Watch This Before Upgrading!
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- Опубліковано 27 чер 2024
- Avoid buyer's remorse by following my upgrade checklist. I share the advice I give when someone asks me about upgrading. I hope you find it helpful. Cheers, Duade
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Gear Used In Video - Affiliate Links
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🛒Canon R5 geni.us/IshRd
🛒Canon RF200-800 f/9 geni.us/63JQM
🛒Prograde Memory Card - use coupon code DUADE for 15% off
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My Cameras - Affiliate Links
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🛒Canon R6 Mark II geni.us/Suy1
🛒Canon R7 geni.us/L6TITJ
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My Lenses
🛒Olympus 300mm f/4 IS PRO geni.us/Fst6
🛒Olympus 100-400 geni.us/WAsE3i2
🛒Sigma 150-600C geni.us/AxMQ
🛒Canon RF100-400 geni.us/avzOe
🛒Canon RF800 f11 geni.us/yhnjyl
🛒Canon RF100-500 geni.us/wLTrLf
🛒Canon RF35 1.8 geni.us/T3OrIs6
🛒Canon RF24-105 f4 geni.us/o1Dyw7
🛒Canon EF500 F4 IS II geni.us/YMFVl
🛒Canon RF200-800 f/9 geni.us/63JQM
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🛒Sony 200-600 geni.us/Yrysuf
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🛒Skimmer Ground Pod bit.ly/3F7QHqo
🛒Weifeng 6663A Tripod /Ballhead ebay.to/3ArL5W3
Monitor
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Bag Hide
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Bag
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Gear or Photographer?
01:21 Ask Yourself Questions
02:26 Common Problems
05:32 Research
07:00 Try Before Buy
09:54 My Mistakes
10:31 Buying New
11:12 Diminishing Returns Theory
13:20 Product Cycle
14:50 Choice Is Yours
15:56 Trips Instead of Gear?
17:21 Conclusion
12:35 Delete Images
13:21 Conclusion
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Great video 👍 As a 14 year old beginner photographer, I spent my first 6 months using a compact camera and I managed to get some really nice shots by just improving my skills.
I have 3 ONE inch sensor cameras. There is a very HARD limit on the quality one can get regardless of what Skill Level you ever achieved with what I am assuming is a compact, 1 inch sensor camera. Better to learn that now as opposed to only figuring that out, many years later. So there is NOTHING wrong with buying, better gear. The very BEST PROs have been doing that since the invention of Camera Gear. You don't see many if any PROs using Kit lens and bare bones gear. There's a very good reason for that.
Do you have a photography account on Instagram? I'm a young wildlife photographer as well, i love meeting young photographers like me!
Photography is like music. If you know how to play an instrument and get good ideas to make good sounds, you'll play way better than anyone who doesn't know how to play... Even if they have the most expensive, most recent gear. Then, once you have the right technique, you'll be able to make the most out of that "better/best" gear, and really be able to get better results compared to cheaper gear. I own a lot of cameras : bridge super zooms, 1 inch, APSC, Full Frame, and I took very good pictures with each one of them. I usually bring the 1 inch sensor camera with me when I go out "just in case", and use the APSC mostly when I need more reach (in good lighting conditions) like sports and wildlife, and the Full frame for every other planned events. Same with lenses, I cover focal lenghts from 8 mm to 1000mm (1600 on APSC), zoom, and primes, they all have their specific use. Better gear allows us to shoot with higher shutter speed and lower ISO in low lights, freeze action, etc, therefore allowing a wider range of conditions in which you can get good photos. What I like is you didn't stick to a mobile phone for taking pictures. The 1 inch sensor is a good step up from the regular smaller sensor, cheaper compact camera. Knowing all about the effects of aperture, shutter speed and ISO (and knowing all the features of your specific camera) allows you to use the manual setting and take full control of your camera (in turn getting the type of shots you intended). The other important thing to me is to also learn to do the post processing of your (RAW files) photos. Photography is a nice hobby that can also become work for some people. Just like playing music, it's nice to start early because there is always new stuff to create and learn along the years, getting better all the time. Happy shooting! 📷😎
P.S. Duade is one of the best on UA-cam, I suggest also checking out Simon d'Entremont, who also has great tips and videos...
Great to hear, I am sure you are in a much better place once upgrading to better gear. Cheers, Duade
Duade, this is one of the best videos to get folks thinking about gear, their needs, and the reality of 'knee jerk' purchasing. You sure have a nice way of describing the pitfalls and benefits. We greatly appreciate the content you produce for the rest of us. (even as far away as we are, in Texas)
Thanks Raleigh, you are too kind and I am glad the video was helpful and hopefully helps people who are thinking of upgrading. Cheers, Duade
People like Daude are real gem who talks about the underlying issues, that one need to resolve instead of spending thousands of dollars thinking the latest equipements will automatically fix the skill gap, keep making such videos it's really beneficial for people are trying to get into photography :)
Biggest tip i can give is to “sleep on it” just spend some time not thinking about anything related to whatever you want to buy, then reevaluate. (Looking at your wallet might also help decide)
Ah unfortunately that's not an option for me 😅
Have to say, I’ve seen many photographers with REALLY expensive kits shooting straight down on a chipmunk or duck. Gear is only part of the equation to producing nice images. My motto is work with what you have. Just get out there, be in nature and enjoy the process!
