6 Reasons to Stick with a DSLR and One Reason Not To

Good article Nando,
And as an addition; I still find it very pleasant to look at the subject through the glass instead of at a screen (on the back or in the viewfinder).

For the past six months (after more than 16 years with a Pentax K10D) I have been using a Pentax K3III with an amazing viewfinder. I still maintain that you take photos with the camera to your eye so that your head and camera become one. Better for stability and your focus on the subject. An added advantage: I can continue using all the accessories from my old camera...

Nice to read such an article because you really do put the dot on the i.
The weight of the whole thing is always a bit of an issue for me, but you learn quickly by doing. In addition, I have to say that the new functionalities sometimes do make you wonder. On the other hand, it is very important to keep thinking realistically about how you make the images. At the same time, it also creates a challenge when looking for the right possibilities should you 'miss' something.

I thought so already, but now I know for sure. I can go on for years with my D850s. Perfect is good enough for a very long time! Thanks!

With, among others, the mirrorless Nikon Z8, the lenses have a larger diameter.
Just listing the advantages of such lenses.
A larger lens diameter makes it possible to create lenses with a higher maximum aperture (such as f/1.2 or f/0.95).
This provides:
•Better performance in low light (higher shutter speeds, less noise).•
- More bokeh effect due to a shallower depth of field.
2. Better image quality (less aberration and distortion)
The larger diameter allows optical designers to create better lens constructions with:
• Less chromatic aberration (colors spreading around edges).
• Less distortion, especially with wide-angle lenses.
• Better sharpness across the entire image, even in the corners.
3. More efficient light transmission (less vignetting)
With a smaller lens diameter, light is sometimes cut off at the edges, which can lead to vignetting (dark corners in the image). A larger diameter helps direct the light to the sensor more efficiently.
4. Suitable for larger sensors in the future
Although the Nikon Z8 has a full-frame sensor, a larger optical system could in the future be compatible with larger sensors or higher resolutions without loss of quality.
Conclusion
Lenses with a larger diameter, such as those on the Nikon Z8, can provide better image quality, better performance in low light and fewer optical aberrations. This is especially noticeable with professional prime lenses such as the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S or the Noct 58mm f/0.95 S, which benefit optimally from the large Z mount.

I let myself be driven crazy by all that advertising can throw away everything that fit on the nikon 5600 afterwards dead dead sins,

I've never had so much fun with my Sony A7r5 and G Master lenses. So much lighter (and smaller) than those from Canon or Nikon. It costs a bit, but then you get something for it.

In 2012 I bought myself a Nikon D800. In 2014 I added a Nikon V1, which was already a system camera. In 2018 a Fuji XT2, XE2 and X100T followed because they are lighter to take along when going out. For a month now I have owned a Nikon D500, indeed because it was very affordable. So yes, why those Fujis? GAS for sure, I think.

Liesbeth Verkade wrote on Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 13:44  | reply

Nice to hear a counterpoint about mirrorless!
I bought an Eos 90D 4 1/2 years ago and am still very happy with it, but all those messages sometimes made me doubt. Now I can simply use the lenses from my old 500D, so no additional purchase.
I prefer to use the viewfinder. It seems as if I have more control then. But the tilting screen is a godsend now that I am no longer as mobile.
I see no reason to switch to mirrorless.

You can download the manual as a PDF file on your smartphone. Then you always have it at hand.

Okay. The Sony camera is indeed somewhat lighter, but for example the difference between the two 24-70 (GM and RF) lenses is more than 200 grams in Sony's favor.

To be honest, I am happy with the switch to mirrorless. The AF of my R7 is much better than that on my previous 70d and 80d. The IBIS also contributes to better sharpness in my photos. The aids for manual focusing also help me to see better what is and is not in focus. With the DSLR I had problems focusing because of my eyes. Now with my R7 that problem no longer exists. A big difference is also that the mirrorless always focuses at the level of the image sensor. With the DSLR this happens via a separate sensor just behind the mirror. The latter can lead to having to calibrate a lens/camera combination if you suffer from front or back focus.
A mirrorless camera should never be calibrated for that problem.
I have noticed that RF lenses are generally still lighter in weight than EF lenses.
For me, the switch to mirrorless is clearly an improvement.
But you are right, Nando, with your argument if you look at it in general. For people like me, in my specific case, the switch is a good thing.

People often buy a much too expensive camera compared to what they are capable of. What is an amateur supposed to do with a camera costing, for example, 4000 euros plus.
Rather spend your money on a proper education. And then take a look at that one expensive fast lens. Jealousy is often the driving force underlying that.

