Whether I was simply suffering GAS or had a real photographic need, I've expanded beyond the small and fast micro four thirds system I've happily used for the past three years, and bought a not as small and not as fast Fuji X-E1 with XF 18-55 "kit" zoom.
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While the X-E1 is still quite compact, the Fujinon lenses are a bit larger than their M4/3 mirrorless cousins, which is necessary to cover the larger image area of the Fuji sensor. When I was exclusively a Micro 4/3 user, nothing annoyed me more than the forum trolls continuously dismissing the entire system due to a perceived deficiency associated with a smaller sensor. Do I see an image quality improvement with the Fuji files? Yes. Does this mean the Micro 4/3 image quality is bad. Absolutely not!
Even though the newer Fuji's benefit from faster auto focus and are overall more responsive cameras, the X system as a whole is often described as a "thinking persons camera." The X-E1, now two generations behind, operates slower, does not have a myriad of Art filters, in fact the X-E1 doesn't even have face detection. What the X-E1 does have is a discounted price, a solid build, intuitive design, access to beautiful optics, and creates stunning images.
While I continue to explore the capabilities of the Fuji X camera and Fujinon lenses, which now includes the surprisingly capable 18-55 kit lens, the very portable 27mm pancake, and the sharp 35mm f/1.4 prime, the 60mm macro, and the 55-200 zoom, I am encouraged by what I have been able to do with the camera in a very short time. I have also picked up an X-M1 for those times the relatively small X-E1 is not small enough.
Here are a few snaps from my first day out with the X-E1 and kit lens and a few pics I took for the Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset Massachusetts:
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While the X-E1 is still quite compact, the Fujinon lenses are a bit larger than their M4/3 mirrorless cousins, which is necessary to cover the larger image area of the Fuji sensor. When I was exclusively a Micro 4/3 user, nothing annoyed me more than the forum trolls continuously dismissing the entire system due to a perceived deficiency associated with a smaller sensor. Do I see an image quality improvement with the Fuji files? Yes. Does this mean the Micro 4/3 image quality is bad. Absolutely not!
Even though the newer Fuji's benefit from faster auto focus and are overall more responsive cameras, the X system as a whole is often described as a "thinking persons camera." The X-E1, now two generations behind, operates slower, does not have a myriad of Art filters, in fact the X-E1 doesn't even have face detection. What the X-E1 does have is a discounted price, a solid build, intuitive design, access to beautiful optics, and creates stunning images.
While I continue to explore the capabilities of the Fuji X camera and Fujinon lenses, which now includes the surprisingly capable 18-55 kit lens, the very portable 27mm pancake, and the sharp 35mm f/1.4 prime, the 60mm macro, and the 55-200 zoom, I am encouraged by what I have been able to do with the camera in a very short time. I have also picked up an X-M1 for those times the relatively small X-E1 is not small enough.
Here are a few snaps from my first day out with the X-E1 and kit lens and a few pics I took for the Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset Massachusetts:
