Blog Post for October 25, 2018

I looked for tips/advice as to when photographers should upgrade their camera equipment. A column by John Davenport at Digital Photography School outlined five items that might be a giveaway to when to upgrade your equipment:

1. Your gear struggles to keep up with creative needs
2. If you've decided to go to a more professional level of work
3. Gear is showing its age
4. Manufacturer has dropped support
5. Current gear is "hacked" together to meet a need
• in other words, it fulfills its purpose but requires "jerry-rigging" (Davenport) and a roundabout way to do so.

With regards to my gear, some of this holds true. My first equipment upgrade was in 2013. I went from my beginner camera model Nikon D5100 to the D600. It's not the most professional camera, but it is a step-up from my previous body. Better noise handling, a bigger sensor, and overall higher performance. I was going to be shooting more sports events, often in low light, and the larger sensor with increased noise handling really attracted me. I also photographed my first paid gig shortly after upgrading to the D600, shooting a youth ice hockey clinic hosted by the 2014 US Olympic Women's Hockey Team. Number 4 comes into my mind when I think of my tripod. My father gave me my tripod, which is older than me. To show its age, it was manufactured by Bogen (who is now Manfrotto). The rubber feet on my tripod legs are al worn out (through). It makes taking photos on the polished floor of Grand Central very difficult. I know I need to upgrade my tripod, but it's very sturdy and heavy when set on an appropriate surface. Keeping in mind Davenport's other tips, I know I should upgrade my equipment—especially my lenses—but money is a concern. In other words, I don't have any. But this was an interesting article to read, and maybe one to think about when I work more jobs and make more money.

Source: https://digital-photography-school.com/when-time-upgrade-camera-gear/