DSLRs in 2025: Still Relevant, Still Resonant

In a photography world increasingly shaped by mirrorless innovation, computational wizardry, and AI-driven automation, the DSLR might seem like a relic. But for those of us who shoot by feel—who value presence over perfection and rhythm over resolution—DSLRs remain quietly indispensable.

I’ve spent the past few weeks walking Phnom Penh with a Nikon D300S, a camera released in 2009. Paired with primes like the 50mm f/1.8G and the Sigma 20mm f/2.8 EX, it delivers images that feel gritty, honest, and emotionally grounded. No eye-tracking. No silent shutter. Just a tool that responds to light, timing, and intent.

🔍 What Mirrorless Got Right—and What It Missed

There’s no denying the technical brilliance of mirrorless systems in 2025. They offer:

• AI-powered autofocus that locks onto eyes, animals, and vehicles with uncanny precision

• Real-time exposure previews through electronic viewfinders

• Compact bodies that travel light and shoot silently

• 8K video, in-body stabilisation, and computational enhancements

But in chasing perfection, something got lost. Mirrorless cameras often feel like they’re trying to solve photography—flattening its unpredictability, smoothing its edges, and rendering moments with clinical precision. For photographers who thrive on imperfection as truth, that’s a problem.

🧠 Why DSLRs Still Feel Right

DSLRs don’t flatter. They interpret. They require engagement—physical, mental, emotional. You compose through glass, not pixels. You anticipate, rather than react. You trust your instincts, not algorithms.

And that trust matters. Because photography isn’t just about what something looked like. It’s about what it felt like.

• Optical viewfinders offer zero-lag composition—essential for street and market work

• Battery life outlasts most mirrorless bodies by a wide margin

• Build quality is rugged, reliable, and field-tested

• Lens compatibility with decades of F-mount glass opens creative doors

• Cost-effectiveness: You can build a pro-level kit for a fraction of the price of modern gear

🎯 Tuned, Not Trendy

The D300S doesn’t try to impress. It just works. Fast autofocus. Gritty rendering. Familiar controls. It’s tuned to the kind of shooting I do—not trendy, but trustworthy.

And that’s the heart of it. In 2025, DSLRs may be niche. But they’re not obsolete. They’re tuned to a different kind of rhythm—one that values anticipation, presence, and emotional texture. For me, that rhythm still resonates.