Only one camera

The Olympus OMD EM-1. It can be set up to operate as a compact camera with a pancake lens, or expanded with seriously big lenses, and everything in between.
 
Who is paying for the camera? Is there a budget limit?

If I just had to use one for the next few years (and if I were paying for it) I think I would choose one with an electronic shutter, in which case I'd be drawn to the Nikon 1 series or Panasonic G series. Even though neither of them are the last word in sensor specs, they would suit me the best. I'm drawn to their silent electronic shutter.

For lower light I'd still insist on an optical viewfinder though, and for that we need a real DSLR. I'd hide this one and bring it out when nobody's looking. Of course people will hear the mirror slap and say that I'm using two cameras instead of one, and that I'm cheating. I would laugh and run away.

Man cannot live on electronic viewfinders alone.
 
Fujifilm X-S1. It's the most versatile camera I've had. Perfect? No. But I'm coming back with pleasing images, and one piece is doing it all very capably for Web posting, monitor viewing and small prints.
 
If I could answer that question, I would have solved a lot of my own personal problems, as least as they relate to photography!

How about a compact, lightweight full frame camera with full manual controls, a bright, full coverage OVF, excellent high ISO performance, and an optically superb 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 fixed lens?

Oops. Doesn't exist! And that's probably a good thing, because nobody would want it but me and maybe a few other lost souls who are hopelessly in love with that particular focal length.

As it stands, I would probably be happy enough with a smallish DSLR or mirrorless with full manual controls, a great viewfinder and one perfect lens with a live aperture ring, an 85mm for full frame, a 55mm for a crop sensor. This does not exist either, but you can get a lot closer.
 
After 50 years of using virtually everything, this is the one ( although I positively hate their camera designation! ).

This is the E-M1:



Image from the dpreview camera review for the Olympus OM-D E-M1.

Image from the dpreview camera review for the Olympus OM-D E-M1.
 
I own an EM-1 and i never loved any camera like this..
So I understand why you love it...

but I I totally loved it when you post a picture of the EM-5 taken with a Nikon D800 and say the you love the EM-1.



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If you could have only one camera, which one would it be?
Being a true digicamjunkie, I simply can't pick just one! LOL.

Shooting sports, I take my Nikon.

Going to have some fun, I take my Pentax.

Camping . . . let me grab my waterproof.

If I had more money to toss at cameras, I'd have one of each!

LOL.

:)
 
It does everything I want right.

Positive:
- IQ (great DR especially over the alreayd good EPL5)
- Really good AF-c
- Great handling and ergonomics
- Great EVF
- Focusses fast at night outside!
- 4K video
- Very good batterylife, much better than EPl5 and GH2
- HDR, timelapse,focuspeaking
- Great manual controls, logical placement of settings
- Easy to understand and swift to apply menusystem
- Electronic shutter for silent shooting
- Dust and weathersealed

Negative:
- Large and heavy for a mFT cam
- E-shutter not 12 but 10bit pics
- Rolling shutter very evident when panning
- HDR results in double images it seem when using mechanical shutter (may be I am doing something wrong though).
 
I'm with you. I have moved completely to high level point and shoots, giving up my DSLRs. People just can't hear how disturbing the click clack is in most situations. I'm looking at either the Panasonic GX7 or G6 for my next camera. The new Nikon is interesting, but way overpriced.
 
D200...
 
Does this only one camera come with lenses?

For me there are two paths. Generally speaking I think the Fuji XT1 is in a sweet spot in terms of image quality and size. For me, the manual controls and dials are pretty much perfect. Generally speaking the Fuji glass is also excellent.

That said, there are limitations to this camera. Those will vary for each person. For me the XT1 is not an optimal wildlife body, in part because of the lack of long lenses in the Fuji system. So for those purposes you are really looking (from an "only one perspective") at a Canikon body with a 600/4 (or 800/5.6).

My answer alone though shows that you can't look at cameras in isolation, all needs are not the same, and that a diverse photographer will likely want multiple hammers cameras.
 

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