quote:

The DSLR was an attempt to hybridize the experience (and quality) of traditional cameras with a digital output

I can relate to this. I used to take a lot of photographs and shot most of them on Kodachrome. When Kodak discontinued that film, my enthusiasm for the hobby diminished a lot. There were other slide films available, but Kodachrome had been my go-to film for many years.

I bought a compact digital camera for my wife and she used it for several years until she got a smart phone that produced good results.

I eventually bought a compact digital camera with a zoom lens that I used occasionally and then I bit the bullet and bought a Canon DSLR, but I've never been so comfortable with it as with my old analog SLRs. Now I'm happy to leave most of the photography in our family to my wife. I can just observe the world as it goes by.

Big Al

The expense and potential failure point of a mechanical mirror is simply no longer needed.

Digital viewfinders have advanced to the point that they exceed anything an analog or hybrid could ever accomplish.

Mechanical mirrors and shutters also limit the speed/frames per second.

I hope not, eventually the electrics will fail in our aging Sony and though we use it only occasionally, we would like replace it just to use the lenses we've kept.

Nikon had an almost decent product with the Nikon1 that offered interchangeable lenses and a couple options on bodies, but it was priced way above everything else in that form factor. I haven't heard much about the Z series, but again, they are eye-wateringly expensive and the FTZ adapter is awfully pricey, too, if you want to use your F-mount lenses. The Z50 may be a contender, but I think it's still out of the hobbyist's reach at $1000 - 1200 depending on lenses..

Canon seems to have a good offering in the EOS M50 at half that price.

Nevertheless, the last couple of people who have asked me what camera they should buy for getting serious about photography (read: interchangeable lenses and useful accessories), I've told them to go mirrorless.

I agree that DSLRs are on the way out, but I expect I'll be using mine for a few more decades.

My one complaint is that I grew up with Nikon film cameras with split prism/microprism ring for focusing and I wish I had those on my DSLRs. One advantage of mirrorless cameras is that you are seeing in the viewfinder exactly what the sensor is seeing, so there's no chance your focus is off because the mirror is out of adjustment.