How Often Do You Replace Your Camera?

Miserere · 03-13-2009, 01:41 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm running a poll on my blog to find out how often people upgrade their cameras. It's an idea I have for an article, and I thought it would be better to get hard numbers than use suppositions.

How Often Do You Replace Your Camera? Enticing the Light

It will take you all of 10s to vote

If you could e-mail the poll to any of your non-Pentax photographer friends (no need to admit to it publicly) I would appreciate it. As with all polls, the larger the number of respondents the more likely the results are of significance.

Cheers!

--M.

.

*monochrome* · 03-13-2009, 01:54 PM

Misere: I did the poll based on my K10D, but . . .

In some ways I replace cameras every few months. Over the last 5 years I have bought and sold more than 20 Pentax film cameras, ranging from a pristine black Spotmatic (should have kept that) through a beater K2, and everything in between.

I have had my KX since 1977 and my MESuper since 1984. I just got a SPF, but I don't think I will sell that.

I plan to replace my K10D (upgrade to K20D) in coming weeks.

Miserere · 03-13-2009, 02:01 PM

Wow monochrome, that's quite the CBA you've got going there.

As to your initial question, I say in the blog post that If you own more than one camera, then consider only your main, most-used camera. After all, everyone has cameras that are backups or maybe just for a bit of fun every now and then. Right...?

Lowell Goudge · 03-13-2009, 02:11 PM

define replace,

I still own every camera I bought.

they have not necessairly been replaced, but religated to secondary roles as I have upgraded.

having said that, if you consider I bought my first camera a Ricoh XR2s in 1981, my second a KX (back up body not "replacement ) in 1982, my third a PZ-1 (probably a "replacement) in 1991, my 4th *istD, in late 2003, and my 5th, a K10D in late 2007, I would say my upgrade time was 10-11 years with film, but only 3 years with digital.

If digital had not come out at all, I might still be using my PZ-1 because it is a great, and reliable camera.

*awo425* · 03-13-2009, 02:16 PM

Every 2 to 3 years

Venturi · 03-13-2009, 02:24 PM

Hmm. I can't accurately answer the poll.

Bought my K10D last March, mostly because I couldn't justify $1400 for the K20D. I bought the K20D in July when I had a need for a 2nd body (rental wasn't an option here). Better lenses became the priority (still are) and I sold the K10D last fall. I have no plans, need or desire, to "upgrade" to whatever the model ends up being unless it's magically capable of causing me make photos a full magnitude better than I can now.

So, how do I vote given all that?

PDL · 03-13-2009, 03:52 PM

I have only "replaced" one camera, my *istDs, with a K10D.

My "upgrade" to my Pentax SF-1 and K20D were due to my other cameras being stolen. Otherwise I would still be using my 30+ year old 35mm SLR's - which were stolen again and are still missing in action. (I got the K20D to replace the stolen *istDs and K10D).

So I guess it depends - I replace my cameras when they are stolen - hopefully that will not happen for some time.

The Elitist - formerly known as PDL

Miserere · 03-13-2009, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by PDL

So I guess it depends - I replace my cameras when they are stolen - hopefully that will not happen for some time.

I should have added a special option just for you! But seriously, having your cameras stolen twice sucks

*reeftool* · 03-13-2009, 05:28 PM

I still have almost all of my old cameras also. A couple of unrepairable ones I tossed and I gave a couple to my kids.

Miserere · 03-13-2009, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Venturi

Hmm. I can't accurately answer the poll.

Bought my K10D last March, mostly because I couldn't justify $1400 for the K20D. I bought the K20D in July when I had a need for a 2nd body (rental wasn't an option here). Better lenses became the priority (still are) and I sold the K10D last fall. I have no plans, need or desire, to "upgrade" to whatever the model ends up being unless it's magically capable of causing me make photos a full magnitude better than I can now.

So, how do I vote given all that?

In your case, When the next model comes out.

**Damn Brit** · 03-13-2009, 06:08 PM

M, I didn't vote in order not to skew your Poll. I haven't changed cameras, I have acquired rather than changed. I have had a K10 since they were first shipped and recently bought a K20 and a K2000 but these were not replacements.
If your poll is still going in a couple of years, maybe I can include my stats.

*er1kksen* · 03-13-2009, 07:04 PM

I'm not sure how I would answer this. I went from a K1000 to an Olympus OM-1 to an Olympus OM-2 to an XA2 to an E-330 and now to a K20D, over the course of... 3 years now. Haha I'm not sure how many of these are necessarily upgrades, step-to-the-sides, or even downgrades in a some ways (OM-2 to XA2).

*NeverSatisfied* · 03-14-2009, 09:09 AM

Bought a K10D as my first DSLR in November 2007, then bought the K20D a year later. The K10D has been relegated to back-up, but I don't plan to get rid of anything or upgrade for a long time to come.

Vinfer · 03-14-2009, 11:43 AM

I used my first slr (film srl) for 8 years. Now i have a K20...when my dslr breaks...i will change it.

Bart · 03-14-2009, 11:47 AM

I have quite an answer for you: I bought an Asahi Pentax SP 500 in 1974.
I used it till I switched to digital in 2007 (K10D).
And I still have the SP 500, safely stored away.
How's that for replacing.

The K10D could be replaced pretty soon, however. They don't make things like they used to.