Camera Upgrade Dilemma: Mirrorless Future or DSLR Loyalty?

I need your help.

Not with a trail recommendation or a rib rub. With cameras. Specifically, whether I should drag my photography setup into the modern era or double down on old-school reliability.

Here’s where I’m at: I shoot with a Nikon D7500. It’s been good to me. Entry-level, budget-friendly, does what I need it to do most days. But I’m starting to feel its limits. The dynamic range on coastal shots. The autofocus when light gets tricky. The weight when I’m hauling it up a trail with a hip that’s still figuring out what normal means.

I’m ready to upgrade. But I’m stuck between three directions, and honestly, I could use some perspective from people who’ve been down this road.

What I Actually Shoot

Before we get into the gear debate, here’s what matters: how I use the camera.

Mostly landscapes. Coastal trails. Forest light. Fog rolling through pines. Stone bridges over streams. The kind of shots where dynamic range and sharpness actually matter. I’m not pixel-peeping for fun, but I want the detail when I need it.

Sometimes I hike with it. Not every hike. But enough that weight is a real consideration. Carrying a heavy DSLR body and a lens or two on top of water, snacks, and a hip that’s already working overtime? That adds up fast.

Occasional portraits. Nothing professional. Just family. Friends. The kind of shots where decent autofocus and natural color matter more than studio perfection.

Wildlife (maybe). I’d like to get into wildlife photography a little. Nothing serious. Just the occasional heron standing still in Vaughan Woods or a fox I catch on a trail. But I don’t have a wildlife lens yet, so this is aspirational at best.

That’s the use case. Now here are the options I’m chewing on.

Option 1: Nikon Z6II (Mirrorless)

The Z6II is Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless body. Lighter than a DSLR. Better low-light performance. In-body image stabilization. Dual card slots. Eye autofocus. All the modern bells and whistles.

Why I’m tempted:

• Weight. Mirrorless bodies are lighter, and when you’re hiking with one, that matters. My hip notices an extra pound.
• Low-light performance. Shooting in forests at dawn or dusk? The Z6II handles it better than my D7500.
• IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization). Handheld shots on uneven terrain without blur? Yes, please.
• Future-proof. Mirrorless is where the industry is going. Nikon’s putting their R&D into Z-mount lenses now, not F-mount.

Why I’m hesitant:

• Cost. It’s not cheap. And I’d need to invest in Z-mount lenses eventually, or use an adapter with my existing glass.
• Battery life. Mirrorless eats batteries faster. That’s fine at home. Less fine on a remote trail.
• Feel. I’ve shot with DSLRs for years. The optical viewfinder. The heft. There’s something about it that just works for me. Switching to an EVF (electronic viewfinder) feels like a bigger shift than just specs.

Option 2: Nikon D810 (Old School Full-Frame DSLR)

The D810 is a workhorse. Released in 2014, but still highly regarded for landscape work. 36 megapixels. Incredible dynamic range. Rock-solid build. You can find used ones for a decent price now.

Why I’m tempted:

• Image quality. For landscapes, the D810 is still a beast. The detail and dynamic range hold up against much newer cameras.
• Price. Used D810 bodies are way cheaper than a Z6II. That budget could go toward better glass instead.
• Familiar. It’s a DSLR. I know how to shoot with one. No learning curve. No battery anxiety.
• F-mount lenses. I already own a few. No adapters needed.

Why I’m hesitant:

• Weight. It’s heavy. Heavier than the D7500. That’s not ideal for hiking.
• Autofocus. It’s good, but it’s not modern. If I ever get serious about wildlife, the D810’s AF system is going to feel dated.
• Old tech. It’s a ten-year-old camera. Still capable, but I’m buying into yesterday’s platform. No future upgrades. No new lenses designed for it.

Option 3: Nikon D850 (The “Best of Both” DSLR)

The D850 is what you get when Nikon decides to make the best DSLR they possibly can before the mirrorless wave takes over. 45 megapixels. Excellent autofocus. Great low-light performance. Tilting screen. It does everything.

Why I’m tempted:

• Image quality. It’s arguably the best landscape DSLR Nikon ever made. Period.
• Autofocus. Way better than the D810. If I want to dabble in wildlife, the D850 can handle it.
• Versatility. It’s good at everything. Landscapes, portraits, action, low-light. Jack of all trades, master of most.
• Still a DSLR. Optical viewfinder. Long battery life. Built like a tank.

Why I’m hesitant:

• Price. Even used, it’s expensive. Not Z6II expensive, but close.
• Weight. It’s even heavier than the D810. Great for a tripod. Less great for a six-mile hike.
• Overkill? Do I actually need 45 megapixels for what I shoot? Probably not. But do I want them? Yeah. A little.

What I’m Actually Asking

Here’s the real question: Do I go mirrorless and future-proof, or stick with DSLR reliability and put the savings toward better lenses?

Part of me wants the Z6II. It’s lighter. It’s modern. It’s where the industry is headed. But another part of me loves the feel of a DSLR—the optical viewfinder, the battery life, the fact that it just works without firmware updates or electronic quirks.

And then there’s the weight question. My hip is doing okay, but it’s not invincible. Carrying a D850 up Cutler Coast sounds like a bad idea. The Z6II is lighter, which helps. But if going mirrorless means I’m stuck with cheaper Z-mount lenses because I blew the budget on the body, I’d rather put that money toward a used D810 and excellent F-mount glass.

I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.

So Here’s Where You Come In

If you shoot Nikon—or if you’ve made the jump from DSLR to mirrorless—I want to hear from you.

What would you do?

• Z6II and embrace the future?
• D810 and invest in lenses instead?
• D850 and just accept that hiking with it is going to hurt?

Drop a comment. Tell me what you shoot. Tell me what you wish you’d done differently. Tell me I’m overthinking this and should just keep the D7500.

I’m all ears.