Do We REALLY Need The Latest And Greatest???

Respectfully, I think the question should've been "Do I REALLY Need The Latest And Greatest???"  If one just takes snapshots while lounging around the house and/or in decent light and don't particularly care for the quality then yes, they probably can get something cheap that will satisfy their particular needs.  But for people who look to get the best quality out of their equipment and time invested, the upgrade is often necessary.  Now, I am not advocating for everyone to dump their gear to get the latest version the second it hits the stores either.  Basically, the word "need" should be examined and applied not towards the gear but towards what you're looking to accomplish (i.e. better low light performance, better built, etc.)  Though I'm sure some folks get the new camera just for the new camera smell, others (and I would hope the majority) get it because they actually need it.

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I lug my photo equipment everywhere. Is it heavy? Sure. Is it uncomfortable and cumbersome? Absolutely. Is it often an inconvenience? You bet. But is it all worth it? Maybe.