Originally posted by kentishrev Posts I've read are clear, of course, that no camera or lens will make a bad picture good, and ultimate determinant of a good picture is a good photographer. Once that is in place, all posts seem to suggest that it's the lens that makes the difference.
That's basically a correct observation, I should say.
Originally posted by kentishrev So what is it that makes an upgrade from the lower-end to a high-end so important?
Good question, but there may be more than one anwer to that. "Importance" is a relative concept, but aside from those gear nerds (nothing wrong with being that) who just MUST have the newest technology, I think that the answer will be found in the direction:
"It is important/desirable when you feel constrained by your current gear". It is true that a good photographer can take good photographs with almost any camera, but even for him or her, the success rate may increase with more advanced gear.
And one's 'needs' can be in multiple areas: Better viewfinder; better low-light AF performance; faster and more reliable AF in difficult scenes; more frames per second; more advanced bracketing options..........
Again, these improvements do not make one a better photographer, but they will almost certainly improve one's hit-rate in the more difficult situations.