My response was like two pages long with no end in sight, but I remembered I have alot of work to do so I want to TL;DR my response and save the long one for another day.
Having owned an X-E1 and NEX3, 5, and 7 I would choose between the X-E1/2 or the NEX-7.
The X-E1 has wonderful menus and controls, but it is a VERY slow camera in more ways than one. It is slow to operate, and slow to respond. I absolutely hated that camera and the really bad EVF until I checked my lightroom statistics at the end of the year and found that all my best images by an overwhelming majority were with it, and none of them were shot RAW. So I guess I really loved that camera afterall for how much I used it over the A99 and NEX cameras I had at the time.
The NEX 7 was the first and last of its breed. It is one of my favorite cameras of all time for its mix of power, image quality, speed, controls, and overall ergonomics. Still, I would have to do processing to get the look I wanted.
The NEX3/5 were soulless machines that I didn't like for one reason or another, but great on paper.
I would own an X-E1 or X-E2 today given the choice between all
those cameras for still photography. I mean, the best thing I can say for them is my primary stills camera is a X-A1 I bought used for 125 bucks...it doesn't even have the X-Trans sensor. It doesn't have a EVF, it doesn't have a lot of things. But it has the look I want, triggers flash, and you can mount the insanely amazing Fuji glass to it. (I'm just using the 27mm).
The video quality definitely sucks, but content is much more important anyways. I shot most of
this series on a X-T1 and some of the previous series on a X-E1...I was a huge noob then but you can see some of what the video looks like. I still am a noob, but I've learned since then for sure.
Things about me:
1. I would have never considered a camera without an EVF (now I don't care as long as the back screen is really good)
2. I wanted ONE camera for stills and audio (Now I think the best choice is one for stills (a Fuji of sorts) and one for video (Panny G7).
Peace.
Christmas mayhem over, I have been able to think about cameras for a bit following your comments.
@ Josh - interesting to follow your journey through cameras. Fully agree that one camera won't do everything you want, there is no perfect camera; but one that ticks a lot of boxes.
There's a lot to like in the Sony system, the size and build are great. The NEX5 I have been using has been a painless (and inexpensive
) entry into mirrorless, but I have hit some limitations with my own requirements.
* The rear screen is hard to use in sunlight, and the camera is less stable held away from you.
* I still can't get the hang of what's where in the menus, I'm sure stuff moves around! A higher up NEX with multi control dials looks like it will take away some of that problem, with more direct access to what you need, and more custom buttons.
* Night photography is a pain, not being able to ficus at infinity - I may just switch to Nikon lens + adaptor for that one
I hadn't considered the NEX7, as I thought it would be quite a bit more expensive than a NEX 6. There seem to be a number on the 'bay that aren't unreasonable.
I need to test an EVF camera to make sure adding that feature really makes life easier, as I'd rather put the money into lenses, where the quality lies.
What I miss is a decent camera shop that does used kit, so that you can try the different options alongside one another. The world has changed a lot since I was in the camera trade, so just have to look elsewhere.
Interesting to hear your dichotomy with with X-E1, I did hear that the EVF is laggy compared to newer models and low light AF is slooooow. That said, it produced your favourite images when you were using it.
I have an online photo buddy who is selling and X-E1 and X-E2, he's had those, Sony NEX and A6000 and top end Fuji X kit too.
It would be great to borrow one for a few days to test and see whet it's like in use.
No matter the camera, that Sony pancake 20mm is always going to look crap unless you stop it down to f/8.0 or tighter. I wish they made a really good pancake lens, because the 28mm is not a big improvement either. The shots I've seen were usually on-par with the 16-50mm PZ kitlens that's sold with the a6000.
But the Sigma 60mm f2.8 and Sigma 30mm f/2.8 are good lenses for the money that should be able to get more out of the NEX-5 body. If you are looking into getting more out of the NEX-5 that is, but it will also allow you to get a new Sony E-mount body upgrade later on. The Fujifilm cameras are very nice, but also quite an investment since you'll be needing body + lens.
I'm someone who is very careful about spending camera money because I know you can easily spend 5 times as much for something that's in the single-digit percentages better. In the end there is a lot one can do without spending (much) to get a lot better results, like proper lighting, better technique and RAW processing. If the EVF and menus are real obstacles, it might justify changing the body. But in my experience, the menus are always going to be an issue because each brand works differently one way or another.
@Phuncz, I partly wish I had bought the larger Sigma 19mm, as it's optically noticeably better than the Sony 20mm. My focus was on portability, to replicate my phone camera with a better low light ability and more control. It's worked about 80% I'd say, but am disappointed at the softness. The NEX5 came with a Pentacon 50mm lens with adaptor, and that is way sharper than the 20mm, even with the extra trouble of apetrure and focusing manually.
I totally agree with you about throwing money at the situation (I don't have the spare cash to waste, family takes up most of that); definitely diminishing returns in buying top end kit over something lower end or preferably used.
The lenses are really important IMHO, most bodies above the minimum entry level are capable of excellent results. All you are paying for is better build quality and features that you may not use, but have been persuaded that you 'need'.
17 years in the camera trade showed that 'Gear Acquisition Syndrome' as they say in the USA was good for our profits, but not necessarily for the photographer.
Part of me is attracted to Fuji, as I like their way of working and unusual approach to cameras. I used to borrow the Fuji GX617 panoramic camera and the GS645i MF 'rangefinder' cameras from demo stock.
I must really get my software sorted and work on RAW files better, that would be a good start. Then I can see what another body will do for me, preferably adding what I am missing in the way of features which make it work better for me - at the end of the day it is personal and if you're not comfortable with the camera, it won't let you get teh best out of it.
Happy New Year and more photography
