Finally bit the bullet and purchased a "real" DSLR.

My parameters were based on-
Budget - didn't have thousands of bucks for this (or even a single thousand)
Sensor size - I wanted the largest sensor I could afford
Viewfinder - HAD to have a good viewfinder

So, all full-frames were too expensive, had to settle on APS-C.
I liked mirrorless models, but mirrorless with good (or any) viewfinders were out of budget.

Several months of research later, I found a terrific deal on a Nikon D5500, direct from Nikon USA with a two-lens kit, $599 - I jumped on it....

Took delivery yesterday, and initially I'm pleased.
It's got a little size and heft to it, and a good hand grip.
Gotta keep in mind, I'm a 70 year old dude who's cranked film since the 1950's, with completely manual cameras. I'm used to holding 5 pounds of glass and steel in front of my face, and I have big hands. So I'm pleased it's not tiny, the shutter has that reassuring SLR clunk.
The EVF is real good, IMO, very usable. Has a good diopter adjustment too.

Then I downloaded the 402-page manual.........seriously ??!!!
Could they make it more complicated you think??
Remember, I'm used to an aperture ring on the lens, shutter speed and ASA dials, and that's it. I never even used a light meter, I knew my film so well I never needed one.

OK, that's the world we live in now. So I'm currently wading through the manual, trying to figure out what all this "stuff" does. I'm sure I'll never use 90% of it, but......
Thankfully there is a full-manual mode as a bail-out for me, should I get frustrated and need a break from it all.

Slapped in a charged battery and a 64 gig chip. Ordered a few (what I feel) necessary filters, a UV for lens protection, a circular polarizer, and (my all-time favorite) an 81B.

Haven't really taken any photos yet, still familiarizing myself, but feeling optimistic.

Wish me luck........I feel like a raw neophyte, despite decades of experience.