Sigh. A-freaking-gain. Olympus got it right way long ago, “camera phones are to photography what 3 minute noodles are to cooking.” And why again is this at the MAIN page? I thought the point of this site was I’d NEVER have to see such articles EVER again while at the “normal” site.
Yes, the skill of the photographer is the main thing, using a DSLR does not alone make you a real photographer, but the tool DOES matter too. If you were trying to be a pro golfer, would you buy REAL golf clubs or show up at the course with broomsticks & swear repeatedly how irrelevant the tool is? Care to become a pro basketball player using the $1 purple-colored vinyl (or whatever) balls you see at the aisle of your local Dollar General store? If you wanted to be a news reporter, would you submit articles written with a crayon?
Heck the Nikon D3100 kit I paid $250 for & gave to my snap-shooting wife would be a better tool. My Sony NEX-C3, same thing, & it’s small, esp with the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 prime.

Started out doing photography at the age of 6 using an uncle's old 1940 kodak brownie box camera. At 15 years of age, I decided to buy my very own 1975 Praktica SLR camera. I now shoot with a Nikon D850. I do unpaid TFP and commercial paid work.