dbjazz Loc: Long Island, NY

Stick with Canon. You already have the lenses.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog Sandy, enjoy.

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

Will you still be able to say that when the DSLR's "hit" greater than 100MP, eh ?

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Reading your post made me chuckle! The demise of the DSLR -- wow. I'm not saying your opinion is right or wrong, just really thought provoking. Think about this for a minute: The 35mm film camera was invented before WWI -- I, not II. It gained a great deal of popularity after WWII when G.I.s brought European and Japanese cameras home to America. From the mid 40's up to around 2000, the 35mm SLR was largely unchanged. Sure, along the way light meters were added and improved on and a small computer was put in so that multiple meter readings could be taken and averaged and then in the last stages auto focus was added. The film transport and basic operation of the SLR was virtually the same for nearly 60 years! Heck, in 2000, most of us were still loading our cameras with the little yellow canisters from Kodak, green canisters from Fuji, or orange/red canisters from Agfa! Now in only about 20 years the DSLR has gone from the biggest revolution in photography to a has been. I agree that mirror-less is the wave of the future but I still like my DSLRs. A lot of people talk about the lighter more transportable mirror-less cameras but I like the heft and solid feel of my D750 and D810. I would like to see someone come out with a mirror-less system without miniaturizing them.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding. First, I agree that there are outstanding DSLRs on the market. You own two of them, and then of course there is the outstanding D850 flagship. I am not arguing that these are bad cameras all of a sudden. If you like your DSLR, keep liking it. It has not become less likeable overnight. What I am arguing is that the mechanical elements in the DSLR make it impossible to integrate the technological advances of mirrorless cameras into DSLRs. Nikon and Canon get this which is whey they put all their energies into creating full-frame mirrorless cameras. I think that investment into DSLR technology will gradually dry up over the next few years, and the DSLR will slowly fade into the sunset.

Second, the true revolution of the DSLR was in the "D"--the digital part. Ths SLRs have been around for a long time. I started shooting with a Cosina Hi-Life in the 1970s. I have no nostalgic feelings for feeding rolls of plastic into my camera. I like my pics from the 70s because this is how I saw the world in the 70s, not because of their IQ. I do not wish to have 70s technology back. I occasionally strap my old lenses onto my Sony A7 III, but a look at the pictures on the computer screen quickly cures my bouts of nostalgia.

Third, the DSLR is not going away, just the "SLR" part of it--the "D" stays. So this is the logical conclusion of the digital revolution that entered photography with the DSLR twenty years ago. Mirrorless merely is completing a revolution begun by the DSLR.

Fourth, you "like the heft and solid feel of my D750 and D810." That sounds a bit masochistic to me. I am sure this is not a problem if you keep your camera on a tripod in your studio. I travel a lot, and the weight and size of a camera matters a lot to me, both in terms of maximum airline cabin luggage and in terms of how much equipment I want to lug around on a day of shooting in Lima, Istanbul or on a hike in Texas. Taking my Sony A7 III with my tiny Sony/Zeiss 35mm on a flea market shoot in Berlin last month was truly liberating. I know that many here consider carrying around a D850 a badge of manliness, but this does not give me pleasure. Carrying a small, excellent mirrorless camera with a couple of small primes does.

I completely get where you are coming from. You enjoy the DSLRs you have, and so you should. They are amazing cameras and will be so in five years. Keep in mind that my comment was geared towards the OP's question. My point was that if you do not have any lenses you want to keep and if you are not wedded to any particular system you should look at mirrorless.

3dees

I switched from Canon to Nikon when the D300 came out. been happy ever since but no reason for you to switch if your happy with Canon. both are fine cameras. spend the money on better glass. you can upgrade the camera later.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Sandy, I am just going to welcome you to UHH. The Nikon vs Canon vs Pentax vs Sony arguments go on forever. What fits my hands and what I like you might hate. Sift thru the information you get, do your research, go handle the camera (s) you think might work for you and go from there.
Have fun, learn and enjoy the forum.

Don

Sandytravels

Not taking your tone as snarky. Was looking at submitting my initial three shots to Alamy stock. Only then did I understand that if I cropped really at all, the photo size from my Rebel T5i dropped below the 17 minimum threshold for submission.

Sandytravels

I am taking your remonstrations to heart. 🙂

Sandytravels

Thanks for taking the time to address my question. I did just purchase the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and will have delivery in a couple of days. I can’t afford a telephoto right now but am interested in one for the future. You say the Canon 600 mm is not sufficient for birds. What do you use?

Sandytravels

Thanks for taking the time to address my question. I know that your words are wise. I am embarrassed to think of the amazing places I have traveled to that I will never be able to return to to recapture better photos. I have ordered the Canon 5D Mark IV which will be delivered in a couple of days. I ordered the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM as the kit lens. Any special advice on improving my technique. I have lots of resources and a new determination to improve. Thanks for the kick in the booty 😉

Sandytravels

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

Sandytravels

Hi, Lauren. Thanks for taking your time to answer my question. I actually ordered the 5D Mark IV and will get delivery this week. Earlier posters reminded me that this new camera will not fix my problems if I don’t increase my knowledge base and techniques. I know I have the “old dog/new tricks” issue. I will improve!!!!🙃

ggab Loc: ?

I wish I could order a 5d MK IV!
Congratulations on your purchase.

Diocletian

Go Sony!!!