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Given that pretty much every company besides Pentax has ditched DSLRs in favour of mirrorless, you might be wondering if it’s still worth getting one. Well, it’s a tricky one to answer and only you know your own needs.
But this video from Mattias Burling at Gear doesn’t matter shows us five reasons why might still want to consider buying one. He specifically highlights the Nikon D850 (buy here) in the video, although these arguments can apply to many other DSLRs, too.
Why would you still buy a DSLR in 2024?
It might feel like DSLRs are obsolete in 2024, six years after the last hold-outs (besides Pentax) announced that they were switching to mirrorless. But are they really? I mean, yes, in the sense that camera manufacturers aren’t making or really supporting them anymore. But also not in the sense that they can still shoot images that are just as good as any mirrorless camera.
While I can’t say that I fully agree with everything mentioned here, Mattias does make some great points.
Pro cameras at enthusiast prices – As DSLRs are being offloaded as photographers switch to mirrorless, the used market is being flooded with relatively inexpensive high-level cameras. You’re able to get a lot more for your money. And while mirrorless has definitely taken the lead on video, DSLRs keep up just fine in 99% of use cases for stills.
Lenses – The same holds true of lenses. As users switch from EF to RF and from F to Z, the used market is being flooded, driving down the prices. But it’s not just the prices but the selection available. Canon released over 200 lenses for EF mount and Nikon released over 400 for F mount over the years. That’s not including third parties. Of course, these lenses can be adapted to mirrorless, too.
Optical Viewfinder – For some, myself included, you still can’t beat an optical viewfinder. Electronic viewfinders have become much better over the years, but I still prefer looking through an optical viewfinder.
Ergonomics – We’re still in the early days of mirrorless cameras and it feels like a lot of manufacturers are still trying to figure out the ergonomics of mirrorless bodies. DSLRs had two decades of development in this area and are generally more comfortable for many people to hold, especially those with larger hands. Your mileage may vary on this one, though.
The sound and feel – The mirror slap and shutter sound lets you know that you’ve really shot a photo vs the silent mirrorless cameras with electronic shutters. Even ones that play a fake shutter sound just don’t feel the same.
That last one doesn’t really bother me too much, although it does let you know that you’ve taken the shot. I’ve used several mirrorless cameras with electronic shutters and no audible alert that a shot has been taken.
Sometimes, absolute silence is a necessity. And when it is, mirrorless is your only option. Unless you’re paying attention, though, it’s easy to miss that you’ve actually shot a photo. It’s also easy to miss shooting a photo when you think you’ve got it.
My Nikon DSLR & SLR collection as of 2018 – I’ve added a few more since this was shot.
Personally, I think all cameras, whether DSLRs, mirrorless, or even film, are valid tools if they fit one’s needs. And for beginners, it doesn’t really matter what you get, as you’ll probably be switching it out within a couple of years if you start to get serious about photography.
I still have over a dozen Nikon DSLRs here that I use for photography and timelapse. I also have half a dozen Panasonic mirrorless cameras that I use primarily for video. Everything has its place, and I know I’m not done buying DSLRs, especially now that many of them have gotten so cheap!
But what camera are you buying next? Do you think DSLRs are still worth it in 2024?
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