I was looking for a replacement for my Nikon F3 for many years; the last camera I have owned that totally felt right for me.
Having moved away from film (I couldn't afford it) I was waiting for a digital that suited my wants and needs and felt the Fujifilm X-E1 could be that camera. It certainly was a good camera but our relationship did not work out in the end.
After leaving film behind, digital photography was and in many ways still is, in its early days. For many years high resolution from digital was beyond my financial means. Those years and decades were the dark days for me with no means to photograph as I wanted to.
I bought the X-E1 second hand and loved it straight away - but:
the sensor was still not up to my minimum 35mm film benchmark, I used to own a Pentax 6x7 (in my late twenties and thirties, so decades ago) and loved the smooth, creamy tonal changes it gave through its excellent resolution and dynamic range. So for me, 35mm was my rock bottom level.
I realised that I no longer wanted to carry round or use such a large camera. I prefer to be unnoticed as I take photos and this camera shouted "I'm a serious photographer". Not right for me to melt into the background.
the camera felt a little plasticky, not everything on it felt solid. I felt that Fuji had cut corners in manufacture and that's not something that helps me feel good about photography.
My quest for my perfect camera and Nikon F3 replacement has now been fulfilled (by the Sigma fp L) but that story will come later.