I have a Canon 5D MKIII and do find it heavy (I’m 62) with the Sigma 150-600mm lens on it. However I realise I don’t ‘need’ to upgrade. I’m just an amateur and my camera is a marvellous bit of kit.
My solution? I bought a monopod and a cracking attachment called the ‘SpeediGimbal’ I’m no longer lugging a tripod around, and I have support whenever I need it.
I am not a seller or anything. Just love this solution.
Great to hear Paul, the 5D3 is a wonderful camera that gave me a lot of joy. Cheers, Duade
Also take into account image editing software, when I first started out couldn’t understand why my images had more noise and flat compared to my friends with the same gear. Shooting in RAW and Image editing software made a huge difference. Always enjoy your channel..
Thanks Scott, great point, that is very true, Cheers, Duade
It's always moral to pirate Adobe 😅
Duade,
Another great video. Love the checklist and really great advice to get folks thinking about gear, what they are looking to get out of photography, and the reality of 'newer gear' purchasing.
I went from Canon 6D to R6 18 months ago and that helped me improved my photography as it made focusing easier. I see all the new cameras popping up now but i am not upgrading as the R6 if awesome for a hobbyist like me. I believe i have a t least 5 years out of the R6 before i will upgrade. My skills will be better (hopefully) but by watching vids from people like yourself and others helps enormously. Thanks for sharing your advice with us all. keep it up mate
For me it was so many things that made photography more enjoyable. Coming from a canon 600D to an R6. Things that let me focus on just taking photos.
I also spent more time learning the controls and how to setup my camera. Learning what iso and shutter speeds im comfortable with. It was just more fun to go through than on the my old camera.
That is great to hear and I am glad to hear you are enjoying your R6, Cheers, Duade
To me the mirrorless camera was much easier for exposure settings. You see what you get and don't need to dial in, check the result and correct it. It's much faster. Often you don't need to check the result for exposure.
@@Duade hello Duade, still have my "old tech" but ultra-robust and reliable 6D Mk I .. I suppose its limitations but good IQ have helped me grow in my technical knowledge... Yes, will upgrade to a mirrorless FF Canon, mostly for this "magic" autofocus functionalities.. But will miss my ultra-simple, built like a tank 6D with huge battery life
Weight is an under rated problem that many fail to consider when purchasing kit so I'm very pleased you highlighted this Duade. The OM-1 and G9II are credible alternatives to bulky, heavy and expensive FF kit.
Great point, see my comment above. I've settled on Olympus E-M1.2 with 75-300mm lens that weighs 1.27kg. I've never owned a full frame camera and scored a bargain on 5D2 and a Sigma 150-500mm lens. I went to the local forest reserve to shoot some birds. After 3h walking and shooting, last 20 minutes straight upwards (new bird species on a tree bark!😂), I couldn't hold this bazooka anymore. I grabbed my E-M1.2 and it suddenly felt weightless!😅
To me weight is irrelevant if the increased weight means getting the shots not otherwise possible.
I say that from being an experienced hiker that has trekked many miles into the woods - Yes, it's always good to take something gear wise(camera kit or not) that is lighter in weight.
But when you have a specific goal/intention - taking what gets the job done is more important. And if it weighs more, so what - Working harder with more effort is not an issue - just do it.
or get nikon p950 if you plan to shoot at hikes and 1200mm plus and its sharper at high FL than mirrorless cameras.
Thanks Steve, yes, weight should be a big consideration when upgrading and its great to have the M43rd systems. Cheers, Duade
Well I just spent a fortune, I've changed from Canon to Nikon. Even though the R5 with a 100-500mm was a great combo, I just couldn't resist how good of a lens line up Nikon has. I've purchased a Z8 with a Nikkor Z 600MM f4 TC and a 180-600MM for wildlife and couldn't be happier. More reach, stacked high megapixel sensor, and no hard cut-off buffer. Plus, Nikon Australia was an absolute pleasure to deal with.
That is great to hear, Nikon seemed to have invested in the Australian market with lots of good people behind the scenes. Enjoy your new kit. Cheers, Duade 👍
Hello Duade
Thank you so much for your informative videos I really do enjoy them and I learn from them. I did an upgrade from the Canon 80d with 100 to 400 Mark 1 to the R7 with the RF 100 to 400 my main reason for upgrading is the weight difference and also the eye tracking of the R7 of which the Canon 80d does not have. I also have the R10 which I upgraded from my Canon 550D. The only problem that I have with the R7 is that some of my photos do come out soft and are not Sharp. I have no regrets about my upgrades.
Etienne
Thank you!. I lost all photography motivation eighteen months ago and sold all my gear, recently ive been feeling a little more myself and ive started to think about what system to get into....but rhe sheer amount of choice triggers my anxiety and I feel overwhelmed.
I think you lost of questions will definitely help, so far i know my passion is Wading birds, waterfowl and sea ducks. I want to tey a mixture of BIF, environmental and close up detail shots....so now i just need to answer the rest 😅
Excellent video Duade!! You've covered so many thoughts, opinions and ideas regarding purchasing gear etc.
I sometimes wonder if sponsored reviewers of gear skew our expectations in talking up the latest innovations that the new gear has that will take your photography to the next level.
I firmly believe that EVERY lens or camera body has its limitations, and it's up to the user to work with what they've got within these limitations and not have unrealistic expectations.
First and foremost......get out and enjoy nature! The majority of us are amateurs and benefit from making the decision of when we will venture out and what we will post or share.......
Thanks again Duade, all the best for you and your channel!
