I was about to almost forget about this English blog :-p
During my silence here, I have bought two new cameras.
The first one is Fujifilm FinePix X100. It is not an SLR. A kind of compact camera, but has APS-C size sensor and single focus (23mm) lens. The most unique feature of this camera is its hybrid view finder. It has both OVF and EVF and can be switched quickly. I am satisfied with its reasonably small size body, high quality image, clear OVF, and classical appearance. User interface and slow AF response makes me a bit frustrated, though. It’s good for shooting simple snap or scenery with ease.
The second camera I have just bought is to fill the gap between X100, 7D, and LX5. It is newly launched Olympus PEN E-P3. When I first touch the camera, I was surprized at its fast AF. If I use it with 17mm pancake lens, it will work almost the same as X100 with faster AF response than X100. If I use it with 14-42mm standard zoom, it will work almost the same as 7D + 15-85mm with much smaller/lighter system. The sensor size is m4/3, smaller than APS-C of 7D/X100. But the magazine article’s review says the quality of the image is excellent enough – I have not taken any photos with E-P3 yet and I need to confirm it by myself. Thus, E-P3 has a potential to address all the concerns I have for my 7D system and X100/LX5 compact cameras.
To get E-P3, I needed to sell some of my old stuffs, which are my first DSLR EOS Kiss X2 (and its W-zoom lenses) and Tamron’s 18-270mm. Thanks to those camera/lenses I could establish photography as my primary hobby. From now E-P3 will make my photography life to the next stage.