I am very happy with my Canon R5. I am a portrait photographer and often take photos on location in churches, castles and other old buildings. There is usually little light there and the camera performs brilliantly in those conditions. In the studio it is a little less important because I work with flash and LED light there, although I do think the eye detection is really fantastic. Always works perfectly. So for me it is a real improvement compared to the DSLRs I have had.

No, that's not what I'm claiming. They are excellent lenses; I've worked with them too. Now I'm working with S lenses again. Before this I had a Nikon D850, but now a Nikon Z8. For the kind of photos I take, that is a major improvement in terms of autofocus, especially regarding speed, precision and tracking - and much more.

The difference in weight can sometimes be considerable. I switched from a Nikon D7500 to a Sony Alfa 7CR. Instead of my brilliant superzoom 16-300 APSC I now work with an APSC lens 18-135. But it makes an enormous difference in weight and dimensions. If I could still lug around a lot of weight, I would have been better off sticking with my Nikon for my photos. But it became too heavy.

It’s all relative of course, Nando.
In my case, specifically regarding Nikon (I also work with Leica mirrorless)
One more thing:
Advantages of a larger lens diameter (Z-mount vs. F-mount)
Better autofocus? Because Z lenses are specifically designed for mirrorless cameras, they work faster and more precisely with the on-sensor AF technology of the Z8, compared to F lenses on a D850, which still uses a separate phase-detection sensor.
The larger lens diameter of the Z-mount offers optical and technical advantages, especially with fast and wide-angle lenses. As a result, the Z8 gets more potential out of new lens designs than the D850 with F lenses.

Willie Kiek wrote on Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 21:10  | reply

I’m still happy that I traded in my 5Ds for the R6. It’s great in low light. I didn’t think I’d be carrying so much weight, but in the end I also bought a battery grip. Because I thought I was going to use my EF lenses, I bought an adapter as well. I traded those lenses in too and I’m very happy with the RF lenses.
Now I’ve been looking enviously at R5 users for a while, who can crop better afterwards, handy with nature photos. So I thought about buying the R5 Mk2. But, it’s quite expensive. I was advised to wait for the R6 Mk3, trade in the R6 and buy a second-hand R5 because they might be offered cheaply soon.
Not long ago someone advised me to buy a (good) second-hand R3 and keep the R6. The R3 also has a number of nice options. Pffft, choices, choices. (I’m still happy with my R6.)

Great article. I can totally relate to it.

My previous camera was a Canon 5D mk II. I used it for about 10 years. Great camera, only I thought the autofocus could be better. The middle focus point worked fine, the other 8 just so-so.

For a good year now I have been using a Canon R6 mk II. The sublime autofocus capabilities of mirrorless cameras, regardless of the brand, convinced me. And all the other extra features and improvements were a nice bonus.

I usually use the viewfinder, but often the flip-out screen as well. Taking photos from stomach height is less noticeable, and gives a different, often better, perspective.

With my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS (first generation) I occasionally get blurry photos. The sharpness is then not where the camera / raw file indicates it should be. I suspect this is because the autofocus in this older lens is too slow for this modern camera. Replacing it with its RF successor is quite expensive, so I am still undecided.

You can also use your old lenses on a mirrorless, you know. In fact, they seem to get a bit better.
And both EF and EF-S lenses fit on the R.

Because the new mirrorless cameras are true ISO monsters, I now shoot with lenses with an f4 aperture throughout the entire range instead of f2.8 and that really saves a serious amount of weight. Not having to lug that weight around increases my enjoyment of photography enormously and does not outweigh a little more DOF.

Good day, the only thing that is increasingly starting to bother me is (especially in nature) the noise that the Camara (Sony A500) makes when taking photographs. Which somewhat ruins the enjoyment of nature photos.

What a great article Nando, with a wonderfully down-to-earth tone. Cameras are just like phones. A thousand and one possibilities, of which you generally only use a number on a regular basis. My Sony A77II from 2015 has an excellent electronic viewfinder with translucent mirror technology. The 79-point AF system, with 15 cross-type points, is sufficient for me to take wonderful shots.
The technical possibilities I use a lot, such as face recognition and focus peaking, were already added to this camera by Sony 10 years ago. The continuous autofocus is fast enough for me as an amateur photographer to take beautiful action shots. All in all, very satisfied with this camera, which has more than enough functions and speed to enjoy for years to come. I would rather spend that money on a good second-hand lens than on a new camera.