I always find the commentators on the gear reviews are never as excited as the reviewers. So I never trust the reviewers opinion on its own.
Like Gear Snobs: cameras are just tools at the end of the day.
Pick what's right for you and don't ever let somebody judge you by your kit and not your work
What a worthwhile video. I currently have a 90D, been using it since early 2022 and I am extremely happy with it. Have been considering buying the R6 mkII or R7 but to be honest I have not been dissapointed yet by the 90D. There are functions the R range has mine does not and it's a lot easier to get good shots. But I cannot complain like you said. It's all about the person holding the camera..
Excellent advice, once again Duade. I am at the stage of my photography journey where “working on my skills” is the primary focus. I have been waiting for the past 6 months for the RF 200-800 and am close to not even pursuing that anymore…. Great advice! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Rich, have fun improving those skills. Cheers, Duade 👍
Nice video. I currently have 2 R5's along with multiple Canon lenses. At this point, the only reason I would upgrade to a R5II would be how well pre capture works if it's included. I agree with your comment and the end to maybe save your money on upgrades and do more travel. That's what I've been doing the last few years. On a side note, I ordered the Canon 200-800 in late December and I'm still waiting on it.
You did a great job covering all the basis and for anyone who can understand where they are in the cycle of amateur photography your video provides a solid path. Keep up the great work as you are providing valuable information for your viewers.
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback, Cheers, Duade
Very helpful video Duade, thanks. After a lot of research, I upgraded my gear in January from a Canon 60D / EF 400 5.6 to an EOS R7 / RF 100-500 - in my opinion the best combination for bird photography under $4,000. Many of your earlier videos really helped with this decision. The improvement in image quality has been fantastic and I'm truly pleased with the investment. Granted, some of the "cons" related to the R7 are accurate, most notably AF struggles in low light but it is a great performer overall and I think there will be trade-offs with just about any gear. There are no "cons" to the RF 100-500, a superb lens for this purpose. The combination is reasonably light and to have an effective reach of 800mm, due to the R7 crop sensor, that can be easily hand-held, is amazing. Shooting C-RAW at 1/4000 sec. with a 15 fps frame rate, elec. first-curtain shutter, gives tack-sharp results for birds in flight. No buffering issues whatsoever. A great, compact travel combo as well. It will certainly be a while before I'll think about upgrading!
I try to avoid 'me too' comments, but your point deserves emphasis. I use my R7 with the RF 100-500 for birds and wildlife, and as an avid bird photographer, the combination lives in my camera bag 95% of the time. Sure, I'd like faster sensor readout to reduce rolling shutter with the electronic shutter, but it's not an issue with the electronic first curtain or mechanical shutters, and 15 fps in these modes suffices for my needs. I originally upgraded to the RF 100-500 because of focus pulsing with the Sigma 150-600C and Tamron 100-400 Di VC, and I've been thrilled by the new lens. It's not only lighter than the lenses I replaced, the OIS works well with the R7 IBIS, the dual focus motors are fast and accurate, and the image quality is spectacular. While a bit pricey, there was a 20% off sale here in Canada, and after trading in my EF lenses, l was not much out of pocket. If you can manage the budget, it's well worth it. Until the R7 Mark II offers faster sensor readout and (perhaps) a higher resolution EVF to better judge image quality, I'm in no hurry to move on.
Great comprehensive advice. I just forwarded to a friend who is finally ready to upgrade from an oldish apsc DSLR to mirrorless.
Just upgraded to a r7, finally having eye tracking is the most amazing thing ever . Sure the eye focus isnt perfect but its better than not having it at all.
Could not agree more. Had the 80d and the Sigma 150-600C, upgraded to the R7 and adapter for the 150-600C and number of images to keep has gone up considerably. Still learning but the eye tracking and animal tracking helps a lot. One thing to keep in mind compared to the 80d the R7 is power hungry I also bought 2 extra batteries with high mah and I keep them charged all the time. 😊
Duade, what a great way to address the fallacy of the, “Gear does not matter.” cliche.
Your detailed tip videos are getting better and better! For the last 4 years I've been following 'buy used before you keep' strategy and patiently waited for deals that actually gained me a few $$ per kit on resale. I've gone through (in this order!)😅 Sony A6000-> Canon M50 and 7D2-> Olympus E-M1->E-M1.2+ Panasonic GH4, GH5 (both sold), + Canon 5D2, Nikon D7200 and this was just the birding gear, not counting smaller M43 bodies. Currently holding on to last 3 with quite a steikimg difference between 3.19kg 5D2 with Sigma 150-500mm lens and 1.27kg EM1.2 with 75-300mm lens... I also bought EF to M43 adapter. If that works, I'll likely keep the EM1.2 and the Sigma, it not, I might end up re-buying the 7D2 which had the best FEEL of all cameras I've ever used... or I'll try and get a deal on a used R10 and see how the new bargain Canon stacks up against old but gold Olympus😅 Not much to loose, on the gear that I bought and resold, I've currently got around $500 profit... bot counting the freebies (lenses, bags, tripods and monopods, memory cards, flashes) that I gathered 'for free' along the way.
Hi Duade,
Appreciate this really comprehensive UA-cam video, it certainly covers a great list of considerations before we spend our hard earned money.
I’m 65 now and 159cm (5’3”) and after realising the limitations of my previous system-autofocus too slow and way too heavy, about 18 months ago I switched brands to an R7 with the RF 100-500.
