I have loved photography since I first own a Canon DSLR. Though I am by no means an expert in photography but it has been a consistent hobby of mind. I have never grown tired of photography. And my love of travel simply magnifies my love of the art of photography.
Recently I have researched intensely on what my next camera could be. I have owned the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II mft system for nearly 4 years now. I love the camera a lot but I also feel that technology in photography has advanced quite significantly since then. The new Mark III is launching really soon. It was immediately clear from the the get-go that getting the Mark III would be a natural progression when it comes to camera upgrades. I can use the same lens and I will be extremely familiar with the handling and use of the camera right out of the box.
But after scrutinising the technical features and reading the opinions of other fellow photographers on the new features being introduced in the new model, there seems to be a grain of truth that the new Mark III is simply a rebadge of the EM1 MarkII. And that camera was released in 2016. So essentially you are buying a 2016 camera at exorbitant launch prices!
That is something that bugs me a lot. And it suddenly made me realise that the value proposition was just no longer there.
So I did more digging, looking at the various camera brands and what their latest offerings were, till I stumbled upon fujifilm’s upcoming X-Pro 3 camera.
The new X-Pro 3 camera from Fujifilm is highly intriguing. Touted as the photographer’s camera, it specialises in applying classic film filters to your photos just like in the old days of film. In addition to that, the style and design of the camera is very similar to the rangefinder cameras back in the old days
I am not going to discuss the specs this camera have, rather I am going to talk about their controversial new design pertaining to the LCD screen. In their upcoming model, they made some design changes to intentionally hides the LCD screen. It’s still there, but it’s hidden from view. That seemed strange to me at first, especially when Photographers nowadays would like to check how their shots turn out right after taking them. But I soon understood why they decided to do that.
It may sound like a marketing gimmick, but I kinda agree why Fujifilm decided to go in that direction and carve a niche in the photography space. It’s a photographer’s camera, and as such the viewfinder is your window to the world, not the LCD screen. It’s meant to slow you down, view the world through the viewfinder and to reduce the impulsiveness of having to check your shots. Essentially, just focus on shooting and less on worrying about how your shots will turn out. Go back to photography fundamentals; shutter speed, iso, aperture, composition, focal length and trust in those parameters in taking great shots.
thecosmopolitanwanderer.blog 
Well here’s a long rant too, from one photographer to another:))
My old school friend was an Olympus man but that was back in the days of analog film, I think he had an OM1.
I was always the Nikon guy and began with a Nikkormat Ftn and also owned several cheaper analog Nikons before quitting for a while (10 years actually). During that period the digital era began and being curious I bought a point and shoot Nikon Coolpix 2200. I loved the whole digital scene and it got me back into the one hobby I really loved. Eventually I bought a new Nikon D5200 but I still needed something more professional and eventually bought a Nikon D300 on EBAY for 195 euros! The D300 was far superior in quality and performance to the D5200 and had only 25000 shutter counts despite being 10 years older than than my D5200.
OK, so the D300 is certainly not state of the art and there are plenty of amazing new cameras out there now which I love reading about … new Nikon Z50 or the Lumix FZ330, Fujifilm, Leica SL2$$$ :)))
However I think the prices are getting ridiculous now much like car prices. Yes, these new cameras can produce super sharp images and the mirrorless are much smaller and lighter but that does not necessarily mean better photos. That depends on the photographer. Fujifilm also have many interesting cameras tempting me away from Nikon but as yet I have not been unfaithful. You mention the hidden LCD screen on the X-Pro but I think there is a lot of hype about checking the image. (well I keep reading about it anyway). I always check the histogram which I have found very useful.
So, and what’s my point …
Well, I was uploading images to Shutterstock with the D5200 and only 50% of my images were accepted.
When I started using the D300 they accepted 95% of my images! That with a secondhand camera that cost under 200 euros (one third of the price of the D5200) and it was 10 years older.
Shutterstock are obsessive about sharpness and quality and the subject matter is almost irrelevant to them. So although my photos were probably not that great or commercially very interesting the image quality certainly was fine.
Anyway, I have no desire to put you off buying your dream camera, these are just some of my thoughts when I see someone contemplating forking out thousands on a new camera, which will probably be overtaken by the rapidly changing new technology in a couple of years. Also money is often better spent on lenses too. Go carefully that’s all I’m saying:)
Have fun with whatever you buy, at least you have manage to decide on one, I am still overwhelmed by the choice these days!
Why change at all?
If a new camera doesn’t specifically have something that your photography will benefit from, keep the cash in your wallet.
Seriously.
This from a guy with 50 years photo experience using hundreds of cameras and shooting thousands of images.
The new tech hype is just that: hyperbole.
It seems you are about the join the ranks of people who switch camera systems everytime you feel another camera system has more buzz. I caution you that doing so will ensure you never master the tool in the hand.
All of the professional photographers, people who have been doing so for two to three decades, I talk to tell me the same thing: the camera is a tool to make money. Clients are paying them for results.
Buying into a new system or new camera often means they waste time learning to use the new system or camera and making sure it works with the workflow. They all have older cameras because when they are in the field doing client work – wedding, product shoot, etc. – they need to focus on getting, not fidding with a gadget. I think too many photographers are gadget geeks. It’s not really about the photography, it’s about whatever is making the buzz at the moment.
“I would have pre-ordered without hesitation right now but the price is a huge barrier right now. I will probably need to spend a little bit more time thinking whether this camera is the perfect fit for me.”
And perhaps by that time the Fujifilm X-Pro 4 will be out and you’ll want that?
You got me there. There is a grain of truth to that. I am a tech geek and I think my purchasing decision when it comes to cameras are influenced by the tech geek in me. I have been thinking about it quite a lot based on the comments I have received.
I spent three hours with a demo unit of the x-pro3 at my local camera store to really have a good feel of the camera. I feel, for the first time that this is the camera that will stick with me for many many years. And I am invested in it. Invested in learning how to use the camera well, changing how I shoot by forcing myself to go back to the basics based on how the camera is designed it to be. With this camera I not only feel joy taking photos (regardless of which device) but the process of and the action you take using x-pro 3 was a joy as well and that felt different from the other cameras.
I might be wrong. I might hate the camera a year or two down the road, but I’m willing to make the investment this time round.
I am also a tech geek – I have degrees (BS, MS in electrical engineering) – and I work as a cyber-security consultant. In some tech environments, I work with people who would happily bankrupt their employer just to work with the latest technology.
I don’t let the tech buzz get to me. It’s all marketing. The job of these companies is to tap into your emotions and your fear of missing out (FOMO). They tap into your need for the next dopamine hit. This is not different than being a drug addict or alcoholic.
Darn, I hit enter accidentally. I was going to add instead of spending $3000 on a new camera kit, invest the money in yourself; take a workshop, learn new skills, travel somewhere, get out and shoot with what you have.