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Every time I’ve ever asked, “Do you think I should upgrade my camera or my lens?” I’ve always found or received the same answer.
The Lens, always the lens!
Usually, with some reasoning like, “Your lens is where the magic happens, it’s the bristles and paint where your camera is just the canvas and brush handle.”
Or, better yet.
“It’s not the Camera, it’s the Photographer,” and then said photographer proceeds to produce a 5k body from their bag.
Everyone loves a new lens.
I even went on and on about how you need a Macro Lens and how you can use it for Landscapes, Portraits, a just about anything in this post: What is a Macro Lens Used For?
But today, maybe you don’t need a new lens. Maybe it’s time to upgrade your camera.
10 Reasons it may be Time to Upgrade Your Camera, Not Your Lens
Now, I agree, for the most part. The magic is in the lens.
Still, I think this analogy is maybe left over from film days. Back then, the body was just the thing that held the film.
OK fine, it did other things too, like open and close the shutter, but today’s digital counterparts are much more sophisticated.
Yes, your lens, for the most part, will dictate the type of photos you can take and their quality.
But your camera will dictate the experience you had taking those photos.
Let me put this another way.
Yes, you can swap an expensive lens across multiple camera bodies, and the resulting photo may be nearly indistinguishable, regardless of the body used.
But, the experience of capturing that image, including both, the difficulty and probability, will certainly change.
In this post, I cover 10 reasons why you need to update your camera body, not your lens.
1.) You want to Focus Less on Nailing the Focus
When I first updated my Canon 60D for a Canon R5 the first thing I noticed was how better the autofocus system was. It’s the one thing, above all the other great improvements that constantly makes me think, wow.
We are talking 9 autofocus points vs 5,940 autofocus points!
Now, let’s be clear. The focal plane is the focal plane, it doesn’t matter how many points you have.
This is more about the experience of capturing an image, including both, the difficulty and probability.
It’s also about how much attention I have to give to the mechanics of taking the photo.
I used to be obsessed with making sure one of the 9 focal points was on the subject’s eye when taking photos with a client.
You know how it goes. Get the eye lined up, focus, reposition, and then get the shot.
If you were using a higher aperture this usually worked sufficiently but things could get tricky if you were shooting wide open at something like f1.4
Not only this, you’re so engrossed in the process of focusing your losing out on the more important things. Things like connecting with your client and noticing small details.
The Canon R5 literally has eye-tracking. Yes, it tracks your subject’s eye!
When you don’t have to think about focusing so much photography is a lot more enjoyable.
You can think about the important things. You connect with your subject more.
Plus, moving subjects are a lot easier to capture with my Canon R5. The tracking is insane. Heck, I can be moving, the subject can be moving, and I can still nail that focus.
I honestly can’t state enough how amazing this camera’s tracking capabilities are.
If you are into street photography, wildlife, or sports photography being able to capture a spontaneous moment fast becomes the top priority.
But, if you are shooting stationary fruit on your table then this is all pretty useless and maybe a new lens is a better option.
2.) You looked through your Friend’s Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) on their Camera and must have it.
Yes, it’s cool. Really cool because what you see is what you get!
The R5 features a high-resolution electronic viewfinder compared to the optical viewfinder of my old 60D.
An EVF offers benefits such as real-time exposure simulation, focus peaking, and the ability to preview the final image before capture.
This is a big deal. It took me a minute to adjust because when you look through the viewfinder it just feels so different.
At first, I wasn’t sure I liked it. It felt too real, almost 3D. It kind of reminded me of looking through one of those old View-Master Toys.
Remember those?
Now, however, when I pick up my old Canon 60D and look through the viewfinder my first automatic thought is, “What’s wrong with this camera?”
Then I remember, oh yeah, optical viewfinder.
3.) You want better Low Light Performance – Increased ISO Range
My Canon 60D has an ISO range of 100 – 6400. The Canon R5 has an ISO range of 100 – 51200.
I like to shoot in low light conditions but with my 60D I was always worried about bumping the ISO too high.
I always tried to stay below 1000 ISO. If necessary, I would use 2000 ISO but 3200 plus seemed like I was making a bargain with the devil.
If you feel like your photos are too grainy shooting indoors or in other low-light environments, then upgrading can be the solution.
Combining this with a fast lens (big aperture numbers like f1.4) can help out a lot in low light when lowering the shutter speed isn’t an option.