Even with the frustration of low light issues and autofocus jumping around, I still stand by my decision and can easily and happily carry it around all day photographing which to me is invaluable. (using the Carry Speed Sling Strap,) It gets me out and about, and that’s ideally what it’s all about. First time Canon user.
Yet another brilliant video, Duade! I'm learning so much. This has come at a good time for me as I research my next camera. Upgrading from the EOS 700D. As suggested by you, I was looking at the 90D but am now considering the R7 as I can still use that with my Sigma 150-600mm lens (just finished watching your video on best settings to reduce pulsing...). In no rush as I certainly have skills to improve on. I struggle with the AF on my current gear as well as limited ability to take bursts of shots.
Again, thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I love reading through all the comments too.
It is my pleasure, good luck on your choice, lots of good comments here. Cheers, Duade 👍
Rather than waiting potentially a full year to buy the newer version of the R7, I would consider buying the current model, either used or refurbished.
I recently did a major equipment upgrade moving from a DSLR system to mirrorless for wildlife and birds, and I couldn't be happier. I spent years preparing for this move - maximizing my skills, understanding my equipment needs, researching the options, and seeking advice from other photographers who are deeply familiar with the kit I was considering - and the time & effort invested really paid off.
Great to hear Bill, sounds like a great way to do it. Cheers, Duade
Great video Duade. You are so right. When i first got started in wildlife photography I discovered that I was trying to buy my way to better photos. I finally decided to learn more about what i was doing and started getting better images. Now I try to save money for trips. My only "want" is the 200-800. Otherwise, my R5 and R3 do way more than I'm capable of.
Another excellent, down to earth and practical video. You have covered the bases so well Duade! Thank you!
Thanks mate, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Great advice! As always, thank you for your experience, thoughts and sharing it with us! 🤘
An extremely useful video with logical advices. 👍🏻👍🏻
This was fun. Regarding the woman wanting to upgrade from the 80D, I would tell her to find a very good used R7 and upgrade immediately. Maybe she'll end up paying $500 for a year's worth of great bird photography, but if she's avidly engaged with the sport, she'll be well served. It's why I upgrade my iPhone Pro every year, because it serves me and the clients so well for quick ProRes LOG video.
I'm a bit of a gear nerd but with a limited budget. My (body) upgrades were not all really necessary. I went from a 350D to a 500D because it just was better (resolution, viewfinder, (bad) video).
the 760D had real video, more resolution and a better viewfinder. Several years later I went to a R7 which made things really easier, not only for video but also with more options and much better AF.
The next step was to a R6-2 because I wanted full format. The camera can do more and has some nice features but it wasn't really necessary or getting me a big step ahead. I'm not regretting it, because I knew that before. I still have the R7 as second camera and I will probably still use it for hikes and wildlife (bigger picture). I always held the older camera as second camera. And by the time I really wouldn't need it anymore it often was so old that a sale wouldn't be reasonable anymore apart from having a bit more space.
With lenses the bodies sometimes dictated an upgrade. I had two Sigma lenses which wouldn't work with a new Canon body. Therefore I stay away from non Canon lenses now. The R7 needed its own standard zoom because the old lens with adapter was really bulky. I was not happy with my EF100-300 on the R7 so I went to a RF 100-400. For the R6-2 I went (relatively) full in with the 14-35/4 and the 24-105/4. I like the lenses but compared to the R7 with RF 18-150 they are very big and heavy.
My biggest limitation right now with my 5D MKII and 250D, is auto focus. I miss shots, not because of me, but because of the body; but I deal with it.
Jan is great!! Love his channel too! Excellent advice and video Duade!
Very informative video. A lot of photographers suffer from GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) and don’t always make the most of what their using first.
When the R5 was first introduced in 2020, I had the opportunity to try one for a day at the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. Canon had several of these on loan (for free) on a first come first served basis. (Had to get there at 4AM and got the last copy they had). My camera at the time was the 5D Mark IV, which was a stellar camera, but after a day of using the R5, I knew I had to have one someday as the AF was just so good! (not that the 5D4 was bad). I didn't jump right away, but waited a couple of years when I was able to get a good deal on the R5 with the RF 24-105 lens. The R5 is now my main camera and I'm in no hurry to upgrade when the R52 comes out because I'm really not finding anything lacking with my current R5.
Thanks for sharing, sounds like you are loving the new kit and well worth the upgrade. Cheers, Duade
0:56 there's always things to learn, skills to improve. I've been doing amateur photography for 20+ years, started with a FujiFilm S5500, now i have a Lumix FZ-82 which is still a very low end camera. Still, i've managed to take stunning pictures with both, and when i don't, it's rarely because of the equipment. Sure, i can't shoot in low light, don't have beautiful shallow DoF, but given the tools and circumstances, i keep pushing myself to make better pictures. Good angles angles, good moments and good composition is never on the camera.
(still, i'm thinking about upgrading after all these years so i can make decent pictures not only in direct sunlight :D )
Hi Duade. It’s Mick Thompson again from Seattle, Washington. Your advice on this video is absolutely spot on. I want to share my experience with you and, at the end, make a suggestion. I’ve been doing bird photography since 1986 and was so happy to start using digital cameras in 2008. Here’s my progression. Canon 7D with Canon’s 300mm. Then the 7D Mark II with the Canon 500mm. Then up to the Canon 5D. Then the Canon 1DX Mark II with the Canon 600mm. I then traded all that in for the Olympus OM-D E-M1X with the Olympus 300 f/4 (the lens in your video). Then I upgraded to the OM-1. Then the absolute highlight of my bird photography career, I got the Olympus 150-400m with the built in 1.25 extender. Finally, last March, I bought the OM-1 Mark II. I have advanced my photography to the point where I am now a judge for the National Audubon Society’s annual photo contest. I feel very confident in saying that the best setup currently available for bird photography is the OM-1 Mark II with the OM 150-400mm. I hope you get a chance to try this yourself.
