Many photography pundits have declared the DSLR dead or dying. Photojournalists from around the world disagree. Count me among those who disagree. The DSLR might be dead for non pros but it’s still a viable tool for many of us.
These very same pundits will tell you that Canon and Nikon are also dead or dying and Sony is the new big gun on the block. Again, photojournalists would disagree. See their results in the attached Jared Polin video beginning at 00:05:00.
Jared Polin is far from my favorite YouTube personality but he is a good photographer and the statistics cited in the video survey don’t come from him personally but rather they come from the contest organizers themselves. When Canon first released its EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR it was much maligned by the pundits but I bought it anyway because it met my needs. The number one brand and camera used by the professional photojournalist contest winners was the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR. Nikon was number two and Sony didn’t even register a blip on the radar screen. Sony makes great kit but hasn’t arrived yet for pros. No hate mail.

Greek Shepherd – Kefalonia, Greece (Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR and Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens)
I’m not disparaging Sony—I have many photographer friends who swear by Sony and by extension their mirrorless technology. I am disparaging the pundits (many of whom aren’t particularly good photographers) who don’t seem to know their butt from a hot rock. Photojournalism isn’t the only genre of photography but it’s one of the more demanding genres as is sports and wildlife. I think it says something that the paid professionals are sticking with their Canon and Nikon DSLRs. Amateur photographers, regardless of their skill set, can shoot with any system they want but pros require consistency and reliability.
Do your homework and don’t just rely on the so-called pundits. If I had listened to the YouTube personalities I would never have bought my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR (and it’s an excellent camera system). Decide what kind of photography you will be doing and then buy the photography kit that allows you to do it. Sony may eventually eclipse Nikon and Canon among professional shooters but I don’t think it will happen anytime soon. By all accounts mirrorless is a great technology but don’t count out the DSLR quite yet or the old dinosaurs like me who continue to use them. See what I shoot with: What’s in My Bag.