imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Mirror less - What you see is what you get VF that even works in very dark ambient light. Less vibration and noise without the moving mirror. Most can AF with f11 apertures ! Less weight, cost and bulk. More FPS - but there can be some lag time in the VF for tracking moving subjects - but no blackout as with optical VF.

For the moment, most mirror cameras have faster/more accurate AF. The optical VF gives a more true to life experience for the photographer.....

I use Sony A77II and A99, Canon 80D
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wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Some people demand an optical viewfinder. I find the advantage of the electronic viewfinder is "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG). And when the light gets too low to see in an optical viewfinder, one can still shoot a while longer with an electronic viewfinder. One has to be careful as to how good the viewfinder is and how long one stays out shooting - you may need a flashlight to find your way back.

The fastest shooting for a DSLR that I know of is 20 frames per second. With shutter unlocked, my camera can shoot 18 frames per second. But with the shutter locked, my camera can shoot 60 frames per second of 20 mp RAW. It also has Pro Capture: it will capture 35 frames before your pressing of the shutter. That way, if one is just a little slow on the trigger, one of the 35 pre shots have probably captured the shot you were trying for. It also means that one has to be careful about the 60 frames per second. You will get the peak shot - along with all the others to edit (it can be set for less than 60).

And now there is one mirrorless camera with artificial intelligence that can actually identify a plane, a car, a helmet, and other objects without the help of the photographer. It will outline the car or plane and follow it across the viewfinder. And as long as the camera can see the object, it will focus on that object even inspite of a wire fence in between.

And then there is the savings in size, weight, and cost. The most savings in these areas occurs with 4/3rds cameras.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida

I have good thoughts for each, I use my 80D for tripod video, and my M50 is now my walk around, at 73 years old, it is much easier to use, and it also has very good video.

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

The OP asked for opinions, and got plenty, I see no need for him (or her) to respond

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Nor an honest or truthful person.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Will you leave behind; deceit les and distortions?

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Let us hope integrity finds you.

Don's Leica Loc: Asheville, NC

My favorite camera is a mirrorless Leica Q. Other digital Leicas I have used are in the mirrorless M series.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Ditto

Collhar Loc: New York City.

????

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Pro for mirrorless: size, weight, excellent image quality, in-camera stabilization, what-you-see-is-what-you-get viewfinder, touchscreen controls. Because I use it more and the wysiwyg view finder, I think I’m a better photographer as a result of making the switch to mirrorless and micro 4/3s.

Nikon d7000 and Olympus e-m5 Mark II (and soon Olympus e-m5 Mark III)

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Both types of cameras are used by many different photographers. That only means that you should use the camera that fits your hands, makes you comfortable and will have the features you need in your photography. But, what about those cameras without a mirror?

First thing first, before beginning to use digital 35mm film cameras had a mirror. When manufacturers began to introduce digital cameras those film cameras were modified to make them digital. In fact, we had a film camera modified to make it digital.
Two companies had a different approach and began to manufacture cameras from a scratch to make them digital. Those companies were Olympus and Panasonic. They introduced the mirrorless M43 system using the same sensor they were using when Olympus introduced their E series cameras, called Fourth Thirds system at the time. Lenses from one company could use lenses from the other adding versatility to the M43 system. Fuji showed interest but that was it.

A mirrorless camera is made smaller, lighter and with more technological features than a dSLR body. For general photography those bodies excel when traveling or hiking because they are small, lighter and fit anywhere. Image quality is superb and they have a good collection of interchangeable lenses, primes and zooms. Mirrorless have become very popular and lots of professional photographers use them.

When it comes to noise a "full frame" dSLR camera does better. The AF system of a dSLR camera is better for action and wildlife although many mirrorless bodies do an excellent job from what I know. I have not used a modern mirrorless body for those purposes so I cannot make any further comments. I do rely on my dSLR bodies for action and wildlife photography. When it comes to technology a mirrorless body blows a dSLR camera out of the water but technology is not everything. Basic and advanced photography is done with a dSLR camera with no significant issues.

I could spend the morning here discussing pros and cons but from my experience both systems will offer excellent images, it all depends on the photographer.
May I recommend that if you have a reputable camera store in your area that you pay them a visit. Let one of the experienced sellers tell you about both systems. Hold the cameras you could be interested in buying in your hands and see if you are comfortable with them. I bet one of them will be to your liking.

Good luck.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The difference between who you are and the photographer you want to be is really just the mirror.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

At the current time I am shooting both Nikon, D5, D850, and D500 and Sony a9. I have, just recently, purchased a used Sony a9 and am getting the Sony 200-600 lens to shoot in Florida wetlands. I will be posting results as I get them, I will be comparing the a9 and the 200-600 with the D850 and D500 with the Nikon 500mm f5.6 lens and also the Nikon 200-500 lens.
I have owned the Sony a77II and a99 in the past.
There are two big advantages to the mirrorless, the fact that you are using an electronic viewfinder and you can see the actual exposure before you shoot, so you can make those small adjustments ahead of time for the perfect exposure. The second big advantage to mirrorless is that you do not need to make any fine tuning adjustments to the focusing of a particular lens as folks do with DSLR.
Personally, I have never had to fine tune one of my Nikon lenses.
As far as a weight advantage for the mirrorless goes, my a9 with the battery grip is about the same weight as my D500. I know a lot of folks say how lite their mirrorless is but I do not believe that is a reason to switch. There is not that much difference in weight. And those guys who say to switch because of weight are girly boys.
As far as size goes, I am 6'3" and have big hands. I am able to hold the a9 OK but personally I would like it to be a little bigger. Also, I like the balance of the D500 with the 200-500 lens attached. It balances nicely in my hands.
I have used the Sony 200-600 on the a9 and found the balance nice. Especially because the 200-600 has the zoom ring toward the front of the lens where I usually like to hold the lens.
One of the minus points for the Sony is the fact that it will run through batteries fast basically because the rear screen is on until you put your eye up to the viewfinder, now, I turn my screen off so the battery drain is not too bad and the a9 has their new battery which they say will last longer, we will see.
The Sony a9 also has a electronic shutter option that makes very little noise, it also can shoot 20 frames a second that is important in wild life photography. I also have the setting for no black out during a motor drive sequence, so it is easier for my to follow my pray while shooting 10-20 frames a second.
With all of this said I still find my Nikon's deliver great results.
So, for now, I will be using both.
The big advantage to my Nikon system is that with the D500 I can put more effective megapixels on my subject than I can with a full frame camera.
Now, this may end with the Sony a7IV because it has a crop sensor of 29 megapixels, BUT, it has a buffering problem.
Advantage Nikon, my Nikon's use the XDQ card, or 440 mb/s verses 170 mb/s with the sandisk extreme UHS I pro card for the Sony. Now I will get the snadisk extreme pro UHS II card at 300 mb/s, this is the card that is recommended for the a9. BUT, buffering is a problem for the Sony's at this time.
I wish Sony had gone with the XDQ card. There may be something down the pike that will address this. SO far the a9 does not have the same buffering problem that the a7IV seems to be having.
So, stay tuned on my experiment.
IMHO, if you do not own a DSLR and a ton of lenses, I would strongly suggest going mirrorless.
If on the other hand, you have a lot of DSLR equipment like me, go slow and make up your own mind. I am in that process now and will be posting results as I go.