Great video as always! Thanks Duade!
There are great deals on the canon r5 now, the mark 2 will be significantly more expensive for incremental performance increases. The R5 is a great camera, I don't think anyone would be disappointed with it even today.
Great Video - Keep up your amazing work 👍
Excellent! For about 5 years, I learned from my mistakes with a used $300 bridge camera. I recently upgraded to a Canon R7 with RF 100-400mm and RF 800mm F/11 lenses....all purchased used in excellent condition. I love these for wildlife photography here in Montana. My old bridge camera stored only jpeg files, had no IBIS in the body and lens and had no eye detection or automatic tracking. Took some bird in flight photos this morning and it was amazing! Went on a 10-mile dike hike this morning and took along the R7 and 100-400mm which are lightweight and that was fun.
I did find that when I set the R7 to auto-level, first curtain shutter was disabled. I also discovered that when I set shutter to silent, it automatically set the camera to electronic shutter....I noticed taking a burst of photos of a fawn running along the fence line the fence posts were not vertical (rolling shutter). So I learned to live with shutter noise and first curtain shutter with no rolling shutter in a burst.
Great video and almost perfect timing. I have just been considering upgrading my gear but decided against it for a couple of reasons. Firstly I can’t really afford it but the most important reason is that I will be a full time carer very soon and I won’t be able to get out very much if at all. I did actually use most of the check list you gave but with the added “How much use will I get out of the new gear”. Keep up the good work as I really enjoy your videos
Fabulous advise Duade. Especially to consider what else you could spend the money on. Hmmm... so many things..
Really helpful insights there Duade. My last upgrade was from a 13 year old DSLR crop sensor to a full frame 4 year old DSLR. Found one second hand to fit within the budget. Wasn't keen on mirrorless - yet. I very much enjoyed the upgrade. I hadn't been looking to upgrade until one of the lenses was dropped and finding a replacement was almost impossible. I knew I was up for exploring an alternative system to reduce that risk next time something like a dropped and broken lens happened. (I can thank the kids for that accident . . . .)I crunched numbers, worked out what lenses would be most helpful for the type of photography I do, what the budget would allow. I had borrowed another camera and just gradually acquired what I was aiming over a couple of years. Worked well for me at that point in time.
Hi Duade, really great video and you are absolutely right. Nothing further need be said!
Uwe
Greetings from Germany
My question is: "How much effort do I need to put into become a decent photographer vs how much can the new hardware make me look like one while leaving it on auto?" According to the manf marketing, that answer is always "yes" and I don't need to research any more than that.
The other question is: "Is that a new toy that will give me a moment of a nice dopamine hit followed long stretch of buyer's remorse as I realize the marketers overstated what the camera will do for me?" That answer is always "yes" as well so the easy answer is always "yes, buy the new thing".
Great video again Duade. I also think getting to know all of the features on a camera is important. New cameras have 100s if not 1000s of settings that can be changed. Also the "I've met a man online" bit made me laugh.
I used always a 90D and recently bought de R5. What a difference! Really glad I got it😊 still use the 100-400 mark 2 lens and it works great with the converter.
I'm amazed at the number of photographers I speak to who are completely unaware of auto focus fine tuning, it's absolutely vital to do this with lenses, especially the long focal lengths used for wildlife.
After 50+ years of buying Nikon equipment new, I will only buy used from a reputable company or an individual I trust. I sent one camera in to an authorized repair center for a shutter repair twice and both times it cam back missing screws and not repaired. My latest attempt at a warranty repair was for a 3 month old 200-500 telephoto lens. They declined to repair it either under warranty or at my expense. I sold the lens back to the company that sold it to me at a loss and bought a used lens. My Z8 was half price used with 7,000 shutter releases and in mint condition. At least KEH and other vendors of used equipment have warranties they’ll stand behind. So far, no horror stories with used equipment, only new from Nikon.
My first camera was a Kodak compact from the 1960's. Photos were great when composition was good.
Some good advice. I've just bought a second-hand R5 (Still under Canon warranty)as I'm about to go on a pretty big trip overseas. Incidentally, I was standing next to Heyn Decock aboard MV Grinner on a pelagic trip out of Southport when his camera strap broke and his Nikon camera and 400mm lens dropped into the Pacific Ocean. Luckily he had his gear insured but I was very impressed that he didn't burst into tears as we watched the camera sink! You're right he is a good bloke and a knowledgeable birder.👍
Awesome advice, thanks Duade. I've outgrown my present camera in only a month as it has so many limitations, like no stabilization in the body, cant save set ups, (I'm primarily a landscaper and only recently started doing birds as well), but having used FF cameras for almost 5 decades (real 35mm film not digital) I felt like a change to a mirrorless crop sensor camera. so your advice arrived just at the the right time, thanks :)
My pleasure, good luck in your upgrade path, it is very overwhelming with the choices that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
I am immensely satisfied with my Canon R7 camera and have no intention of replacing it with anything superior until I have fully explored its vast capabilities. You can view photographs captured with this remarkable camera on my UA-cam channel. I am constantly experimenting with the camera's extensive features and firmly believe that upgrading to another model would not add any significant value to my photographic endeavors.
