No less than perfect

There's something about particular cameras that simply clicks with me. First time I've seen it, it was kind of weird. That's because, at some level, I knew I had to steer way clear of its high price tag. I'm doing this as a hobby, no point in spending 'professional' price tags. So I bought an X10 instead - which I now would miss much more had it steered clear of certain compromises and some early design missteps, which by the way were present in the X100 as well. And thoroughly liked it.

After trying out several models and getting an X-E2 in pursuit of better speed, handling and IQ, then beefing it up with a decent leather half-case, plus metal grip for tripod and larger lens balance, thumb grip, soft release and everything, I was quite happy. Except, after a month, a certain yellowish army started taking over its bottom side with no good explanation. Got it replaced.

A month ago, the yellow army was back, conquering that accursed display yet again, stronger than ever. So, I've sent it for repairs and started counting the days.

Since, before the end of this summer, I had sold all of the Fuji primes I've tried out and remained with the xf wide and xc tele zooms, I was on the lookout for a nice fixed lens.

And pop, an eighteen, pop, a thirty-fiver and ... !!! While browsing the listings, I've uncovered a guy who asked just $200 equivalent for a mint X-Pro1. Since I thought it'll be a while until the X-E2 returns fixed, I simply called the man and sealed the deal.

Fast forward today. The X-E2 kit is all fixed, cleaned up, packed in the box the same way I had initially received it and waiting to be sent out to its new master.

Truth is, after getting my hands on the X-Pro1 and using it for about two weeks, I simply could not see myself using the otherwise excellent X-E2 again. It's a much better camera than the XP1, technically and in terms of personalization. I like the new af system, 7 Fn, intervalometer and actually its movie capability, too. But this didn't move me at all. Apart from the X-Trans II skin waxing - which I despise - and the horrible amp noise when using the EVF in poor light at a high iso setting, I really cannot fault it for what it is. I've tried it out to check if it's working alright and was amazed by the EVF/LCD refresh rate, quality, its speed and whatnot, in comparison with my recent old friend, XP1. But... I concluded I'll never again pick it up.

Because of the XP1's:

1. Size and robustness: I adore its texture, it fits my hand perfectly. Don't know exactly what it is about this metal with a plastic-like finish, it's just a tactile pleasure. Also, off and away with those soft releases, thumb grips, metal grips. I simply have its original leather case, you know, which you have to take off if you're to change cards, batteries, use a tripod or access any connection other than the flash and cable release. Love it. And it fits perfectly in my hand, with or without the case.

2. Tactile feel/feedback. Each and every button, dial, switch on the XP1 feels 1000% better than those on the poor X-E2. Coming back to it, I was, like... ugh. Despite having no problem before the XP1 arrived.

3. OVF. Man, we get along just fine. Even the XF 18-55 zoom is perfectly usable for me. Absolutely in love.

4. EVF. Wait, what? Well, yeah, it does not have refresh as high, nor as many dots, but it's actually much more usable for manually focusing adapted lenses, since it also does not really feature the amp noise - it just slows the frame rate instead, which I much prefer. Also, the image depiction is quite accurate. I simply like it, when I have to use it.

5. Shutter click. Mozart. Enough said.

6. Rendering. No waxy skin. Much nicer out of the box tones from the profiles. I do miss the Chrome, but the flavor of Provia present in the XP1 (almost never used Provia on X-E2) makes up for it. Fantastic reds, blues, greens, you name it. It's rougher, more plain. Less trendy. More RAW.

7. Flash. I used to... use the built in flash of the X-E2. Now I've just thrown the EF-20 and after some severe disappointments with the bounced results in semi-auto/auto modes, fully gave in to manual. Then, I just put it facing forward to light the scene directly. Man, it rocks. And it actually works very well in Program Auto or Priority modes. Probably going to get the X20 flash because of better control.

8. Speed. It's not fast. Makes you think twice before spraying. This actually helps me. Sometimes, a worse characteristic might be an advantage. I'm just keeping the 35/1.4 and 18/2, so no hopes of making AF fast. But I do have manual focus glass. So, for action, zone focus and snap. You know, it just works.

No specific order for these points. There's more stuff, subtle stuff, but putting my finger on it makes no difference.

So, yeah. It's late 2016 and I really don't see me getting any other camera except, maybe, for the X-Pro 2, some years from now. I know Xp1 is slow and outdated and whatever else, but from the moment I've taken it out of the box, I just knew we're going to be... friends. And snap together, cause that's what it's all about.