p.1 #1 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
Curious to know which of the two camps you lean more toward; owning the latest, greatest gear, or owning gear that will last you a longer time?
Yes, I'm 100% sure most of us value both, but as I mentioned in my first sentence above; which do you lean more toward?
Also, I am cross-posting this in the Canon and Sony subforums, so please indicate which gear is the one you use the most; Sony or Canon. For example, I own both Canon and Sony full frame gear, but I lean more toward Canon despite Sony capturing better images than my Canon gear. So, my primary outfit preference is Canon. Don't get me wrong, I like my A7c and A7iv, but I like my R6II more.
p.1 #2 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
I tend to stay a step or two behind the bleeding edge, mainly for affordability. When everyone was jumping on the Sony bandwagon, I stayed with Canon DSLRs because switching was cost prohibitive. I didn't make the move to Canon mirrorless until the R6 since the R and RP didn't feel ready for prime time. I'm using the R6 almost six years later.
p.1 #5 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
snegron7 wrote:
Curious to know which of the two camps you lean more toward; owning the latest, greatest gear, or owning gear that will last you a longer time?
Yes, I'm 100% sure most of us value both, but as I mentioned in my first sentence above; which do you lean more toward?
Also, I am cross-posting this in the Canon and Sony subforums, so please indicate which gear is the one you use the most; Sony or Canon. For example, I own both Canon and Sony full frame gear, but I lean more toward Canon despite Sony capturing better images than my Canon gear. So, my primary outfit preference is Canon. Don't get me wrong, I like my A7c and A7iv, but I like my R6II more. ...Show more →
I value both and right now I predominantly shoot with both A7V and R6MKII. Normally I am a buy and hold kinda guy so I still have my old EF lenses that I bought brand new. With today's modern software I decided to bring back the 5Ds into my rotation. Also, my EF 85/1.2 L II is like brand new after spending CAD~$ 1700 last year to fix it. Having said that the A7V is fantastic! I normally use ES with the exception of using flash. So I don't think it is 'diworsification' to shoot with two systems. I love using both and btw, I also have the magnificent Fuji X100VI which I normally use for travel along with the A6700.
p.1 #6 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
snegron7 wrote:
Curious to know which of the two camps you lean more toward; owning the latest, greatest gear, or owning gear that will last you a longer time?
Not sure how they're mutually exclusive. Will my R1 break before my 1N (the film one)?
p.1 #7 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
snegron7 wrote:
Curious to know which of the two camps you lean more toward; owning the latest, greatest gear, or owning gear that will last you a longer time?
When it comes to consumer electronics, these two options are **exactly the same** thing.
1. Newer tech generally tends to have higher MTBF specs, so it naturally lasts longer.
2. Buying the latest and greatest allows to skip several generations.
p.1 #8 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
I think you have made some assumption that a product made with a new technology is less relaible, durable or has less longevity. I don't agree with that categorically. Much technology is not new by the time consumer products are introduced. What matters more is the product market, cost and expectations. If you buy a $6-7K camera designed for heavy pro use you expect it to be more long lasting than a cheesy $2000 camera used by hobbyists less frequently for example.
Newer products typically have a great long term compatibility, be that a CPU, camera, phone, vehicle, etc.
It is a trend that inflation and cost crunches have resulted in down-grading of some product specs and elimination of features. Cost cutting can result in lower durability and reliability as well, but yoiu need to investigate the particular product.
p.1 #9 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
Took me to 2023 and A7IV to switch to mirrorless(from a SLT Sony). So definitely not bleeding edge....Camera being so system centric making the jump is a commitment...I think previous 2 bodies were also like 7 years apart. I think until I feel I lack something that I must need I am not even really shopping....
p.1 #10 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
I am not really sure I understand. For example, using electronic only and never shutter would tend to make me believe that it'd last longer than mechanical only... Less moving parts.
p.1 #12 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
I prefer gear that stays out of my way. In this respect, when photographing sports/action, it generally means more emphasis on speed, which in turn typically means cutting edge or latest technology.
I agree with others though that it doesn't necessarily mean lower longevity. Speed and advanced features tend to be in higher-end models with higher price tags and with more robust build quality (because those are also aimed at professional users).