Which lens or lenses do you use with the R7?
Thanks for sharing your ideas and expertise!!
I would probably buy an R6 II because of all the features it has, although it is not cheap at all but I could have that camera for many years.
Some things you mention regarding waiting for newer versions, what new features you get and at what price are very interesting. I think waiting some months is not nice because I would need to wait even more for price drop and availability (I live in Argentina) so some months can easily become more than a year.
There will always be better cameras than the ones we buy so I think aiming at what you can buy with the most features and be happy and have fun with that is the best option.
Brilliant advice !
Really great video!
Wonder what your wife was thinking "I met a man on line" lol Remember animals attack, long lens let you shoot from a distance. Really bought much photography gear and one thing I can say "I've never had buyers remorse" because whatever camera gear I've had was spent on something I enjoy and not spent on something I remember but I can spent time doing that makes me happy and I can capture my memories. Get out and enjoy as one day you may not be able too.
Really good points Duade and they’ve helped to shape and confirm a few of my decisions 👌🤝
Great to hear Chris, I wish I followed my own advice more often lol :-) Cheers, Duade
@@Duade haha… I’m hearing ya! No different here. 🙋🏻♂️
Pink robin such a cute bird. Ima come to Australia one of these days and capture one 📸
Fantastic video Duade !! Really enjoyed it, inwas previously using a Nikon D3400 with the 70-300mm kit lens, upgraded to a Nikon D7200 with the Sigma lens and initially noticed a big difference but was not that happy with the results, and just like you mentioned i started working on my skills and improved my fieldcraft which helped me get much better and much more satisfying results, and what i believe that if i upgrade now the only difference i would see is in image quality not much improvement in my images so still very happy with my current gear. Your channel have been very important in improving my fieldcraft. I have learnt and improved a lot froom your channel and it have hepled me understand various topics and one of the most important one was to know about histogram and not blow the whites which is was not aware about. So really thank you for your amazing content and Best wishes.
Cheers
Hello Duade!!! I have my trusty a7riv for years and now I have the 300mmf2.8 gm (works perfectly for my environment) I got rid of my 200-600mm 😉
Yes, great advice. I did upgrade 2 months ago. Weighed all the benefits like you thoroughly discussed in this video and rented the camera body but the lens was so new that no one had it for rent. So, I brought it thru an online retailer and worst-case scenario I could return it and get a full refund within a month. Got both the new lens with the rental body and went on vacation and took over 8,000 images and many using my old camera and lens that a wanted upgrade for comparison.
When I got home, the rental camera went back, and I got on the computer pixel peeping and comparing images and, in many insistences, figured out how easier it was to track on subject, plus the many other pros to cons. I shot wildlife, a surfing contest and an air show.
In the end, I traded some of my old gear to pay for the new camera body and lens, but it is like you said, you do sometimes outgrow your stuff and need to move on.
Another thing that I think can really improve people’s photos without upgrading equipment is learning to get the most out of processing software. I have known people to blame equipment for “problems” that are really just a matter of proper processing of a RAW file. Great video as always, thanks much!
When a company talks about one set of features you need to still go look for real world use, mirrorless AF is so much better but the issue I have is still on mirrorless and that'd the camera jumping off the subject so till it is gone or my 70D breaks I will not be upgrading, the Sogma 150-600 is all I need and the 70D has 7 frames a second and the saying the gear matters very little is so true, one of my favorite landscapd photographers uses wet plate in a Kodak that was made in the 1920s.
Thank you very Much....
Good advice. My problem with waiting for the R7 II or R5 II is availability. They may be released in 6 months or a year, but my experience with the R7 (pre-ordered body only) was waiting 6 more months before I canceled and bought the kit when it became readily available. I'm still waiting for the 200-800 to be available because I wasn't willing to go the pre-order route again.
For that reason I recently bought the R5 rather than waiting for the R5 II. I will have had the enjoyment of using it for a year or more before the R5 II is readily available. I'm sure the R5 II will be more expensive than what I paid for the R5 too.
I just bought the R7 and this is the first I’d heard about an imminent R7-II but I don’t regret it. I was upgrading from a Rebel Xti and my experience so far has been amazing.
Solid advice Duade.
Thanks mate, Cheers, Duade
I went from a 7D Mark ll to an R5 which vastly improved my bird photography. The eye tracking does loose the subject at times with busy background but most of the time is spot on. I'm still waiting for that 200-800mm lens though. Great video Duade. I think I've watched them all.
I have bought several used lenses from MPB Camera, a company that resells used camera gear. What I love about them is the fact they grade each item so you can buy, say a lens either in excellent like new condition or one that is in fait condition. I have no regrets from purchasing from them.
Thanks for sharing Karin, I wish we had them here in Australia, sounds like a great way to buy with confidence at a cheaper price. Cheers, Duade
Ah this is such a quintessential question everybody goes through! Especially at these tougher times and also the quick advances in camera tech that we're spoiled to. I'm in this mess as well as I'm justifying an upgrade for my R6 Mark I(Bought it 2 months before the Mark II came out smh), I'm aware that I just can't justify upgrading to an R5 (on sale) because of how often I casually shoot(only 1-2 times a week) and it's not for a side business either. I do need the video specs as I'm part of my church's production team for shooting short-form contents. The upgrade will costs me paying extra CA$2K on top of the cost of the R6 which is already a price of a good lens to extend my range as I currently have a 24-105 f4L and a 50mm f1.8 STM. Because of your videos, I got curious if a 200-800 will satiate my hunger for local birding here in the Canadian prairies. Oh well 😂
Excellent video Duade! And just on time as I am thinking about changing my system, and we ended up having the same questions. I just have to come up with an answer now 😅
Hi Duade, as always I really apriciate your honest review.
