Selling my D5000 isn't really worth it at this point ($350 or so)...and I still use it now so I might as well keep it as a backup. I might can even give it to my wife to use if she wanted, but I think it would be useful to have another lens on in situations so that I didn't have to switch back and forth.

I however didn't keep my first and second digital cameras, but they were P&S and on a different level. There was no benefit to keeping them especially since I got what I paid for it when I sold it and my wife had a better P&S at the time.

I just got a D700 and I decided to keep my D90 as a back up. Plus if I ever decide I want to play with some video I can us the D90.

Why no use on the D7000? It is(was?) a fantastic camera...

I really wanted to keep my Canon 40d when I upgraded to the 5dII. I still have my Nikon D70, even after I bought (and just sold) my d7k that NEVER got used!!

I will keep the D70 for telephoto, and my 35/1.8DX, and would love to keep my 5dII. If I decide to switch over to Nikon, though, I will be forced to sell all my Canon gear.

And I still have a Rebel 2000 35mm camera. It will be shot several times more before I dump all my Canon gear -- if I decided to go all-Nikon

scoobysmak said:
I did an IR conversion on my older body...

Did an IR on my D50, sold my D80, still have 3 old film cameras (worth more than what I could sell them for) and I'm thinking of IR'ing my D300 when I upgrade. Depends which way I go though - I may jump to a FX and then the extra $600 will be worth it.

I have all of the camera bodies I've ever owned on a shelving unit. Seldom if ever use my D80 or n8008 anymore. I however use my other 3 DSLR's and my n80 regularly...

msmoto said:
Gosh, ya' think it is time to get rid of this one?

Wish I still had "mine" . Unfortunately they belonged to my employers and were not mine to keep, I wonder were they are now

I always look at it in terms of potential resale value vs. Value to me as a keeper. Obviously we buy new gear because of improvements. That does not necessarily render our older gear obsolete, either from a working or historical perspective. I still have 35mm film cameras and lenses and they are of more value to me than what they would bring on the used market. So, unless money or space are driving factors it is really a choice whether you keep the old bodies or not.

I guess i found mself in the weird position of wanting a second body for a while (often at events to take that second angle), but then when i get the third, nobody would ever buy my second, as its worth so little money.... oh well...

Sold my D50 after years of use to help fund a D300. Used that for 2 years and then sold it for a grand and bought a D700. Now with over two years on the D700 Im looking to get rid of it to help fund a D800e. My older brother expressed interest in the D700 so Ill likely give it to him for $1850 or so. I look at it like a 2 1/2 year, $600 rental. The D300 was like a $400 "rental". My plan after that is to nab a D3s in 6 months to a year when their price starts to settle a little bit lower on the used market. That is unless Nikon releases something else that changes my mind. :]

I still have my FTN and F2SB bodies, as well as an arsenal of lenses from that era that still work perfectly and, as all primes, give better IQ than any zoom from today.

I would never get rid of that msmoto. Your first camera..........priceless! And id put money on the fact that it can still take an awesome photo?

Gosh, ya' think it is time to get rid of this one?

My first Nikon, and I have another F in silver. But, the topic is really about improvement I think. And, the bottom line as I would see it is whether an "old" body would produce the results one wants. Either pro or not, this cost-benefit thing is always in our face. I have a D4 coming and have a D200 for sale. But the D90 body is not a pro body in its configuration like the D200 so this is a real dilemma for me. I may try and sell the D90 with grip, keep the D200. Or sell both and get a D800....???? Who knows. One problem I have is learning the new bodies. I actually just used the video on the D90 for the first time yesterday...

I think I agree with donaldejose in getting rid of things quickly. Not many of these appreciate in value. And, the photo shows my foolishness.

Unless I get a reasonably large chunk of my original investment back by selling something, I always keep it if it will ever likely have a future use. That doesn't only go for camera equipment, that goes for anything. Problem is I'm running out of space!

Financially, it is wisest to sell your old body ASAP because its value will only go down and as much as you loved it you really won't use it much, if at all, because you will keep reaching for your new body every time you want to photograph something.

That said, many of us place emotional attachment over financial wisdom and we keep those old bodies intending to use them, but never do. I have far more than I need. D800 on order, D7000, D90, D80, D70, D5100, D3100. The D40 was just recently given away! Foolishness, I know but to answer your question you sure are not alone!

I did an IR conversion on my older body, guess you might say I renewed it but I will probably keep a backup body in each FX and DX if I ever get that far. After having one backup of each I might start selling them but probably not worth the packing material at that point, depends on how long it takes for another "refresh" round to trickle down. If its anything like the D700, fours/five years later, after 8 years its going to be a paper weight at that point (my math on this is a current body, a backup that is 4 years old and the 2nd backup to sell would be roughly at 8 years).

Im upgrading from my old D300 (awesome camera) and probably wont sell it ... Im looking forward though to the D800 ...

I still use my old body, so I guess that counts as me keeping it!

D40. Still using it till I run it into the ground.

Keeping older bodies makes sense if you are a hobbyist with lots of free money. Those that don't sell the old camera to help fund the new one, nothing wrong with that. If I wanted a backup I'd prefer two of the same bodies, to prevent any confusion in button layout.

spraynpray said:
"am i the only one who keeps old bodies?"

Man, I wish I could get rid of this old body - my eyes are going, my knees ain't great and my skin would be OK as parchment. Now if I had a backup body....

Seriously, I would like to keep my D90 as a backup to (hopefully) a D400, but I need to liquidate the money in it.

Same here, but I plan to keep my D5000.

Once I get my D4, my wife wants me to try to sell the D700 and get a D7000 to have as a second camera..

"am i the only one who keeps old bodies?"

Man, I wish I could get rid of this old body - my eyes are going, my knees ain't great and my skin would be OK as parchment. Now if I had a backup body....

Seriously, I would like to keep my D90 as a backup to (hopefully) a D400, but I need to liquidate the money in it.

So I'm not a professional. I dont make any money from my photography. Its a hobby for me and my wife. I make money from my primary profession and spend it on gear i have no right to by. :)

That being said, I currently have as my primary body a d300, but I still use my prior body a d2h as my backup. Its not nearly as good, of course, but depending what Im shooting, and if theres enough light, I can still get good photos from it. Im thinking of upgrading to either a d700 or d800 (d700 probably). But here's the thing... im not planning to get rid of my d300. I couldnt get much money for it. But I always hear about people selling their bodies. While part of me gets it, part of me is honestly confused. Is the amount you get really worth selling a body? why not have a backup? Or a second shot if it can be controlled wirelessly (or another photographer)

Im honestly curious. Even as a hobby photographer, i like having backup cameras.