Personally, I am interested ... not in all the critiques of the critiques this thread seems to have triggered, but in this class of camera. I am in the market to buy one because I opted out of the M240 I ordered, and decided to concentrate on M Mono work with a rangefinder.
The above situation leaves me without a smallish color camera for certain applications ... applications that do not warrant spending $7,000 on a M240 body. However, just because I may scale back the camera, I am NOT about to suddenly alter my way of shooting as a professional photographer, or the situations I may use such a camera for. I do not have an enthusiast/professional switch on my brain.
So, I for one appreciate someone actually expressing a personal opinion about certain features. If a reviewer simply delivers neutral data in prose form with some photos, I can get that faster from reading the specification page and looking a "fun with" thread. One is free to filter out certain opinions based on having different criteria than the reviewer, but still appreciate someone actually having an opinion based on their use.
I like, want, prefer someone to say that the "inclusion of an adjustable diopter is more consumer friendly" ... because it IS. Anyone who has gone through all the BS of adding a screw in diopters on a Leica M will appreciate that information, in that context as a reminder. In fact, if I wrote the review I'd warn inexperienced buyers what a major PITA not having an adjustable diopter in some of these cameras can be ... because it IS!
I also really appreciate the reviewer's opinion regarding the lack of a hybrid OVF/EVF ... and I'd probably make the same distinction between both cameras ... the X-E1 being more of an "enthusiasts" camera. Not because Fuji is marketing it as such ... I couldn't care less what Fuji's target marketing may be.
My opinion on this viewfinder subject is based on direct experience in trying to use a EVF only camera for various Professional applications ... namely the Sony A99, and Sony NEX cameras. Just because a Pro can use an EVF camera in some specific situation, doesn't mean it works in all the various situations one may professionally encounter, or expect such a camera to perform in. In the case of EVF only cameras I am of the opinion that none of them are Pro level :shocked: ... yet. Not because a Pro can't use one to shoot professional, for pay photography. That isn't the point. The point is that pro camera can NOT get in the way when the chips are down, and these EVF only cameras DO get in the way ... often at the most critical moment. :banghead:
Despite all the "
you get what you see" advantages of an EVF, the disadvantages in certain "must have" situations makes it not ready for prime time. I was reminded of this ... again ... at last Friday's wedding gig. I had to let my second shooter use my A900, and had to shoot with the A99 ... at one point I considered smashing the freaking thing on the concrete :angry: ... not because I don't know how to use it, I've had the camera for quite awhile now ... for one thing (one of many), because the refresh rate was to slow, and at the dark wedding reception the viewfinder was streaking. There is a host of other BS I had to over-come ... but this isn't a review of the A99.
My thanks to the reviewer for his impressions and opinions ... and IMHO next time get more aggressive with them, because beating around the bush doesn't help anyone in collecting various reviews about a possible purchase ... and who cares what critiques current owners may have of your review ... they already made a decision and are free to express their opinion by way of counter points based on their experiences ... preferably by writing their own review.
- Marc