Is it time to upgrade your camera – what’s the benefit?

Most photographers go through a period during which their camera is the best thing since a baker took a knife to a crusty loaf. Then after a while other cameras come along with more impressive specifications making their once cutting-edge model seem a bit tired until eventually it’s replaced by the manufacturer.

In some cases, however, the next generation of a camera doesn’t appear to offer a huge step forward and the expense of upgrading doesn’t seem worthwhile. But what about successive models? Let’s take a look at some of the key reasons for upgrading a camera and the benefits they bring.

1. Higher pixel count
There’s far more to a camera than its pixel count, but successive models tend to go up in resolution rather than down – although that’s not always true. The benefit of having a camera with a higher pixel count is that, provided noise is controlled well,  it captures more detail and the images can be printed and viewed at larger sizes.

You also have more scope for cropping if you can’t get compose the image as tightly around the subject as you would like at the shooting stage, or the composition isn’t perfect.

Another benefit that we’ve seen with very high resolution cameras like the 50Mp Canon 5DS is that the high level of detail at the point of focus emphasises the drop-off in sharpness when shooting with large apertures, giving a medium format like appearance to an image.

Of course the downside to this is that you need to be very careful with focusing, especially when shooting wide open.

One thing to bear in mind if you’re planning to upgrade to a high resolution camera is that you may also need to upgrade your lenses to get the full benefit of all the pixels on the sensor.

SEE MORE: Cheap digital camera vs expensive digital camera: what’s the real difference?

2. Faster processing
Processors are an often overlooked element of a camera, but they are as important as the sensor, determining aspects such as image colour, noise control, response times, shooting rate and burst depth.

Newer image processors are usually more powerful and faster than the models they replace. This enhances both the shooting experience and image quality. Owners of of older cameras are likely to notice an improvement in start-up time and that their new camera generally feels snappier.

SEE MORE: New cameras: the 9 TRUE benefits of upgrading to a better model

3. Faster continuous shooting (raw and JPEG)
A more powerful processing engine usually brings a higher maximum continuous shooting speed which makes the camera better suited to shooting sport and action, or at least a wider range of subjects.

Ideally this will be accompanied by an increase in the size of the buffer, the temporary image store that holds files before they are written to the memory card.

The larger this buffer, and the faster card port and installed card, the greater the burst depth of the camera – meaning you’ll be able to take more images at maximum speed.

SEE MORE: Continuous shooting mode: why more is better!

4. Better noise control
A new and more powerful processing engine can lead to better quality images because it can run more complex noise reduction algorithms. But new sensor designs can mean that there’s less noise for them to tackle in the first place.

For instance, manufacturers find ways of maximising the size of the pixels, increasing the size of the micro lenses above them and enhancing the light gathering power to generate a stronger image signal, which means less noise.

As a result, buying a new camera can enable you to produce cleaner images with more detail and better low-light capability.

SEE MORE: Conquer Underexposure: how to rescue shadow detail and how to deal with noise

5. Better low-light performance
All of the moves that are made to reduce the level of noise in images usually enable sensitivity to be set to higher values. While you may not want to use the highest values all the time, having them means you can shoot in a wider range of conditions and you can be more confident in low light.

Manufacturers also work to improve autofocus performance, making the systems more sensitive so you can shoot in duller conditions and get sharp shots.

SEE MORE: ISO settings in low light: when, and how, to increase your camera’s sensitivity

6. Better screen
Camera manufacturers have been giving their CSCs and DSLRs 3-inch screens for a while now, and their dot-count is usually 920,000 or more. If your camera has a screen that’s smaller or has a lower dot count you’ll notice quite a difference when you upgrade to a more modern camera.

A larger screen makes it easier to see details, both in live view mode and when reviewing shots, while more dots give you a clearer, sharper image. This can be a major bonus when you’re focusing manually and using the magnified live view to ensure the subject is pin-sharp.

Vari-angle and tilting screens are also more popular than they used to be and these make it easier to compose images from above or below head-height.

Touch-screen technology is also becoming more common in DSLRs and CSCs and it can really speed up making setting adjustments, navigating menus, scrolling through images and setting the AF point. If you haven’t tried it, don’t knock it until you have, touch-screens aren’t just for smartphones.

SEE MORE: A layman’s guide to LCD screens

7. Better ergonomics
Over the years manufacturers have refined the control layout and menus of their cameras to make them easier to use. Function or Quick menus have also become popular to provide a quick route to the most important features.

In addition, many cameras offer more control customisation options than they used to so you can make the camera work how you want it to.

If you have an older camera it can take you a while to get used to the new control layout of a modern model, but with time you’re likely to find you can use it more quickly.

SEE MORE: How to set up a camera for the first time: 11 things you need to do first

8. New features
While it could be argued that the only controls you really need on a camera are the shutter speed, aperture and sensitivity, there are lots of additional features that can increase your chances of taking a picture that you like. There are also many that can enhance your enjoyment of photography.

Wi-Fi connectivity, for example, is hardly essential but as well as allowing you to share images quickly on Facebook and Twitter etc, it enables you to control your camera remotely using a smartphone for wobble-free long exposure images.

What’s more, you’ll see a live view of the scene on your phone and you can tap the screen to set the AF point and trip the shutter, all from a few feet away making it useful for shooting wildlife.

Special effect or filter modes can also give you some creative inspiration, producing high contrast black and white shots or replicating the look of pin-hole cameras without the need to use software.

Many cameras also now have dynamic range optimisation systems and HDR features that help you produce better images in high contrast situations.

There are even cameras like the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II that can produce images that are far bigger than you might think possible from the pixel count of their sensor.

SEE MORE: 5 digital camera features no photographer should be without

9. Better battery life
Early digital cameras suffered from poor battery life, making extra batteries essential.  While some compact system cameras can gobble through battery power at quite a rate, on the whole things have improved dramatically. Most cameras can manages 300-400 images from a single charge.

SEE MORE: 4 ways to extend the battery life of your camera

10. Better dynamic range and colour
Improvements in detail resolution and noise control tend to attract the headlines, but new sensors and processing engines can also extend dynamic range so that images have a wide tonal range.

This means that highlights don’t burn out so quickly and shadows have more detail. It also usually means that images are more flexible and can withstand greater post-capture adjustment.

Colour may also be improved with each colour channel having greater dynamic range and the white balance system delivering better results in a wider range of lighting conditions.

SEE MORE: Dynamic range in photography: how to capture all the tones in a scene

11. Better autofocusing
Autofocusing capability is something that tends to improve with successive cameras, but there have been some pretty dramatic improvements made in this area with compact system cameras.

It’s been a focus for development for the manufacturers and there have been significant steps made so that it’s now possible to shoot moving subjects and sport with some CSCs. If you have an early model that can only get still subjects sharp, you might want to consider upgrading.

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