4.) You want Higher Res Photos – Improved Sensor Technology
With a newer camera body, you’re going to get the latest and greatest improvements in camera sensor technology.
With a brand new, bigger and better sensor you’re going to get better image quality and higher-resolution photos.
For example, my Canon 60D is 18MP while the Canon R5 is 45MP. This allows me to create higher-resolution photos.
In theory, I can print larger and who doesn’t love really big prints?
Not only that, if needed, I can crop closer. Sometimes we don’t get in as close as we would like. Sometimes we need to straighten he horizon. And sometimes, it just works better if we lose something that we didn’t see before. It’s a distraction.
With a bigger sensor and increased resolution, I can crop in a little further without distorting the photo quality too much.
Finally, a bigger sensor like those found on a full-frame camera like the R5 will also improve low-light performance.
5.) You want to be the Machine Gun Photographer
If spray and pray is your thing and you need to fire off the shots like you’re in a battle zone, then maybe it’s time for a camera body upgrade.
For example, my Canon 60D fired off 5.3 fps in High-speed continuous shooting.
The Canon R5 can max continuous shoot at 12 fps which is more than double.
This is handy if you shoot a lot of action/sports photography and want to freeze that split-second moment between moments.
6.) You have Shaky Hands – Hello Built-In Image Stabilization
I don’t know about you, but my hands are not steady. You wouldn’t want me to be your surgeon.
Thankfully, I’m just taking photos but when you’re using a lower shutter speed you need steadfast hands.
Now, I have a couple of lenses that have Image Stabilization, but I did not know the body could provide this feature as well.
The Canon R5 and other newer advanced camera bodies have built-in image stabilization.
Again, you see the theme. The theme is all about the experience of capturing that image, including both, the difficulty and probability.
Image stabilization compensates for camera shake and allows for sharper images, especially when shooting handheld or in low light.
Image stabilization helps us get the shot!
7.) You Want Better Video Capability
I honestly don’t use the video part of my camera that often. I never used it on my 60D.
Goals through, right? I want to try it more on the R5 as it’s supposed to be awesome.
So yeah, if you are into videography a newer camera body makes sense. With a new body, you’ll enjoy improved video features such as higher resolutions, better frame rates, and advanced video stabilization.
For example, the Canon R5 provides 8k video recording at 30fps or 4k at various frame rates up to 120fps. I’m still on a 4k TV, didn’t even know 8k was a thing.
8.) You Want Better Connectivity Options
We are in the digital age so connectivity counts. Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and USB-C connectivity all provide convenient options for both, wireless and wired file transfer.
My 60D did not have WIFI connectivity so for me, it was another upgrade, and a very convenient one.
9.) You Want Something a Little More Robust with Weather-Sealing
Now, I’ve been out in a light mist with the 60D, but it always made me nervous because I would always read the same thing.
“It has some weather sealing but I wouldn’t use it in the rain.”
I don’t know about you, but that kind of comment doesn’t make me feel too confident to be out there in the rain.
The R5 features better weather sealing, making it more resistant to dust, moisture, and those dreary rainy wet days.
And we all know those are the best days for photography!
This enhances its durability and shooting in adverse conditions is a little less scary.
I say a little only because I wouldn’t say I like taking chances. If it’s pouring, I’m finding shelter.
10.) You Want To be that Photographer pulling the 5k Camera Out of the Bag
It’s fine, you deserve it! You’ve been schlepping that same old camera around for years. It’s taught you a lot. It’s made you the photographer you are today.
But today, it’s time to give that camera a rest and designate it as the backup.
It’s time to show up at your next photography meetup and be the photographer pulling the 5k camera out of the bag. You’ve earned it!
Just don’t say, “It’s not the Camera, it’s the Photographer,” when you do that.
Conclusion – 10 Reasons You might Upgrade Your Camera, Not Your Lens
It’s the eternal debate of whether to upgrade your camera body or your lens.
Everyone always says the lens is the primary source of photographic magic.
So, I had to flip that on its head and offer some reasonable reasons why you might want to upgrade the camera body instead.
This blog post goes over the reasons why updating your camera body could be the right move for enhancing your photography experience.
From improved autofocus systems to electronic viewfinders, higher ISO ranges, and better low-light performance, a newer camera body can offer a variety of advantages that directly impact your shooting process and image quality.
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