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I've always wanted to get into high-end photography. My entry was with a feature phone back in 2009: the LG Neon. Ah yes, two glorious megapixels. From that, I eventually moved onto an iPhone 4S which opened up photography into something I was able to enjoy. I finally had a camera that I could bring everywhere and was truly mine ( not my mum's ). While the 4S' camera was four times larger in the megapixel count and my first access to 1080p content creation, the camera was truly lacking for my needs. I realized just how creative I wanted to be with my photography, an issue soon to be solved by a friend at Microsoft. This friend sent me a few Lumia 950s each equipped with a 20-megapixel sensor. Blown away by the detail accessible to me, I started taking pictures of everything from the textures of random objects to plant life and nature. The Lumia was my introduction to USB-C which guided me to my next couple of phones: the LG V20 (16MP) and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (12MP). While a downgrade in megapixel count, their software and lensing greatly improved the quality I was able to capture with the Lumia. My final upgrade has been to my iPhone 12 Pro Max. The camera on this phone has been wonderful to use. I'm able to take it more places confidently with the IP68 rating of the device as well as take better photos with the stabilization and multiple lens options.
These devices have served me very well over the years, but there's always something lacking: interchangeable lens options. I want to experiment with different lenses from all over the place as well as make some myself. Light is beautiful and the world deserves capturing. I can't do this with a cameraphone. ( Yes, there is the BeastGrip Pro but that still uses the phone's built-in lenses. ) I need something more professional with a standardized lens mount. However, there are so many options to choose from. It can be a very expensive investment, so making the right decision from the get-go is important. Do you pick a DSLR or a Mirrorless camera, and what brand to pick ( because each one has its own unique lens mount )? What will have the most options in terms of lensing, and what has the best future-proofing?
The main start to this dilemma is "Mirrorless or a DSLR?". They both have their pros and cons but what are they and which one fits my use ( or yours ) the best?
The Main Difference: Viewfinder
DSLR cameras use a mirror between the lens mount and the sensor that redirects the image up into a viewfinder. This has to be moved away when you snap a picture. It's this mechanism that gives DSLR that classic shutter sound of a camera. A nice, solid, kerchunk. The image in mirrorless cameras goes directly to the sensor, so any live view of the image has to be done digitally ( usually by a screen on the back of the camera ). This is a point of separation between the photography and the photographer, although it can be utilized well with practice. Since there's no mirror between the lens and the sensor, mirrorless camera bodies can be much smaller while still packing a solid punch.
Only DSLR cameras have a "true" viewfinder, but that might not be important for many.
Battery
DSLR cameras have a constant path of light from the start of the lens to the end of the viewfinder. For the most part, they only need to use power when you press the shutter button, so their batteries last much longer than ones on mirrorless cameras. If you want to charge less and not worry about if your camera is ready to use, a DSLR may be the best option for you.
Sensors
Both DSLR and mirrorless cameras use these standardized sensor sizes
Medium format is the god-tier sensor, they're what Hasselblad uses and bonkers huge. There are some cameras that you can get with a medium format sensor for a very pretty penny. My moonshot jaw-drop cameras with these sensors are the Hasselblad 907X and the Fujifilm GFX 100. They're $15K and $10K respectively so they're not going to be in my hands any time soon.
Lenses
Brands
Software
Magic Lantern vs stock
Desktop companion
mobile?
Video
GSMArena Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
GSMArena Samsung Galaxy Note 9