I know that hundreds of 'newbies' ask this question - 'what camera should I buy'. I also understand the wisdom of the obvious response: 'Whatever works for you! Given that most digital cameras produce decent images in the right hands camera choice is subjective, based on particular applications and what features/design are necessary for others may not be necessary for you.'
Given the above, I would like to give you some details about my particular requirements and photographic aims, a shortlist of possible cameras and graciously ask for some broad and specific advice and suggestions from those with greater experience. Thanks in advance.
So... I am a student in my twenties and I have dabbled with film (a Minolta SRT-101) and enthusiast compacts (Panasonic LX3). I mostly shoot street, abstract, and black and white in preference to traditional landscape, portraiture and sports (see below for examples). I also plan to get into travel photography. I wish to upgrade to a large sensor camera in which image quality, compactness, a viewfinder and ease of use are paramount concerns, design (in the Dieter Rams sense) is a lesser but still important factor. It is important for me that I have an emotional connection to the photographic instrument.
I plan to spend no more than £1000 pounds on one camera/kit and sell my LX3. My quandary is this - Do I limit myself to the beauty, image quality and (in my opinion) supreme manual control of the Fuji X100 (despite the fact that I am stuck with 35mm equiv. focal length as my only option)? Do I plump for the versatile but dog ugly GH2 with, say, the 20mm prime? Or do I wait to spend my hard earned on the rumoured viewfinder-integrated rangefinder-styled m43 bodies from Panasonic and Olympus?
What do I need to keep in mind with respect to improving my skills?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Max
