You don't have to spend anywhere near that money, though. When you're spending over 2000 dollars, you're at the point where you're either in a very niche categ

You don't have to spend anywhere near that money, though. When you're spending over 2000 dollars, you're at the point where you're either in a very niche category, or you're paying for convenience. At 600 dollars, you can get a full-frame Sony A7ii (used). At that point, you can get a 30$ adapter and use manual lenses, and you'll get a very competent collection from 24mm all the way to a 135mm 2.8 for an additional ~500$. This will last you forever, but you won't have any autofocus. If you want autofocus, you can spend 150$ on a used EF-E adapter, and buy a 50 1.8 for 100$, the venerable 80-200 2.8 for 400$ or so, and a normal zoom for 200-400$ (I got the Tamron 28-75 for 200$). At that point, you'll get essentially any image you could want, at a stellar quality, for 1500$ or so, with autofocus and image stabilization. Past that point, you're either trying to do something extremely specific, or paying for more convenience. The gear itself will outlast you if you don't do anything stupid with it, and you will get more image quality than you can ask for, and absolute and complete control over every step of the photographic process, for less than the price of an iPhone 13 Pro Max. And if in ten years you get tired of it, you can sell it for at least half the price you paid for it.