The photography niche is rife with upgrade culture. Many consumers constantly invest in the best cameras and lenses, even when their current system serves them fine. There are times, however, when an investment in photography gear is warranted, and I’m sharing each scenario when it's a good idea to splash the cash.

I Won’t Tell You What to do

I’ll preface this article by saying there’s nothing inherently wrong with buying new photography equipment just because you want to. It’s your cash and your desires, so who am I to tell you what to do?

But, from personal experience and from being part of the community, I know many photographers regret purchasing gear on the basis of wanting rather than needing. We’re all susceptible to shiny new toys. Manufacturers do a great job of adding incremental features and making us feel like our current setup is ancient and redundant.

The reality is, most cameras made during the past decade are more than capable of helping us create quality photographs. Sure, there have been some groundbreaking moments. The Global shutter on the Sony Alpha 9 III was a first of its kind on a full frame system. This certainly has its advantages for fast action photographers and those creating flash photography.

When we look at iterations of most leading cameras, however, the differences aren’t as large as we’re made to feel. So, if you do have FOMO, sit with it for a bit. And, if you need reasons to invest, then keep reading…

When You Need a Fresh Perspective

For the past 10 years, I’ve almost exclusively shot with a 50mm lens. My current daily driver is the Fujifilm 35mm f2 (which is a 51mm equivalent on the APS-C sensor). I love this perspective, especially for street photography and street portraits.

The drawback is that in recent times, my work has become a little one dimensional. Other focal lengths can give a different perspective and open the door to new angles you can play around with in your work.

If you too limit yourself to a single lens, and feel your work is stagnating, then it may be time to invest in something new. Take some time to think about how you would like your work to look and what message you want to send. Find a lens that suits that vision and buy what you need.

When Your Needs Change

It’s not uncommon for our focus to evolve during our photography journey. I used to photograph events in London. At the time I was using a Nikon D610, which by today’s standards was rather bulky. When I became location independent and began traveling the world, I quickly realized what was once suitable for my needs had now become a burden.

The camera itself worked fine and it remains one of my favorite cameras. But, once I transitioned to my Fujifilm X-T series cameras it became much easier to transport my gear when doing travel photography.

If your current gear no longer serves your needs then it’s worth looking to transition. The good news is if the current setup still works well, then you can likely get a good price if you sell it. Companies like MPB buy and sell used cameras. You can use your old set up as a part investment into your new one.

When You’re Holding On

When I put my Fujifilm X-T2 to rest late 2023, there was a strong argument that I should have done it much sooner. Only one SD card slot was functioning, card errors were all too common and it would intermittently shut down mid shoot.

The truth is, I loved that camera so much I did not want to let go. However, I was slowly losing confidence in it being able to help me make the photographs I wanted to make. This resulted in some creative blockages and what suffered the most was my body of work.

Pride too was also getting in the way. Part of me wanted to show that I was able to fight upgrade culture at all costs, when in reality I was the one that needed to invest in new photography gear the most. Don’t be stubborn like me. If your gear is failing you, then it's time to look for something new and that functions.

A Deal Too Good to Refuse

We all have our dream cameras. Currently, mine is the Leica Q3. Tomorrow it may be the Nikon ZF. They’re both expensive cameras, especially the former. Right now there’s little justification to purchase either of them, other than “but I want them!”. I’m sure many of you can relate.

Every now and then we all see incredible discounts on the cameras we dream about the most. Whether it’s a deal on a used camera or a brand new system, if the deal is so good then there’s nothing wrong with making your dream become a reality.

Of course, still only do it if you have the funds, I always suggest avoiding going into debt for photography gear - but that’s your choice. The good news is, if you do a 180 after buying your dream set up, you have the opportunity to resell it for a higher price or at least make your money back.

Signing Off

Take what I’ve written into consideration before buying new gear. Or, completely ignore it and do what makes you happy. Though, if you’re someone who has that bit of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and need a point of reference to steady your urge to buy, then consider book marking marking this article.

Do the same if you have guilt about buying new cameras and lenses. Even when it’s time to invest, we may resist out of some kind of unjustified guilt within.

When do you think is the best time to buy new gear? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading.

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Editors note: This article contains a small handful of affiliate links. If you invest in a camera using any of the links, Them Frames gets a little kick back which helps run the site.