Bubbee Loc: Aventura, Florida

I just switched from my wonderful Nikon D7100 DSLR to the incredible mirrorless Nikon Z50, which is also smaller and lighter for small lady hands. I think it would be a great first!

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

I would disagree with that. When I switched from a Canon DSLR to a Nikon DSLR years ago, there was a learning curve. Switching from Nikon DSLR to Sony mirrorless was not any harder. Getting to know a different system involves a learning curve, regardless. It is a fallacy to believe that mirrorless cameras are inherently harder to learn than DSLRs. If you are a true beginner, why learn a DSLR system that already is technologically obsolete? So my advice would be to stay away from DSLRs and go with a mirrorless system that still is going to be around in five years.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

You weren’t a true novice when you switched so you could ignore the whistles and bells that you didn’t need and just focus on those that you would use or new ones that would improve your technique. I disagree that DSLR's will be obsolete in 5 years. They are system cameras with a much wider range of accessories and it will take mirrorless a while to meet that standard.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

My Nikon D7100 had bells and whistles that I did not understand. Frankly, so does my present Sony A7R III.

All I am saying that if you are a novice, it makes no difference if you are learning a DSLR or a MILC system. Learning a new system will take an effort. So you might as well learn a system that is going to be around for a while.

DSLRs are obsolete now. Neither Nikon nor Canon have issued a new DSLR model in the past four years. And they likely will never do so anymore. If you have a good DSLR now, keep using it. But it would be foolish to advise a novice to invest in a DSLR system in 2022.

Range of accessories? You can get anything your heart desires for the Sony and Fuji mirrorless systems, and Canon and Nikon mirrorless are catching up fast. Sadly, so many die-hard defenders of DSLRs are poorly informed about mirrorless systems.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

You make good points.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I completely agree that you want to look at mirrorless rather than DSLR at this point. First you want to determine whether you want full frame, ASP-C, (crop sensor), or Micro Four Thirds. Generally with DSLR’s most people started with crop sensor cameras with some eventually moving to FF but many staying with crop. With mirrorless crop sensors your choices are somewhat limited. Nikon has the Z50, which has been suggested and you can get a pretty good deal on a two lens set up. Canon has a crop camera, I think it’s their M mount, but they developed a new mount for FF and I don’t think they’re gonna do any more development on the M mount and if they do release another crop camera it will probably have the R mount their FF uses. For FF Nikon has several models, entry level being the Z5 and working through Z6, Z6II, Z7, Z7II up to their recently released “pro” camera, the Z9. Canon’s closest to entry level is the R6, followed by the R5 and pro level R3, with a rumored R1 in the works. I shoot Nikon and after working my way up through their crop sensor DSLR’s went with mirrorless when I moved to FF. I love my Z7 except for wildlife, as the focus tracking isn’t as good as some others. I’m eagerly waiting for my Z9. All that being said, don’t sleep on M4/3. Both Olympus and Panasonic make great cameras that can share lenses. For still photography I prefer Olympus for still photography while Panasonic really excels at video, but both are very capable of either. I got into M4/3 when I was looking for something for kayaking because my Nikon D500 with the 200-500mm lens was way too unwieldy in a kayak. It also was a lifesaver in the Bahamas when I had to fly on a puddle jumper and my total luggage was limited to 44 lbs. My Nikon gear would’ve taken half of the total.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Good morning Lucy, and welcome to the forum. As you see, there is a lot of energy around the new mirrorless camera designs versus the traditional Digital Single Lens Reflex designs. Most of what is advanced about both types of cameras is true, but it is like the truth as used by a good debate team...designed to make you come to the same position as the person making the argument. I would suggest a different approach.

You haven't told us what you like to take pictures of, nor have you told us how much money is available in your budget. With that in mind, here is what I suggest:

All of the major manufacturers make cameras that are far beyond just serviceable. I would not make my initial choice based on brand at all. But keep in mind that once you do make that choice, your most economical and logical path forward will remain with that brand. It may or may not remain with the technology you have chosen. In my case, way back in 2006, when I finally decided that photography using a medium other than silver-based film was OK, I read and studied and compared and chose the camera that I wanted. It was the Canon EOS 10D. I was absolutely certain of and confident in my decision. So I went to my local camera shop with money in my pocket to buy that camera. But when I got there and said what I wanted, the sales person asked whether I had considered a similar but different camera, made by a different manufacturer. I said I'd read about it but wanted the Canon. He asked if I'd at least look at it, and I agreed. Turned out that the Nikon D200 had a physical layout that was much better suited to me, as well as a menu structure that was much more logical to me, for about the same price. I happily chose that instead and have been very happy about that choice ever since.

