DSLR vs. mirrorless: how to decide

Nearly every camera manufacturer has shifted new-model development to mirrorless systems, which means mirrorless bodies now generally have better autofocus, lighter bodies, and more actively developed lenses. DSLRs haven't gotten worse — they've simply stopped being where the innovation happens.

Used DSLR bodies and lenses are significantly cheaper than equivalent mirrorless gear, because the used market is flooded with them as photographers upgrade. If budget is the primary constraint and you're not planning to buy new lenses regularly, a used DSLR kit can be genuinely excellent value.

Optical viewfinders (a DSLR-specific feature) show zero lag and consume no battery while composing, which some photographers who shoot fast action — sports, wildlife — still prefer over an electronic viewfinder, even though electronic viewfinders have closed most of the gap.

Battery life is also generally longer on DSLRs, since an optical viewfinder doesn't draw power the way an electronic one does.

Autofocus tracking, video features, size and weight, and lens roadmap all favor mirrorless at this point. If you're buying new gear rather than shopping used, and video is any part of what you want to shoot, mirrorless is the more future-proof choice.