What makes you keep a camera long term?

It's just a hobby for me, I don't sell any photos or even post many of them online these days, so whether a camera will do what I need hasn't really even entered my mind; pretty much any camera I can get now will outperform me. I've gone through a few though, and with a couple of exceptions stuck with Fuji because I like the colours, and the cameras themselves make me happy: I like how they look, the tactility of them, and how they perform. My current camera is an X-T4 and I've had it for (I think) a couple of years now, and although I was thinking about swapping it for an X-T5 I've decided not to.

I could switch your question round and ask myself: what makes me not keep a camera? The answer is GAS, almost every time.
 
Money constraints is one I had more so when I started in digital photography, I simply couldn't afford to upgrade.
This meant I had no other option than to hold on to a camera, until such time when I could fully justify a replacement.
I think my Nikon D90 was my longest serving camera.
 
My longest camera was a Panasonic Lumix G80, had it for about 7 years. Reasons I kept it so long was that it produce the results I needed and was comfortable to carry and easy to use.

I changed it a couple of years back and had gone back and forth between a couple of cameras but have settled on a Nikon D7500 for about a year now. I have spent too much time wondering if the grass is greener elsewhere. and looking more at tech specs than remembering the most important things like how does a camera feel in the hand and how intuitive it is to use. I was also like that before the G80, swapping between MFT and Nikon APSC camera's.
 
Nikon D810 bought it 10 years ago to replace a D5200 and moved my Sigma 150 macro onto it, it still gives me the images I want and can see no reason to change the combo in any way, solid as a rock, no bells and whistles, just very good at what It does.
 
I'm mainly using a Fuji X-H2 and X-H1.

I can't escape the X-H1. It's my favourite camera ever.

I think it's a combination of being an effective tool and the feeling right in my hand. And that's subjective. I like the controls, the EVF, the size, the balance, the 24Mp sensor is fine for 99% of stuff that I do.

I prefer the X-H1 to the X-H2 in terms of actual use -- but the X-H2 is a lovely bit of kit focuses quicker and is two or three generations ahead on sensor tech and a generation ahead in EVF- but just picking it up and using it ? I love the X-H1.
 
BillN_33 said:
The ones that I have kept - digital M8 and Sigma DP Merrils 1 and 3
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I have all three DPMs and a DP0Q. I only take them out from time to time now (mainly the DP0Q). They still deliver. But I'm careful with them as they are irreplaceable Whereas my Fuji cameras are my working cameras.
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I’ve not had many long term cameras, for me long term means more than 2 years :lol:

It’s not just not just one thing, image quality is paramount but so are ergonomics, and then of course you’ve got the lenses, no good having a camera if you don’t like the lenses for that system.
 
For 35mm my Contax IIa. As a bit of a gadget person a rangefinder system gives me the potential to collect all sorts of lenses, close-up systems, viewfinders etc. (and I have!). Plus, of course, I really enjoy using it.
Medium format, my favourite is my Bronica SQ-A. I can use 6x6, 6x4.5 and even 35mm with the right backs. With WLF on a tripod a great 'studio' type camera or pop on an AE prism and Speed Grip and hang it around my neck for 'out and about'.
Mamiya RB67 and C330S both lots of fun but don't use them as much.
Least used, but still loved, Zeiss-Ikon Trona with RADA 120 Roll film backs (6x9,6x6, 6,45). Love putting the focusing cloth over my head. Has movements so useful for photographing buildings etc. Sits on a lovely Zeiss wooden tripod - wouldn't swap it for ANY digital camera.
 
What makes me keep a camera long term? I ask any or all of these questions to decide if I keep something or sell it:

1) does it still work?
2) does it still serve the purpose I bought it for / am I still working on the project or body of work that I bought it for in the first place?
3) do I like using it / the results it gives me?

For instance I’m using a Fuji GFX100 for a panoramic project at the moment, but I can’t see myself keeping it really long term due to the lens range being enormously expensive and somewhat limited, compared to the Nikon Z’s that are my main setup. So I’m probably going to sell it once I’m done with the project, and spend the proceeds on a holiday.
 
Brentor said:
I also have a R7 but don’t like it. The reach is incredible but noise and image quality is lacking in my opinion.

I would appreciate your thoughts.
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The mail reasons for my general dislike of the R7 is:

- form factor - too small, too fiddly, controls in odd places.
- throttled performance - I regularly shoot with different sizes or formats in different card slots. As soon as you have the added processing needed for this the buffer slows down noticably.
- no battery grip

I was shooting with a 1DX Mk II and a 7D Mk II. I replaced the 7D with the R7 and whilst its been a useful step into the world of mirrorless, not everything is a postivie step forward.
I'm holding out for a R3 Mk II to replace the 1DX Mk II. I've tried an R3 and an R1 and found both excellent. A x1.6 crop camera is useful.
 
It's a combination of factors for me when I consider whether I upgrade a camera or not. My oldest camera still in use is a Sony RX1R mk1 which I think dates back to 2012 and does feel extremely dated in many ways however it still offers remarkable FF quality in a small package and while there are now both mk2 and mk3 versions neither offer enough of an upgrade to justify the cost.

My Nikon D750 is ticking on ten years now and it's had its use reduced first by the A9 which offered incredible speed, blackout free and silent shooting but lacked the lens choice and couldn't quite manage the same IQ then reduced further by the Z8 which combined the speed, IQ and lens range. However I still use it for flash photography since the Z8 (and other mirrorless cameras) can't use the AF assist on the flash so while the D750 isn't the best F-mount camera it's still capable of great image quality so will continue to get used.
 
I have a huge amount of cameras , My most used is the Canon G11 Why?
Size
Ease of use
Articulating rear screen
Quality
Works for me (y)
 
I keep a camera until I have to replace it:-

a. no longer functions (not happened to me yet)
b. Technical spec not good enough (happened in the early digital era)
b. Spec no longer meets my current needs (DSLR was too heavy so lighter camera [mirrorless] needed for outings)

In the case of c. I did not replace the DSLR but kept it as well as the new mirrorless but use the Canon only for studio type photography. While money not an issue, one of the reasons is that I do not change equipment unnecessarily. My DSLR is a Canon 5D4 and ML a Sony A6600.

Dave
 
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