To Upgrade or Not Upgrade?

That is the question fellow photographers and friends. Most photographers like to upgrade their equipment sporadically, but just buying a new body or  new lens will not make you a better photographer. You need to have the basics down, just keep that in mind!

If you are like me, and most people in the world today, you are on a budget. So the question arises, “Should I spend more money on the lens or on the camera?”

Should you get a better camera body today and wait for new and improved lens later, or should you get the lens you want today and wait for a better body?

Best answer I can give: put your money into lenses. Why? Because lenses have more to do with the picture quality and ease of use, and also because lenses retain their value; both monetary and photographic, indefinitely while most camera bodies become obsolete in only a few years.

And again, he’s my plug for Nikon. I love them. Why? Because it just happened to be my first “big girl camera” (DSLR; I’ve had numerous Kodak and Minolta film cameras through the years) that my husband bought as a surprise for me. And now I’m hooked. The reason I love Nikon now is because their lenses are basically timeless. You can take a Nikon lens made in 1972 and it will work on your DSLR manufactured in 2013 (in most cases; ALWAYS check the compatibility before purchasing a lens)!

Whatever lens you buy today, you’ll probably still be using in 5-10 years. Do you see yourself using the same camera in 5-10 years? Probably not, because they become obsolete…how many times must I reiterate this?!

Summary: The best investment would be the lens that allows you to capture the photos you want. It’s acceptable to be frugal when it comes to purchasing lenses, but don’t be all around cheap. Don’t just automatically buy the cheap lens you saw online. For all you know, it could be plastic and not be exactly what you are looking for. Here’s what I do. About every 6 months, I reevaluate my gear, identify what I want/need (the want is so much more than the need!), do months of research, evaluate the price and then make my final decision.

Where do you buy lenses?
I’m a research and internet junkie. I love to search and search and search. And of course, find the answer I’m looking for. Some things I’ve learned about buying lenses: don’t but from Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart. If you compare prices, you’ll see that you can actually get the exact same lenses cheaper online. Since I am extremely budget minded, and cannot afford thousands of dollars on lenses, I always buy refurbished lenses directly from Nikon. Here’s the link: Nikon Store - Refurbished Lenses

 They are cheaper than brand new, and have a warranty; a small one, but a warranty nonetheless. A lot of people will not buy a refurbished lens, but of the few that I’ve purchased, I’ve not had any problems with them.

 

Hope this helps!

Happy photographing!