So, I shopped around and shied away from inflated prices on used cameras for sale online that I wouldn’t be able to test in person. Until one came up for sale in my local market. The price was high, and the shutter count was higher than I hoped, nearly 12,000 in four years of use. But the camera’s body and its Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 lens were pristine. I had just sold off two Sony lenses, too, so felt better about taking the leap into a new camera system with no previous experience.

What can I say, I think it was worth it. The camera has forced me to slow down and consider the scene in front of me. I’ve ignored the EVF and only used the OVF, which forces me to frame more carefully with guidelines in the viewfinder, and it has also led to some nice surprises in exposures like the good old days.

The camera is small, light, quiet, and unassuming, so it goes everywhere with me. The lens is tack sharp and the bokeh is beautiful, which is a pleasant surprise for an APS-C camera. I’m already shopping for a variety of lenses, and while some are still pricey, you can still buy a couple of f/1.4 lenses for less than the price of a full frame lens with the same f-stop.