This is only partially true!
I made my new D800E sing within 2 days, as I have shot several other Nikon DSLRs in the past - D1, D100, D200, D3, D700 and now D800E. So that learning curve was zero.
In the moment I do not shoot any M digital, but also shot an M8 for 3 years, so I am sure I can be back pretty soon in this system as well.
In parallel to the D800E I am shooting an OMD with several M43 lenses and also no issue.
And sometimes I even take my H3D39 of special requests and also here it is just turning on and go shooting.
And I am really looking forward to the new M10 with hopefully CMOS, that one will be a fix starter for me!
But Thomas you have enormous talent . I still have to check my settings with the D800E. :facesmack:
And ..it depends a lot on what type of shooting you are doing . I received my first M when I was 15 and I m now 65 ..that should be long enough to become proficient with a rangefinder . But when I put my M s down for a few weeks it can take a day to starting nailing the appropriate number sharp well composed images . The M is all about hand eye coordination if you use it to shoot subjects that move .
The Nikon is easier in many ways but it still takes a little time to establish the best practices for AF etc . The issue with the Nikon is post processing and again this depends on your goals and objectives . Few subscribe to my view that consistency in the final images is in any way important . In short I would like the signature to reflect my aesthetic ..not the manufactures idea of proper rendering . I had this with leica lenses and kodachrome or tri x . Mix images from a lifetime of work and they need to compliment each other . If I produce a portfolio ....I don t want people to sort out the Nikon files as inferior to the Leica IQ. Like mixing in a bunch of Ektachrome 400 slides with my KR64 . Purely a personal requirement .
My goal in shooting is to reach that place where everything is without thought . I am looking and scanning constantly ..trying to anticipate the moment . You can't see it through the viewfinder ..its too late . To achieve this I need about 200-300 images to warm up . I need great familiarity with my equipment to get in the “zone” . This is why I love my M9 s .
Now try this with this years cameras of the year or switch from Sony to Canon or Canon to Nikon. The Sony Nex 7 felt so different that I knew it would take some effort . The results didn t match the hype . Same feeling about the fuji X Pro1 , But sure if you are coming from a Nikon D700 or d3 etc ..the D800 is a straightforward transition .
The one camera that really clicked for me was the S2 . I used every R body from the very first SL with the external meter . When I picked up the S2 ...closed my eyes and fired off a few shots ... I could feel it s DNA . You can process M and S files in LR4 and with the proper presets get a very similar look . I am determined to get there with the Nikon NEF files but I may need some help .
So in my case ..there is a significant time commitment required to change gear and the benefits of any new gear better be sufficient to justify time as well as $$.