The upgrade dilemma....

keylight

keylight

Veteran
Just wondering, does anyone else feel like they're on a bit of an upgrade treadmill?

For example, I put in a pre-order for the GH3 a couple of months ago, even though I don't need it. I finally made the VERY tough decision to cancel the pre-order, the day before it came into stock.


So, what about you? Anyone else have the too constant urge to upgrade? Is all the upgrading needed? Is it even healthy? Or is this just the price we pay for the choice of the industry and times we work in?
 
Luckily i have no money, thanks to student loans. If I did, I'd for sure be one of those people that would unnecessarily purchase upgrades without reason :cheesy:

Maybe having no money is a blessing in disguise...
 
I just upgraded from a GH1 to a GH2. But only because I lost my GH1. So it was kind of a forced upgrade. I could have sprang for the GH3, but honestly at over twice the price of a good condition used GH2, it was not worth it to me personally.

There are tools that make our jobs easier and tools that make our jobs look better. If it's the former you can usually live without it. The GH3 feels like a usability upgrade more than an image upgrade to me. Sure the image may be a little better, but could most people tell?
 
In a world where nobody has any fiscal discipline (and many indeed scoff at the very notion), it's exceedingly difficult to practice financial restraint without believing you're "missing out" on something or other. However, there's something to be said for simple logic: There is no reason to spend money you don't have on things you don't need to impress people you don't like.

Kudos to you for doing the difficult and sensible thing.
 
I prefer to be an opportunist on these things...I wait for the following cycle on just about everything. For instance right now, the GH2 is $499, the NEX5N is $499, the D7000 is $899- they may not be the absolute newest technology, but they are all still very good and at screaming prices. I do get the itch to buy the latest and greatest sometimes...but then logic takes over.
 
I always say -- if what you have is doing the job that you need done, why spend any money? Skip as many upgrade cycles as you can. When what you have is no longer sufficient to do the jobs you need done, upgrade at that time, but not before.
 
The spooning out of tech is horrific.

With stills I got in that loop but with the nikon D3, really I was given all I want - Ill shoot with that till it falls apart. Its been my professional tool since 2008 now.

Video wise, I went from DSLR to Fs100,

The FS100 is not a rated camera but it has XLR, S35 - really all it is missing is 4kRaw!

Im so glad I didnt buy F3/C300 which I think are only incrementally better than the FS100

I tried a certain camera the other day, 4k raw, but I knew it just didnt have the ISO, or the FPS in the version that I could afford, so I walked away

Im hanging in for the right thing for as long as possible

And the longer I hang in with my FS100 the more chance I might get to upgrade it with a used F3 or suchlike for very little money

S
 
:) I mean.. technology dripping out month by month..

5d (initially) 30p, 7d 25p, 5d3 earphone socket - for example

Three cameras to get to where the first cam should and could have been

or at a higher level..
FS100 - no nd, FS700 ND

or
F3 - no onboard 50mbs
C300 onboard 50mbs

or
C500 beasted by F5 - before its even out!

Many of these cams have been superseded in 3 months.. creating upgrade desire and terrible depreciation both to the cost of the owner and profit of the manufacturer

My money (for the next debacle) is on the BMC2 (S35) coming out 2 months after the BMC1 is in wide supply !

Hence my desire to sit very tight until I see and can afford a camera that I think is really really great..

Ill stick with my FS100 or rent much as Id like to move on from it

S
 
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Yeah, I'm emailing people for BMC stock when I don't even earn enough from the GH2 to fully justify that and the lenses I have bought.
 
The episode of House that was completely shot on the 5DII had an audience of over 11 million viewers.

As soon as I get over that mark, I will think about upgrading.
 
It's been 2 years since I first bought my GH2 camera, so upgrading after two years isn't much of technology treadmill. ( especially considering how low cost this camera is compared to real PRO video gear )
 
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