JohnnyRottenNJ Loc: Northern New Jersey

Hi;
I have been mulling around the idea of going to a mirrorless DSLR. I understand the consequences. It means buying all new lenses, etc. Currently, I have a Nikon D500 with only about 10,000 snaps on the shutter, and about a half dozen various lenses. Over time I went from a Nikon D200 to a D300 to a D7000 (I used that as a back up to the D300) and finally went to the D500. I can't say that I'm unhappy with the D500. It takes excellent photos and I have had no issues with it.
My thought is this: Going forward, in not too many years down the road, ALL new cameras will be mirrorless. When that day comes, existing cameras will be worth something less than what they are worth today.
Since going mirrorless will entail getting all new lenses, it frees me to look at other camera manufacturers.
The three top contenders IMHO are: Nikon, Canon and Sony. I do a fair amount of indoor photography where I can't use a flash, so I need a camera with a decent ISO rating.
I guess the only other deciding factor is what type of trade in I can get on my current equipment. I'm looking for suggestions, with pro and cons various models. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Budget? You want a RollsRoyce or VW?

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Sony is the way to go, from a Nikon user who has a Nikon Z7.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You've probably been listening too closely to the wrong people ... Your D500 could easily be the last camera you need this lifetime, certainly it's barely used at 10,000 clicks. But, we all know the grass is always greener when captured with a mirrorless camera.

Consider your current Nikon lenses and whether you want to dump them all or retain DX lenses on a cropped Z50 or FX lenses on the various Nikon FF mirrorless options. After a lifeline of Nikon, the reasons to change to another brand are not compelling, unless again, you've been listening too closely to the wrong people.

Photomac Loc: The Dalles, Or

i am interested in buying your D500. Sold mine several years ago and worst mistake I've made photographically speaking of course.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

As always, well said, Paul. Unless the OP is about 13y/o and only takes <5000 pics per year, that D500 should last a lifetime. GAS rears its ugly head.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

BTW, a DSLR means it has a mirror flipping in front of the sensor / film aka the R in reflex mirror. Your new term will be MILC - mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera. Those mirrors are the chains holding back our photography.

BebuLamar

I don't think they make mirrorless DSLR though. And old camera is likely worth less than when it was new but the fact when DSLR is no longer made may make it more valuable.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Here is an excerpt from a reply I offered to a similar inquiry a few days ago:

...The fact is that the D500 remains an apex camera capable of just about anything you ask it to do, if you are competent with it. I have looked at the Nikon mirrorless camera system in depth and in detail, and it is not that, at least not yet. Yes...the lenses are, on paper, at least, a little bit better, but in truth, the difference doesn't matter. There are some convenient features available on the mirrorless cameras, but the hard truth is that if you will take the time to read the manual and learn how your camera works, you can do <at least> 90% of what the new cameras offer with functions built in to your D500, using the Live View system and other capabilities.

Both the new cameras and the lenses carry between a 20% and 40% price penalty over comparable DSLR hardware...more in some cases. If your life is driven by specifications, you can probably justify the additional expense. If it is driven by visible results, there is no way to justify the added cost.

I have a couple of D500s, which I still love, as well as a D810 and a D850. The D500s are the busiest. Images captured are indistinguishable from those taken with the D850, which is also an apex camera. The D500 will do about 95% of what the D850 can do. Most of the difference is because of inherent differences provided by the full frame sensor. The remainder is because there are a couple of really cool new functions available on the D850 but not the D500.

I would never tell anyone else which camera to keep or which camera to buy, just as I would never ask anyone else which camera I should buy. But be thoughtful and careful. And beware of advice received here. By the time everyone has responded, you will get every answer possible, including "yes," "no," and "maybe."

repleo Loc: Boston

Although I am a devout mirrorless devotee, I have to say your rationale for switching sounds like a thinly veiled bout of GAS. However, there is nothing wrong with that. Since you are thinking long term, Nikon is a poor bet. If you read Nikon's own business reports, you will find that their camera division has been skating on thin ice for some time. Nikon's turn-around business plan called for the camera division to contribute 20 billion Yen in profit for each of the last three years. So far, the division is heading for over 20 billon Yen LOSS in each of the three years.
The Nikon camera brand name has value, but it may well be sold off to some unknown manufacturer if it is to survive at all.

Sony is the way to go for mirrorless. They have a over five years head start on the other two and are the technology leaders. They are producing superb lenses at three different price points and are a world leader in sensor development and manufacturing. Sony is a strong company. The bulk of their profits come from entertainment and movies. They leverage the technology from their high end professional movie and broadcasting equipment down to their consumer level camera models. Nikon and Canon are leveraging their camera and lens technologies to diversify away from cameras.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

With the wrong camera, success is probably 99% luck. But with a mirrorless camera, it's 100% the photographer.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

While I understand your wanting to move to mirrorless, the D500 is probably the finest APS-C DSLR camera on the market today. Without a doubt, the future is going to most likely mirrorless, however, your D500 should last for years, and there is no indication that the D500 is a fault-ridden camera. You no doubt have a lot of money invested in Nikon lenses and you would take a big hit on trade in. What you would get would aid in building up a set of lenses for a new camera, it won’t be cheap. Good lenses for a mirrorless camera are expensive. You could regret making that move. But of course, it’s all about what you want to do with your hobby.

Just as a suggestion, if you have a lot of DX lenses already, consider the Nikon D50. It’s a great mirrorless camera, and with the FTZ adapter you can use all your present lenses on it. It’s very reasonably priced and the two kit lenses for it are billed as being very good lenses, unlike many other kit lenses.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

You won't get much (what they could be worth to you) trading in a body or lens.

I suggest hanging on to them and simply adding a Z6 or Z7 with an FTZ adapter. Then you would have two excellent cameras.

The only lenses that won't work would be any DX versions. And if you have a lens that needs the autofocus to be run by the camera you will need to focus manually which is not as bad as it sounds depending on your subject matter.

This way you may not need any new lenses at all and the menus will be familiar. Sony's menus are a little awkward.

Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

I went from Nikon to Fuji a few years back. No regrets at all.
The jpegs SOOC are amazing, I’m so not into sitting for hours editing.
Also panorama mode fabulous, no stitching them together myself it does it in camera.
I can shoot in 3 different modes at one time, ie: Vivid, Crome, Soft Astia.
Have fun deciding.

williejoha

Paul, as usual you hit the nail right on the head. My DSLR’s will last me for the rest of my shooting life. They do everything I need them to do.
WJH