I went from canon 5d mark ii and tamron 70-300 to canon R7 & rf 100-400(now rf 100-500).
And it help me whery much to increase my wildlife photo quality
Went from a 60D to an R10, I can say, the AF and burst speed differences are simply huge and also high ISO performance feel way better
Great advice Duade. I am a hobbyist photographer and 71 years old. Most of my photography is when I travel overseas on vacation, visiting my grandsons and family gathering. My first real digital camera was the Nikon D7000 and then I upgraded to the D7200. Love both cameras, but as I got older I found myself not bringing my camera with me, because of the weight of the D7200 and all the lenses. So I decided to purchase the Nikon Z50 with both kit lenses (great travel camera) and eventually sold my D7200. Now I bring my Z50 every time I go on vacation, so for me going from a heavy DSLR to lighter mirrorless camera was the right choose. I am waiting on Nikon to introduce a Z50 replacement (upgrade) with better AF, IBIS, etc. But may not upgrade if the camera becomes to heavy.
Nice video. I'm excited as I rented the R5 a year ago and meets everything I need. Now, prices are dropping for new and a whole bunch for used. I'll get a great camera at fraction of price.
Z6II was my biggest regret. At least it wasn't a Z6 but it sounds like the Z6III is what it should have been all along. Thanks a lot Nikon!
Duade, I'm going to disagree with you about buying a Canon R5 right now. In the U.S., the R5 is available, new, for $2,750. That's $1,250 less than the expected price of the r5ii. If you're a stills shooter, the expected upgrade from the R5ii is not expected to be much. Tremendous price for the R5 -- not far from the prices being asked for the Z6iii. (The answer may well be different if you're primarily a video shooter, though. The R5ii is expected to be quite the video camera.)
Whenever possible, do upgrades far enough in advance of any significant or critical shooting, for example travel. Allow for familiarization and practice with the new gear - hardware and software. A new 'system' and major upgrades with many new features and differences can be especially challenging, but even one major difference that is critical to you and perhaps your primary reason for upgrading should be given time to become proficient 'enough' with before using on a trip on which you will probably not want to spend a lot of time learning what you could have before leaving on the trip. If you can take your current gear and the new gear, great, but if you will be relying only on the new gear, remember that time is special, and the special trips are for shooting images, and all else that go with being in new and special places. :)
Thanks!
G'day Ian, thank you so much for the support, I really do appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Ted’s have an amazing deal on the r7 kit, which probably motivates many to purchase it right now, the new version would be significantly more. Some good advice here - my first 2 cameras were the 40d then 7 d I skipped the 5d series because I rented a 5dii and didn’t like the autofocus. Totally agree with what you said about mirroless autofocus this was how I felt with the r6 - biggest regret jumping to mirrorless was not realising there were brands other than canon. Now have a Nikon simply for the lightweight telephotos, I won’t buy heavy lenses. Favourite place to buy second hand is camera exchange. They are awesome
Sometimes there isn't a camera or a lens to upgrade to yet.
I'm sitting on a relatively old camera bodies (Sony A7III and Sony a6600), but can't find on the market the bodies that could check all the marks for me.
I'd like to have:
- more frames per second in photo mode
- higher megapixel count
- better autofocus in photo and video modes.
I'm looking at the market and I am seeing:
- A9II and A9III - better fps in photo mode, less evf lag, but worse in terms of video features and same amount of megapixels
- A7r5 - more megapixels, but same framerate in photo mode and actually worse autofocus and low light performance
- A1 has everything I need, but is way out of my price range and is actually at the end of it's life cycle, I think.
That leaves me no options. So I'm trying to learn videography, while waiting for a camera body that will meet all my needs.
For example, buying better tripod, better tripod head, better gimbal, better video accessories (light, softboxes, external monitor, microphone, cage and so on) had a lot more sense for me right now, and at the time I'll master all this maybe the market will have something, that will make me move to a newer generation of bodies.
In terms of lenses Sony also hasn't that much to offer: I have Sony 70-350, Sigma 100-400 and Sony 200-600 for wildlife. I'm actually pretty happy with them.
Maybe good lightweight prime lens that isn't 20k$ would be nice to have, but I also don't see any. Sigma 500 5.6 was closest to my desires, but still too expensive for what it has to offer.
Cracking video Duade, sadly a few months too late for me.
Weight is definitely an issue, at 63 I'm not as strong as I used to be.
Earlier this year there was a sale on the Fuji XF150-600, (£350 off) I couldn't resist and got one to use with my X-T3.
When it arrived I found I needed a battery grip to improve handling.
That took the total weight up to 2.7kg and I've found it to be uncomfortably heavy for my usual photo wanderings.
Added to the weight issue is the Fuji autofocus issue, it can be truly awful for tracking birds in flight, both in stills and video.
So I'm considering selling the X-T3 and XF150-700 (at a loss) and switching to a Panasonic G9ii and matching 100-400.
