Life of a Photographer: Should You Repair or Replace Your Old Camera?

Hey there! It's been quite a journey for me with cameras—over 29 years, to be exact! Can you believe I've been snapping photos for nearly 40 years? Time really flies when you're having fun, right? I've also spent 32 years working as a photo artist. I’d love to share some of my insights with you to make sure your photography journey goes as smoothly and stress-free as possible. Let's dive in!

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Life of a Photographer 🎞️ — one of the most common questions I get is… “Should I repair my old camera or just replace it?”

Repairs are usually never this clean!

The answer is almost always: replace it. The digital camera industry doesn’t work like the old analog days, when a repair could keep a body going for decades. Today, you have to think about processing power, sensor quality, and advanced autofocus. Even entry-level mirrorless cameras now outperform older pro DSLRs in many ways.

And let’s be honest — I’ve got no brand loyalty (because no brand has loyalty to me). Like the song says: “What have you done for me lately?” If another system gives me better options, I’ll switch. Some of you might balk at that because you look at your collection of gear, and switching seems daunting. Yes, I’ve invested a lot in my gear, in a system — and you will too. That never stops. The key is deciding what new gear does that your old gear doesn’t. And will that new gear improve your workflow?

I met a young photographer who was doing very well for herself. What I mean by that is that she was routinely getting jobs with her photography. I don't know what kind of bank she was making, but she said she wanted to get a new camera. The camera she had was a Canon Digital Rebel Something or Other, and she wanted to upgrade to the flagship Canon 5D MKIII at the time.

This was a huge leap in camera gear at the time, so I asked if any of her clients had said anything that made her think her work wasn't up to snuff. She said no, and she had many repeat clients. I said, Great, then you don't need a new camera. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. You should only get it if you think it will help you make your workflow as a photographer easier. Will the investment in the gear make your time as a photographer better, more enjoyable?

If it’s broken, it ain’t doing much, and that sucks the joy out of photography. Yes, you paid a lot for a camera that's broken, but the reality is that unless you have some way of offsetting the repair cost, it's not generally worth it. So before you call around for repairs, take a hard look at what you’ve got.

Repairing:

• ❌ High costs, scarce parts

• ❌ Still outdated tech

• ✅ Keeps sentimental gear alive

Replacing:

• ✅ Better sensors & autofocus

• ✅ Modern features (Wi-Fi, 4K video)

• ✅ Warranty included

• ❌ Costs more upfront

👉 In the end, the real question isn’t “Should I repair or replace?” It’s: “Will this gear make my work easier, better, or more enjoyable?” If not, the answer is already clear.

📸 Next up, we’ll tackle the second-most common question I get: “Should I buy used or refurbished?” Spoiler: one comes with way fewer headaches.

💡 Pro Tip: Unless it’s a pro body, vintage gem, or has sentimental value, replacing is the smarter choice. And hey — if your camera’s older than your phone, it might be ready for retirement.

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