Dumb question:

[Ensleygirl]

How do you know when it is time to upgrade to another camera? I currently own a Nikon D40, and I've had it for one year. It was my first DSLR. I have learned sooooooo much this past year, and especially these past few months since hanging out here. I literally just started getting paid to do photography. I do mostly children and family portraits, and I am staying relatively busy. I have a 50mm f/1.8 lens, a 55-200mm, and the kit lens. I just bought an SB-400 flash that I am learning about.

Now, the dilemma. I am getting camera envy, lol. I love the D90!!! I have a friend who just bought a D200 and she is in love. I see those all the time on adorama, dgrin, and other forums. I even posted a WTB ad here and got a few hits, but I just couldn't commit to the D200. I am a bit scared to buy a used camera, to be honest.

I guess I want to upgrade, and can afford to, if I sell my D40. I would love a camera that auto focuses my 50mm and isn't so noisy at higher ISOs. On the other hand, I am so familiar with my D40 and getting some great shots with it.

So back to my original question: How do you know when it's time to upgrade? Should I? If so, which one; D90 or D200? I think I am ok on lenses right now.

Thanks for your help!

[Nicole]

My opinion on when it's time to upgrade is when there are things that your current camera cannot do that you want to / need to. If auto-focus on your 50mm is a must, well that's one thing that would tend to sway towards an upgrade. For me, I was coming from a D50 so it wasn't a matter of no auto-focus since the D50 had the motor in it, but it was a matter of wanting to use off camera flash, wanting the second control dial to make changing settings easier, the light on the top LCD for when shooting at night, and last of all, the extra megapixels. But it was more the fact that there were things that I wanted to do that I could not do without some additional investment in at least some additional piece of gear.

[LeslieDigs]

I just did the same exact thing. I had a D40, I was using the 50mm F1.4 lens, and really wanted to upgrade. A friend of mine was selling his D200 and it has been the best thing I have done. I'm so happy with it. I've only had it about 3 weeks or so and I am having a blast. I say go for it!!

Just or reference I paid $1100 for:
D200 camera body
18-200mm VR lens
battery grip
not so great bag (ended up keeping mine when I sold the D40)
cords
books
2 batteries, battery charger
1 1gig card and 1 2 gig card. (I then bought a 4 gig card) By the way they take different memory cards.

I sold the D40 for $450:
D40 body
18-55mm (kit lens)
55-200mm extra lens
2-batteries
battery charger
the D200 crap bag and a smaller travel bag.
2-2gig cards
a couple of UV filters
a couple of books
and a USB cord.

Oh and I kind of think the D40 LCD screen was crisper. But that's the only thing I have been a teeny tiny disappointed with.

Good Luck!

[natek313]

Originally Posted by Nicole

My opinion on when it's time to upgrade is when there are things that your current camera cannot do that you want to / need to.

This sums it up pretty well. If you find yourself struggling to get your camera to do the things you need it to (and do them well), or if you find that you've outgrown your camera, then it's probably time to upgrade. However, I wouldn't purchase a camera just because of "camera envy." Haha. I know that feeling, though; trust me.

And don't worry about being reluctant about buying a used camera body. I'm not sure how comfortable I would be about it either. For the first time, I recently bought a used lens. That's a little different, though, because lenses have a longer life on them then bodies do.

I'm not sure how helpful I've been...