Should I sell my E-M5 for a Fuji X-E1? Help needed!

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Raag Bhatia
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Should I sell my E-M5 for a Fuji X-E1? Help needed!
7 months ago

Hi guys,

I got my Oly OM-D E-M5 at launch and love it.

I own the OM-D in silver with the 12-50 f/3.5-f/6.3, the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, and the Olympus 45mm f/1.7.

I generally shoot in street/urban environments, at music festivals, at parties, and while travelling. Portability and having a non-descript camera are big concerns, hence why I previously sold my D7000 to get an OM-D. My 20mm f/1.7 stays on my camera 90% of the time, with the 45mm maybe 9% of the time and the 12-50mm 1%. I've only used the 12-50 for some landscape shots, and have taken probably <50 shots with it.

I'm going to India at the end of the year and really want my ideal tool for street shooting. When I got my OM-D, I leaned to it because of it's lower price (VS the X-Pro1) at the time, as well as it's weather sealing.

I've found the swivel LCD really useful and I mostly frame off that now rather than the viewfinder (I think the EVF lag is a little annoying). I've never shot with it in the rain so weather sealing hasn't really been useful. The IBIS is nice but if I'm shooting in really low light, it'll generally be people so motion blur becomes an issue at super-low shutter speeds.

I'm leaning to the Fuji X-E1 because I seem to really love the colour and depth of the X-Pro1 (and X-E1) images - they seem to have a beauty and depth to them that the OM-D lacks. I don't feel the OM-D is incapable of taking great shots - I love the results I'm getting, but feel I could maybe be getting better with the X-E1. As well as that, the Fuji X-Pro1/X-E1 seem to perform better at High-ISO (by 1-1&1/2 stops) which is better suited to the low-light shooting I do.

I also really like the 35mm f/1.4 lens. I've realized I think I'd prefer a 50mm equiv length for portraits - 45mm is too long for me. I don't think I'd get the 18-55mm zoom with the X-E1 (or I may get it and sell it) - but I'd probably get the 35mm f/1.4, the 18mm f/2 (any experiences with this lens would be good to hear), and maybe the 27mm f/2.8 pancake down the track.

What are people's thoughts on this? I want to be shooting some landscapes when I travel, but mostly urban/street/portraiture. If I stick with my E-M5 I'll likely sell the 12-50mm and 45mm and get a 12mm f/2, although I might keep the 45mm f/1.8 for candids... It's a tough call. I'd also like the shallower/more-control DOF of an APS-C sensor with a f/1.4 lens.

Is the 18mm f/2 a good bet for landscapes? Will I notice a big AF/responsiveness dropoff in shifting to the X-E1? How well does the 35mm f/1.4 perform wide open?

Am I stupid for even considering this when I have such a great camera?

Some examples of my work:

Thanks for any wisdom!

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