Every camera system is a tradeoff in one way or another. I shot Canon film SLR for 30 years and when all my gear went obsolete I switched to an advanced digital compact zoom and waited. Two years ago we booked a trip to Africa and I knew the compact zoom wouldn't cut it. I dug deep into the current technology and chose an Olympus 4/3 mirrorless system for my new travel camera. So far I am happy with my choice and tradeoffs.
Pros: Small and lightweight with very feature rich creative capability, high resolution sensor, excellent lens system shared with Panasonic. Silent shooting for wildlife. Complete system all in for $1500 and fits in a small backpack.
Cons: Autofocus is not as fast or tack sharp as a Canon DSLR. Full frame DSLR is still better in very low light.
Other options I looked at:
Canon FF DSLR- great camera, too big, too much $$
Nikon FF DSLR- Same
Sony A7 or 6300- Excellent sensor, limited lens system.
