The quest to find a camera that I keep with me at all (most) times has come to an end. I bought the Fujifilm X-E1 this weekend and have ended a 5 year search (no exaggeration) for a professional-grade, portable, usable tool.

My rationale was obvious - it's the same as every other working photographer's. I wanted to have a camera with me at all times, to capture the unrepeatable events, surprises, shapes, colours and faces. I wanted to bring the love of photography back to the front of my mind, without the hassle of lugging 10 kilos of very conspicuos gear on one arm when I invariably have a 15 kilo child in the other. I wanted a camera for the moments when I'm not looking for a photo, because more often than not that's when I'll see one.

"I wanted a camera for the moments when I'm not looking for a photo, because more often than not that's when I'll see one."

I wanted image quality to not be in question. I didn't want to even think about it. I've been retouching files from EOS 5's and 1's for 10 years so it had to measure up. Not least because some of these pictures I end up taking may very well become folio or commercial pieces.

I borrowed a Fujifilm X-Pro 1 for a weekend from Photovision here in Neuchâtel. It was great, the files were beautiful, it was a pleasure to use. I thought I'd found the one. The the X-E1 came out. Same sensor. Same lenses. Smaller body. Bingo.

Some quick snaps I took on my first day with it: