Ben Herrmann wrote:
Don't know which Fuji cameras you are referring to with regards to this "hollow plastic" feel
X100, X20, X30. I went to B&H several times with the intention of buying one for street photography, and couldn’t get past that feeling. I’m not the first person to say that.
To each their own, obviously others disagree with me on that.
As you must know, "feel" (perception of quality) can be a very subjective scenario. One person may balk about the cheap "feel" of a particular camera, yet the next person may rave about it - now go figure. Fuji has an allure to its users - something I wouldn't have understood until I got on the Fuji bandwagon awhile back - that keeps them coming back (folks do have choices, y'know). I'm totally enthralled with their product line - yet I can thoroughly enjoy shooting with Canon, Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung, etc.
With regards to M43 cameras, they're going quite strong and their forums web-wide are quite active. I first bought into the initial 4/3 movement with the release of the very first Olympus E-1 (5 MP's) back in 2004, a solid brick of a camera that I still use today because of that gorgeous Kodak manufactured sensor (ohhhh those colors). When M43 came out, the transition was quite easy because the same size sensor was still being used albeit without the mirror. So Olympus and Panasonic set the tone for mirrorless. Of course, when you don't use their products, it becomes easy to wonder, "W-T-F" is so endearing about that strange format?"
I’ve owned several m4/3 cameras, both Olympus and Panasonic, over the years.
And as you saw with the introduction of the 1" sensors for enthusiast models, the IQ levels captured by those small (yet larger of what was standard previously) chips were quite eye opening.
Yes, good enough for me to sell my dslr and m4/3 cameras. The small increase in IQ and low light ability wasn’t worth the cost, size, and weight to me.
So the 4/3 sensor still has a wealth of options available.
The thing is that for those of us who use a variety of systems (or have in the past), we tend to appreciate what each brand brings to the table. And you typically won't find us being a one-brand fanboy. Suffice it to say that now-a-days, just about all brands are capable of producing photographic instruments that produce fantastic IQ. It's then up to the user to coax the best results we can from their cameras.
No fanboy here, I’m sure you weren’t referring to me. 😉