I suggest that you consider the choice between DSLR and mirrorless much the same way. Yes, there is a difference. Is it important? Maybe. How important is it? It depends.

{By the way, you probably need to know that I use multiple different Nikon DSLRs, both recent models and older ones (some very much older). These are both entry-level and advanced models. I have no intention of switching to mirrorless in the future, but I am considering buying a mirrorless camera to convert to infrared photography.}

So...my suggestion is that you plan a visit to a local camera store. Inspect and play with a variety of cameras of multiple brands. If you are confident that you are serious about photography, I suggest that you avoid the entry-level models. If you are really interested in learning the science and craft of photography, you will find that the more advanced models will facilitate doing that more easily. In particular, choose a camera with two control dials (front and back). Many entry-level cameras have only a single control (or command) dial. I find that to be a critical limitation in learning and applying the principles of photography. It will work, but will become an annoyance pretty quickly.

One final word about the whole mirrorless thing. Mirrorless cameras offer some pretty neat functions and capabilities that make photography "easier." If you want to focus on your artistic vision and not worry about the mechanics and technicalities of photography, these capabilities could be a big benefit to you. But if, as you state, you really do want to learn the science and craft of photography, they are much less important.

What about buying used equipment? I think that this is not a great idea for new photographers. The two problems are that you usually don't get all of the accessories that originally came with the camera, and you many times do not get the manual. Manual quality varies greatly, but a manual is the first stop when you have a question about how your camera is supposed to work. Many manuals can be downloaded, but the resulting format is generally not as useful as the original printed version.

So keep us posted on what you learn and what you decide. Good luck.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog, Lucy, enjoy.

MDI Mainer

I would concur in this analysis. Between the "crop sensor" and "full frame" models from Sony you can find a great camera that will fit almost any realistic budget. If you want to stretch the budget, you might consider a lightly used model from one of the big dealers like MPB, which will come with a 7-day return period and a 6-month warranty. For example the A7ii is still a good selection for a full frame body (especially for still vs. video), and much less expensive than a newer model.

For what it's worth, almost if not all of the big news agencies around the world have gone over to using Sony equipment.

Cameradecision.com will let you do a custom, side-by-side comparison between any two cameras that you're interested in. For example:

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Sony-Alpha-A7-IV-vs-Sony-Alpha-A7-II

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Canon AE-1. I think a similar slogan goes that far back. From what I have seen in friends cameras, I'd agree that Canon menus are more intuitive than Nikon's, or Sony or Fuji for that matter. Seems Canon and Pentax have similar menus in many ways.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

And I find the Nikon menus and ergonomics much more to my liking than Canon. I’m definitely not a huge fan of Sony’s menus.

photoman43

Either a DSLR or a mirrorless camera and a all purpose zoom lens.

For DSLRs, something like this from Canon or Nikon

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1461734-REG/canon_2727c002_eos_rebel_t7_dslr.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1433064-REG/nikon_1590_d3500_dslr_camera_with.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1308819-REG/nikon_d5600_dslr_camera_with.html

photoman43

Either a DSLR or a mirrorless camera and a all purpose zoom lens.

For DSLRs, something like this from Canon or Nikon

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1461734-REG/canon_2727c002_eos_rebel_t7_dslr.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1433064-REG/nikon_1590_d3500_dslr_camera_with.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1308819-REG/nikon_d5600_dslr_camera_with.html

Dwiggy Loc: Dunedin, FL

Purchase a used Canon DSLR like a 50D or up to an 80D. They are rather inexpensive and will have more settings then you'll ever learn but are intuitive and quite simple to use. Check out ebay, MPB.com, KEH.com and UsedPhotoPro.com (Roberts camera).

mniblick

Welcome aboard LucyLBug

My first suggestion would be to check out some of the excellent apps that give you more control over your phone. You can learn much about camera settings without spending a lot of money.

Then, armed with this knowledge and experience, go to a real brick-and-mortal camera store and have the salesman demonstrate the entry level cameras. Honestly, modern cameras, digital or mirrorless, are so good these days that it is difficult to choose a bad one. Go by how it feels in your hand, if the menu system makes sense to you, and how it fits your budget. Good luck!