Bluebird siblings looking for Mom or Dad.

Several birds visiting my yard

(Download)

Tell that to Ansel Adams…

The best camera is the one you use.
I don’t see end-result picture quality all that much different for mirrorless over fakes.

I can’t see spend thousands on a new setup especially since my 90D, in live view, performs as well or better than mirrorless models including Canon’s own!

I’m thinking this debate of DSLR vs mirrorless is nothing but a marketing gimmick thought up by the big camera mfrs to drum up mediocre sales forecasts…

It’s not the gear it’s the gear’s user that creates great photography.

Indeed!

Never said one word about any smartphone, IPhone or other, as a serious photographic tool.
The poster seemed to have issues with the purchase of older tech DSLRs over newer tech mirrorless cameras.

I was explaining the rationale behind some persons, including me, who prefer DSLRs.

BTW, I own a Canon 90D which, in Live-view mode, can effectively compete with many mirrorless cameras including Canon’s entries!

I grew up on film SLR cameras. I’m used to the format so it was an easy switch to DSLR.
In my psychological makeup, I’m equating mirrorless with rangefinders which is a step back.

Bluebird family! They sure like freeze dried mealworms (with calcium supplement added).
St Augustine, FL

Great blue herons in flight: St Augustine FL.

Great blue herons in flight in St Augustine FL

As someone said, knowing the three basics of the exposure triangle covers 90% of what you need to know.
Just the fact that I can change the ISO on each picture is a giant leap forward.

Photoscape X. Be sure you download the version with the “X”. It is free, very feature rich and has a ton of tutorials.
The Photoscape sans X is good, intuitive but not as feature-rich.

I went to slides because I was young & couldn’t afford color prints. Had to wait then set time to use projector to see they sucked.
Most 35mm slr’s didn’t have capability to switch rolls so you were stuck with whatever ISO/ASA for 24-36 pictures. That sucked too.

Be sure to have the dog comfortable with and around you. Just because you CAN use a fast f/stop for bokeh doesn’t mean you should take the picture at the fastest f/stop possible. Focus on the eyes, but make sure your depth of field is wide enough to capture what you envision.
Be aware that direct eye contact with critters could be conceived by them as a threat, hence, see my very first sentence.

Previous serious interest in film photography, to the point where I was considering it a career & nearly attended The New School in NYC; then I got married & decided the family would need to eat & have a roof. I was busy elsewhere, film photography was an expensive hobby.
I came back to using an SLR when my first granddaughter was born about 8 years ago, but in a digital medium vs. film. The application of the exposure triangle, principles of composition and use of flash from film to digital was relatively easy; the freedom afforded by digital over film was refreshing, but I’m still learning digital editing.
In short, I’m back into photography and still learning. This old dog is happily learning new tricks.