Lower reliability could mean rushed software that wasn't fully debugged or vetted prior to release. The only time I can say this seemed to have been a problem (I'm a long-time Canon user) was with the 1DIII release. The AF in that camera was initially hyperactive/jumpy from a programming/software perspective. But that camera also had hardware-related AF problems that took Canon a while to address (and IMO not truly resolve). This was about the only instance when I felt being cutting edge sacrificed reliability (not sure about longevity though because my copies still work, not that I use them for anything now).
I'm generally on a ~4 year upgrade cycle and will move to the next 'latest and greatest.'
p.1 #13 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
EB-1 wrote:
I think you have made some assumption that a product made with a new technology is less relaible, durable or has less longevity. I don't agree with that categorically. Much technology is not new by the time consumer products are introduced. What matters more is the product market, cost and expectations. If you buy a $6-7K camera designed for heavy pro use you expect it to be more long lasting than a cheesy $2000 camera used by hobbyists less frequently for example.
Newer products typically have a great long term compatibility, be that a CPU, camera, phone, vehicle, etc.
It is a trend that inflation and cost crunches have resulted in down-grading of some product specs and elimination of features. Cost cutting can result in lower durability and reliability as well, but yoiu need to investigate the particular product.
I read it more as; do you purchase gear with the intent of maintaining it for a long period or do you prefer to upgrade with each new release to maintain the bleeding edge in technology? Gearing up for longevity, which has as much to do with how the gear's used as it does how it's constructed, seems to me a different question.
p.1 #14 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
I used to buy the latest and - presumably - greatest when cameras were still practically improving with every update. Now that that’s no longer the case for my use, I stopped that habit and hold on to what works. Since I generally bought the higher end stuff, I assume longevity is a given.
p.1 #16 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
snegron7 wrote:
Curious to know which of the two camps you lean more toward; owning the latest, greatest gear, or owning gear that will last you a longer time?
Yes, I'm 100% sure most of us value both, but as I mentioned in my first sentence above; which do you lean more toward?
Also, I am cross-posting this in the Canon and Sony subforums, so please indicate which gear is the one you use the most; Sony or Canon. For example, I own both Canon and Sony full frame gear, but I lean more toward Canon despite Sony capturing better images than my Canon gear. So, my primary outfit preference is Canon. Don't get me wrong, I like my A7c and A7iv, but I like my R6II more. ...Show more →
I think that it is great the photographic technology continues to advance, usually incrementally. But it isn’t necessary to always buy every newest thing. These tools last longer than a couple of years and the advantages of today’s newest thing over the one you bought a few years back are often not as great as the hype would suggest.
I’m on the cusp of updating my main camera… a 5DsR that has served me well for a decade.
p.1 #17 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
I want to be in longevity, but hand-on-heart I'm in the new-tech camp, but less and less so.
I think it has something to do with spending my career in the tech industry, you sort of have to be on the latest wave all the time. I like to upgrade.
Then again, I kept my Toyota Land Cruiser 100-series for 18 years...
p.1 #18 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
For me it depends on where we are in the tech development cycle. Taking pixels for example, IMO, I could say that the race is pretty much over so I'd be happy (I think) with one of my 60MP+ bodies for a very long time so I want it to be trouble free. That was not the case when I was using Canon 1Ds series bodies. I could not get rid of them fast enough as the MP count increased.
p.1 #19 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
freaklikeme wrote:
I read it more as; do you purchase gear with the intent of maintaining it for a long period or do you prefer to upgrade with each new release to maintain the bleeding edge in technology? Gearing up for longevity, which has as much to do with how the gear's used as it does how it's constructed, seems to me a different question.
p.1 #20 · Do You Prefer Groundbreaking Technology or Longevity?
I moved from Canon 5DII -> A7 after checking a nex . so 9-12 months into A7 availability.
I upgraded IA7 -> A7II fairly early in camera life.
I upgraded A7IIS -> A7III / A7RII again reasonably early in A7III existence
I upgraded A7IIIS -> A7IV / A9 again reasonably early in A7III existence
I traded A7RIIS-> A7R3
I bought a second hand A7R3A for more viewfinder acreage.
Plan an A7V trading in A7IV, A9 and A7RIIi. The A7v is quite close to A9 and replaces A7IV.
