In reading this, "upgrade path" may not be what I am doing any longer. There was a point where I would shoot to need, decide what I wanted, and upgrade over time. While I still might want a few things, like a prime lens here or there, I am mostly set. So, really it is more of a maintenance path for me. Knowing that I plan to shoot for decades and the gear will eventually wear out.
Yeah, there would have to be something very specific that I wanted in another system to consider a swap. Right now, if you really wanted FF mirrorless, ok, Canon doesn't even have one. But the crop sensor mirrorless are pretty solid and the new sensor tech really seems to be keeping up with only negligible benefits of other tech.Originally Posted by Dave Throgmartin
As for APS-C, overall, to me it is a more viable option than ever before. I am not sure how much more it can improve (sensor performance is getting pretty efficient), but maybe another 1/3-1/2 of a stop. I occasionally think back to when I joined the forum in 2010. As many might remember, back then their was a common discussion between crop vs FF and a general consensus that FF was ~2 stops better in terms of most performance parameters. But, with the latest upgrades, current crop sensors actually exceed FF sensors (5DII) of that generation in some ways (low ISO DR) or have closed the gap in others.
Then throw in the cost, size, and weight advantages and I can really see why people would not need an "upgrade" path to FF. Crop is more likely than ever to suit someone's needs.
I say that, but no one had better try to pry my 5D out of my hands.
Ha....This is pretty much where I was at. But, as I do enjoy thinking about the gear, and am a bit into the latest and greatest. In thinking about an overall maintenance plan, I basically considered three options:
- Just keep using my 5DIII and shoot until a real need developed or the camera died beyond reasonable repair. As a quick example, I talked about shutter actuations previously, from what I've read, replacing a shutter is only $300. Replace a shutter every 150k actuations and you can likely keep using the 5DIII for years and years.
- Skip the 5DIV and wait for whatever is released after. I played with this and when factoring in resale value of the 5DIII, there was only a minor cost savings vs...
- Upgrade to the 5DIV.
Really, all three are very viable options. The 5DIII is a great camera and as long as it is working, I can see running with it. But, me, personally wanting the latest, and running the numbers told me waiting a year wasn't so bad financially, so I have gone for the third option.
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so I doubted if I would really need a DSLR. In short "downgrading" to a mirrorless turned out more expensive than I thought and really not that beneficiary to me personally. Going all the way down to a "pro" level compact was tempting, but I was afraid to miss doing real photography and not be happy with the quality of the results. Then I chose to upgrade to a 5D3, however in the last couple minutes of decision making I saw the 5DS for a relatively small added cost...so I went for the 5DS. 
