Thanks to you guys,

I did buy the X-E1 with kit lens and 35 mm f1.4 to supplement my Canon 5D MKII and 5D MKIII; so I sympathize with you.

However, I think you are giving up too soon on becoming a portrait photographer.  I am retired but do enough portraits to pay for my equipment, ca $6,000 per your for a couple hours work per week.  You just need a different group of subjects.  I found that the most willing group of subjects are wannabe models.  I was able to get plenty of subjects by advertising on Craigslist and Model Mayhem.  All shoots were done on a TF basis, meaning that I didn't pay the models and they didn't pay me, but we both got nice pictures for our portfolios as you can see on my pbase site, www.pbase.com/jcassatt.

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Jim
http://www.pbase.com/jcassatt