This camera requires thought: How many of us 45+ went through Photography 101 and 102 armed only with a SLR and 50mm lens? We learned to do a lot with a normal fixed lens. I had a great 50mm (Zuiko F1.2) and still do, but about the only times I felt limited for my personal needs were the odd bird/squirrel and sports. Most other things were obtainable.\
Fast forward 20-30 years and many of today's photographers never had the pleasure of 'only' a 50mm perspective and those of us who did have long been exposed to bags full of zooms and other primes. And probably most of us are coming from very capable DSLR's..
This is where I was when the Fuji x100 beckoned like a cute 20yo coed in a short skirt. How could we resist. Yet, the experience left many feeling a bit disappointed because she didn't perform as well or do as many tricks/techniques/features as our older and more experienced partners. Many of us saw right away that the x100 was to be enjoyed on the occasional afternoon and to not expect too much from her, yet we were often pleasantly surprised when she performed well above her expectations. Some quickly grew impatient and decided the x100 wasn't for them, but many learned she indeed could hold a certain place within their circle of enjoyment. All it took was a realistic perspective, to not expect the x100 to perform as well or know as many tricks as her older and more talented counterpart, to enjoy only what she had to offer and to learn to enjoy having a small young thing on your arm vs. the extra size and weight of the alternative. And to be willing to give up a little to have it.
And now the RX1 comes along, maybe not as cute, but for sure the skirt is shorter and subsequently the price tag is much higher. Yet there's the promise she does everything the x100 did.. a bit better. Again, hard to resist if you've got the $2800 stack of mad money laying about.. I still see this as a part time date, the occasional afternoon.. she still can't perform at the level or do all the things we need to fit into our lives as our one and only. And there's no denying breaking up is hard to do.
So where does the RX1 possibly fit into my life? For sure the fun afternoon when I can get away from work, the rare weekend up the coast away from all the pressures when I don't care to haul the regular old bag along, and who can deny she's fun to hold and feel her smallness and smooth sides as we effortlessly lift her lightweight essence to eye level. And with her improved technique and higher levels of performance how can we deny ourselves?
It's not like we can expect the RX1 to clean our clothes, cook our dinners, or raise our kids. She's just not cut out for those duties. But for what she does do, I'm betting she'll do it well and with a willingness long forgotten.