Though I don't know what kind of gear you've got inside your camera bag, last week I suggested you can make good photographs with it. My point: the latest, most expensive equipment on the market isn't a prerequisite when it comes to doing good work. Even today's entry-level cameras produce very good results.
Still, time and technology march on. Manufacturers continually introduce new products, trying to entice you to keep buying. When might it actually make sense to upgrade?
It's a big decision. Camera gear is expensive.
These are a few things to help you decide whether the investment is worth it:
You've Outgrown Your Current Gear
• Your skills have surpassed the camera's capabilities. This might apply if you're using a lower-end body with a kit lens.
Performance Issues
• Your current equipment is no longer reliable because it has developed some sort of technical glitch.
• You've identified specific limitations based on the type of things you're shooting: you need features like faster autofocus, better low-light performance, or a silent shutter.
• Your camera has insufficient video specs.
• You need tools that will enable you to explore a new genre or grow creatively.
• New gear will help you capture shots you're currently missing.
End Use Considerations
• You need to produce higher-quality, large-format prints.
You Need Backup Gear
• If you get a new body, the one you're currently using might be well-positioned to serve as a capable number-two.
The Realities of the Market
• I'm not here to bash DSLRs. Though my primary body is Nikon's mirrorless Z8, my backup is the D850: a fast, reliable, versatile camera which I love. It's considered by many to be the best DSLR ever produced. That said, Nikon - along with the other big manufacturers - has stopped developing DSLRs: all new advancements support mirrorless technology. Take a look at the lenses that have been introduced in the past year. If you're interested in the latest optics, they are not backward compatible.
• That said, you can still purchase DSLR lenses directly from the manufacturers, and of course there's the used market. You just won't be getting the newest advancements in glass. So if you're comfortable with your DSLR and don't want to make the move to mirrorless, don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Also bear in mind that DSLR lenses ARE forward compatible; with an adapter you can use them on a mirrorless body. Therefore, if you decide to go mirrorless it doesn't mean you have to immediately replace all of your glass.
Hype Versus Material Differences
• Some models aren't significantly different from the last release (this can be especially true with bodies). Evaluate gear based on your specific needs rather than the camera manufacturer's marketing.
Depreciation
• Lenses hold their value far longer than do bodies. When deciding how to allocate your budget, keep that in mind.
Try to ignore the hype and consider whether new gear will make a tangible difference in your work. Remember, there are options other than flagship bodies and top-of-the-line optics.
There's also nothing wrong with deciding the best time to upgrade is not right now.
I made the photograph below with a Nikon N8008S film body roughly 25 years ago. I'm not sure which Nikkor lens I used. The N8008S was a very good body which I used for quite some time, but it wouldn't hold a candle to today's equipment.
This remains one of my favorite abstracts and hangs on a wall in my home.
You don't need the newest, slickest gear to create good work.