I got that same email when I preordered my R6 Mark II. I will never preorder a camera again 😂
great video as usual. I am still waiting you review on canon R8.
I replaced my entire kit for the solar event back on 8 April 2024. Well worth the expense as the next one in my area is 400 years from now
Great video! It actually helped me because right now I'm about to buy the RF200-800mm and RF100mm Macro. Also I'm thinking about buying the R5 but as you well said, one should wait right now for the R5 Mark II (maybe I'm just buying the Mark II then, it's all about the money xD). The 200-800 is getting more realistic but for me it's still too expensive, will have to wait for that.
What's worked for me is when I think about getting something I will wait seven days. If I still want to buy that thing after those seven days I will scout for the best price including prices from two years ago. If I see a nice discount, that's when I buy new gear and only then. Most lenses have failed after seven days because after this short amount of time I was always like "What for?".
Thanks Duade. I’ve purchased many lenses and bodies from CanonUSA refurbished and had good experience while saving money. They include a one year warranty, so it’s a great way to mitigate risk of the issues like you described with the memory card slot. Hopefully they offer this in other markets as well.
Thanks for sharing, yes, that sounds like a great option also, not sure we have that down here unfortunately. Cheers, Duade
One of the most helpful things I have found to do after I’ve done the online research, watched good review videos, etc, is to go to a local camera store and put my hands on the equipment I am considering. Is it a good match for your hand size/finger length? Do you like the button/dial locations? Do you generally like the way it feels? Is the lens plus camera weight something you can picture carrying around comfortably for several hours without a tripod if that’s the kind of shooting you do? The list goes on, but those are the main things for me to decide in person. I have never rented, but that seems like a fine idea too. And I just realized I didn’t say anything your video didn’t say better! And by the way, I have been very happy with my Canon R5 and the RF 100-500 L lens combo. Thank you for another excellent video Duade.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Barbara, I really appreciate it and I totally agree with what you have said. Very important to hold the gear to see if it fits well with your style. Cheers, Duade
I currently own the R7. I am frustrated with AF and the rolling shutter etc, so looking forward to a new R7 that will resolve those issues. I'd love to try the R5, but realistically it boils down to camera weight for me personally. Great video as usual Duade.
After using the R8 and the R5, I really wanted the AF features of the R8 in the R5, so I worked out an upgrade plan. I use the R5 mostly for insect macro in the field, so it doesn’t see much use during winter. I sold the R5 in November and in May I bought a grey import R7. When my R5II ships, I’ll sell the R7.
By using the both the R8 and R7, I really appreciate the faster readout in the R8 and the IBIS in the R7. I also yearn for a CFe slot 😎
I have always bought gear that does more than I need so if I want to try something new I don't need to upgrade so frequently. I also don't buy cameras during their first year of release as I know I will save money in following years buying them then. When I bought my first zoom lens I made a mistake due to being unaware Canon made 2 grades of them. That was in the days before internet reviews though. I found joining a photographic club where they had judging and critique extremely valuable in learning composition etc which you will never learn by just buying gear. I bought an R7 late last year and did experience it going out of focus on fast flying planes at an airshow as you talked about in a previous video and will try and slow the shutter burst down to see what happens as you suggested. As for the heavy weight of a zoom lens if you don't have a tripod I found screwing a monopod onto the tripod collar and closing it up abit while resting it in a carpenters tool belt will go some way to preventing it feeling so heavy for so long, as you can rest it in the tool belt between shots.
I finally ordered the RF 200-800 because I know it'll be a huge increase in length over the 100-500. I'm interested in the R5 II but, since I already own an R5, I'll likely wait a bit. As you said, the improvements will likely be minor for birding (and maybe none at all for landscape).
Great information. I read, look at reviews, watch UA-cam! I have the 100-500 rf-someone gave it a good review (thank you). I'm trying to decide on the R6 ii or the R5, both are great. I'm moving from the R6 and now thinking about a trip instead.
Too many choices lol. I would go with the R5 for stills based shooting. R62 better for video/stills. Cheers, Duade 👍
Great presentation , very honest , I just purchased last week R7 with the kit lens , I had a 90d , I am going to a safari and needed a second camera ...well time to upgrade , I will use some of my EF lens with the adaptor 100 to 400 , will give me some versatility , Did research and since the 90d was a aps-c so is the R7 and doing animal this is good for me , since I am just an amateur photographer , I love photo , but need to keep it at a Cost factor that is reasonable for me.
Thanks, have fun on the trip, the R7 should be great for eye tracking the big cats etc. Cheers, Duade
Good advice ! When I finally bit the bullet and upgraded my 500 F4 ii to a 600 F4 iii my expectations were so high that I was quite disappointed. In my opinion the 500 IQ was better, it fit in my bag and the focal length with a 1.4 TC was perfect for what I shoot. Over time I have acclimated to the 600 and it is a very good lens but in retrospect it wasn't worth the cost to me. I would be happier to have that cash today to buy a 200 to 800.
Thanks for sharing and being honest, I too have made many purchases over the years that did not quite meet my expectations. Glad to hear you are making the 600 work for you and I am sure the IQ you get from it is excellent. Cheers, Duade
Good recommendations, this is the right mindset one should have when upgrading gear. It's important not to fall victim to the gear hype.
Anyway, the Olympus 300/4 lens is one of the reasons I would really have trouble switching to another system (that is if I ever wanted to 😏).
More great common sense advice from you Duade.👍👍👍