on the previous model. I didn’t upgrade to the ultimate version of the camera because it didn’t provide any noticeable benefit to my work compared to what I’m used to. Plus, I still have a family to support and a mortgage to pay. However, the latest release is Great leap in functionality that will greatly help my photography. That’s why I ordered it.
That doesn’t mean my old cameras will suddenly go bad. The Mark II will become my second camera and the other will become the camera I lend to the workshops I run; despite prompting, customers often forget to charge their camera batteries and I will use it as my webcam.
Do I consider changing the system? Not on your Nelly. I’ve tried the others and I just found they didn’t work for me like this one, plus they all crashed in a relatively short time. The system fits my hand perfectly, and its robust construction and distinctive features also suit me. I also admit to having a strong emotional attachment to the brand, with a few exceptions. I’ve been using it since the mid-1980s.
In the end, even if it’s only for the short term, the happiness that comes with satisfying our Gear Buyback Syndrome. Who doesn’t love shiny, new gear? That, of course, has to be balanced with what our spouses think! Thankfully, my lovely wife said yes!
Are you emotionally attached to your camera brand? I’m!
It is that emotional attachment that can convince people to stay with a brand. Regarding the phenomenon of overestimate, people do not want to admit that there was a wrong decision with their brand selection. They will stick with what they have invested their money in no matter how much it goes wrong. However, choosing to go a different route is a bold and sometimes satisfying one. That said, when I tried, the rebranding didn’t work for me.
However, there are several reasons why a system change or camera upgrade might be worth considering. Firstly, having a new camera and a new system can create an impetus for your photography. Discovering new features and pushing them to new limits can ignite your enthusiasm for our art. But, as I mentioned earlier, the camera itself won’t make you a better photographer, so you should also consider investing in training; There is always much to learn.
Another reason to change the system is exclusive features that other systems don’t have. Like I said, most cameras are very similar, but there are exceptions like the OM System’s compute features, Fujifilm’s X-Trans sensor, or Pentax’s AstroTracer mode. I think there’s a lot to be said about moving to smaller brands, especially since it’s in line with trends and gives you plenty of opportunities to be unique in your work.
I should also stress that just because this camera system works for me, it may or may not be right for you, and I always recommend that you never take camera recommendations from a single photographer. other photographers, because they will always tell you to buy things they own. .
Are you thinking of upgrading the camera or changing the system? Or are you satisfied with the great camera you have? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
