entry level dslr's how long did you keep yours

Grape7 said:
Im feeling a bit left out.
Ive had my Canon 1000D for about 14 months now.

If I wanted to upgrade, what would be the next level?
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Good question. There is an assumption that as you move from a beginner you must get a higher end model.
There is not always a reason for a higher end model and it is totally dependant on what you do with your camera.

I am more than happy with entry level DSLRs as find them more than good enough for my needs. IQ is very good, speed of operation is very good, handling is very good, size and weight are very good. I simply don't need anything else.

The only upgrading for me would be to a newer entry level DSLRs every few years as technology moves on (or at least when it moves on in an area that appeals, i.e. having better video is of zero interest to me so wouldn't lead to a purchase)
 
ernesto said:
Good question. There is an assumption that as you move from a beginner you must get a higher end model.
There is not always a reason for a higher end model and it is totally dependant on what you do with your camera.
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Good point. A better camera does not necessarily make you a better phoographer. I upgraded for the features on the camera, namely the high ISO capabilities of the D700 due to the type of photography I do. I have however, spent a lot of money on lenses in the last 7 years since I bought the D70, far more than on the two bodies I've owned!
 
Grape7 said:
Im feeling a bit left out.
Ive had my Canon 1000D for about 14 months now.

If I wanted to upgrade, what would be the next level?
Click to expand...

I suppose it really depends on why you want (need?) to upgrade to the next level. Is this mainly because you would just like to have a 'better' camera - which is a perfectly good reason for buying one - or is your present camera actually holding you back? This - sort of - defines the next level for you.

If you have a strong interest in landscape, portrait or low light photography the next level, logically, would be full frame, if you can afford it. OTOH, if you want to specialise in sport or wildlife photography, another crop body, but with better and faster AF would probably be the better choice.

Everything else being equal, better lenses will give you a more immediate and visible improvement in image quality than a new body.
 
I had a 400d for 2 years and have now just upgraded to a 40d, which I'm very happy with!

I would say going from a 1000d the most logical step to me would be a xxd model. Depending on how much you have to spend then a new 60d, but if funds are a bit limited me the check out MPB for older models, can't recommend them enough - plus you can part exchange your 1000d against the price of a new body if you needed to!
 
Still got the 300d I bought at launch, it's my backup, backup (camera 4). When funds allow (next 7d purchase) it'll be converted to IR.
It's worth more to me in either of those positions than its worth to sell.
 
I've had my D3100 just over a year, no plans to change it as yet. I've still got loads to learn and it works well for me
 
really like the 7D I just bought, keeping my 40D as it has 76k clicks on it, and I think it's worth having a backup for any future gigs. also the missus can learn to use it
had the 40D a good 2-3 years, and the 350D for 2 years before that
 
Nikon D50, bought in 2007 and sold a couple of months back.

Replaced it with a D7000
 
I started with a Nikon D40 then upgraded to a Canon 550D around a year later. I then upgraded to a 60D about 18 months after that so if you include the 550D as an entry level too, which it is, it was about 2 and a half years for me.
 
Phil V said:
Still got the 300d I bought at launch, it's my backup, backup (camera 4). When funds allow (next 7d purchase) it'll be converted to IR.
It's worth more to me in either of those positions than its worth to sell.
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I sold mine after a couple of years when I got my 5d, while the 300D was still worth something second hand.

The 5D is still my only DSLR six years later.

25+ years shooting film before either, though.
 
I had my 350D for 18 months and the only reason I got rid of it was because I moved to the M4/3 format. I would have probably kept it until it died if I hadn't changed formats around 6 months ago.
 
Canon 20D for 18months then bought a 5Dmk1 because I wanted full frame (well I wanted wider lenses and shallower DOF, upgrading to full frame made that simpler while improving low light performance). Can't see me upgrading the 5D for a LOOOOONG time, it does everything i want in a digital SLR, better AF would be nice but I'd probably just buy another EOS 1v if I wanted that.
 
