>what separates it from a modern smartphone seems to be nothing but bigger/faster sensors The bigger/faster sensors are a big part of the price. The other big

>what separates it from a modern smartphone seems to be nothing but bigger/faster sensors The bigger/faster sensors are a big part of the price. The other big factor is all of the buttons and dials to quickly change settings without having to look away from the scene. The fast shutter, mirror, and optical view finder are also big contributors. Look at the assembly animation below [1] of a Canon 10D to see all of the tiny parts packed into a small, ergonomic package, and you'll get a better idea of why they cost so much. Not to mention I've killed 3 phones by drops no higher than 4 feet, while I've dropped my DSLRs many more times and from higher points and they show no signs of damage. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-HiBDLVzYw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-HiBDLVzYw