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Had my D3000 for 2.5 years but I really want a D7000 now...

Things aren't helped by the fact my 17-55mm f2.8 is far too big for the D3000.

Think I know what I'm buying myself for my Birthday in October!
 
Grape7 said:
Im feeling a bit left out.
Ive had my Canon 1000D for about 14 months now.

If I wanted to upgrade, what would be the next level?
Click to expand...

Theres no need to upgrade

but if you want to do so i'd say something like a 600D or a 650D is one step up

60D (or a second hand 50D) two steps up

or

7D or 5D3 3 steps up

it all depends how much cash you've got and why you want to upgrade
 
I still have my 300d since launch, although I must admit it's been converted for IR. I've had my 550d for two years now, I'll probably upgrade in a few years time.
 
mattd said:
I started with a Nikon D40 then upgraded to a Canon 550D around a year later. I then upgraded to a 60D about 18 months after that so if you include the 550D as an entry level too, which it is, it was about 2 and a half years for me.
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Why the move to the dark side?
 
So that makes the Hasselblad H4D-31 the entry level Hassleblad digital at around £10,000 :)
 
I still have my 450D a few years later.. picked up a 35mm body a while after having it to get experience with no instant feedback :).
 
I'm one of the impatient ones too. I was using my 500D for about 9 months and then bought the 5D2
 
I used my 10D for about 4 1/2 years before it finally went to Canon heaven.
That was after about 350,000 frames and had 2 shutters replaced after they wore out.
The shutter count was about 60,000 on it's third one.
That camera was almost bullet proof but the poor thing finally gave up after it got wet once too often.
Replaced it with a 1D MkII which I now use in triple with a 40D and 1D Mk III.
 
Had my D5000 for 22 months before I sold it on Saturday. Have barely used it in the last 6 months as I've 'downgraded' to m4/3.
 
About four years and four months.

I got my 350D in March 2007 (decided to go digital to avoid the prohibitive running costs of a film camera). Last year I decided that it was long enough in the tooth to justify me getting something not only a bit more up-to-date, but also a bit of a step-up - I wanted front and rear dials, a big screen, top LCD and a bigger tougher body. I intended holding on to the 350D but when someone I knew showed interest in a second-hand DSLR, I couldn't justify not selling it to help fill the hole in my wallet left by the (2nd hand) 50D that I ended up getting in June 2011.
 
6 months with a d3000, then some (insert insulting word here) pinched it at Focus on Imaging while setting up... Insurance helped fund the upgrade to my current.
 
3 years with my 1000D and only this month moved up to a 50D ( 2nd hand ) .
 
thanks for all the replies its intresting to see some of you keep your old cameras to me its not so important to keep it but then again im not in the profesion this is just a hobby so its not critical for me to have a second body
 
I kept my Canon 500D for about 4 months. Until I saw a Canon 50D with giottos tripod, 430 EX II, 50mm 1.8. Sigma 38-300mm, Lowepro backpack, filters etc for cheap, collection only about 5 mins from where I lived. Bargain
 
Had my 1100D for about a year and i have been very happy with it, Spent my money up to now on glass. My partner purchased a 7d which i do like but i am ordering a 5D just for the full frame advantage.
 
You will know when you need to upgrade, and your camera is quite old now, there has been a lot of development since your model with both the k30 and k5 being very good camera. You will see a huge gain in iso performance. Sensor development is slowing down and with lots of models sharing the same sensors don't think that a higher aps-c model will give you significantly better images if they are only 1-2yrs old. What you are paying extra for is better bodies, weather sealing, more frames per second, more AF points, Faster AF, Faster processing, more direct adjustment buttons etc.. if you feel you don't need any of this don't bother, lenses are a much better investment than camera bodies.
 
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I still have my 350D which I used for about 5 years until I felt the need to upgrade so then went to a 450D for about 18 months until I finally got my 1Ds MkII (Full Frame) which I still have - looked at the 5d mkIII but the 1Ds still wins out for me so no need to change.

.
 
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