Micro 4/3 body with simple user interface

VF101

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May 21, 2011
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I have stopped photography as a hobby more than 15 years ago, just to come back to it last spring - struggling to understand all that digital terms like crop, CCD and CMOS sensor or AA filter. Meanwhile I got a Oly E-PL1 and Leica CL, both giving me great pictures. But I hate the user interface of the E-PL1 and I hate the necessity to scan the pictures from the CL. So, I'm looking for a new digital camera that is as easy and fun to shoot as the Leica CL, but without the need to scan slides.

My requirements for a new camera are:
* Direct access to aperture, exposure compensation and ISO control (the E-PL1 forces me to press the "up" button to access exposure compensation and/or aperture settings, which is terrible, because I most of the time forget to press this fu***ng button)
* A clean display, which just shows what is really necessary: aperture, time and ISO as well any non-default setting. I don't need symbols that tell me I have chosen auto WB, no flash and single-shot mode! This is distracting and annoying.
* Big sensor, at least a 4/3 sensor

Because I use the 40mm summicron and the 17mm/2.8 pancake most of the time, I'd be okay with a fixed lens camera. So I have now found these cameras to meet (more or less) my requirements:
* Fuji X100
* Leica X1
* Sigma DP2

Which Micro 4/3 body would come as close to my needs as possible?
 
i find the user interface of my E-P1 accessible enough. in manual mode you have the thumb wheel and the fourway-click wheel for aperture and time. all I'm missing is the one button focus aid for manual lenses.

if you you have the money for the X100 way not just go for it? seems to be a great camera
 
Thank you for your suggestions. I'm indeed very tempted to get the X100, I just want to be sure not to overlook a good Micro 4/3 solution.
 
I have to be honest and say that I sold my E-P1 because I found the interface unusable. Just my experience, but to me it didn't make sense at all.
 
Let me be the one recommending the Leica X1 then. It has it all: minimalistic interface with just the right buttons and dials, great IQ, great fixed 35mm eq. lens, nicely portable. Add an optical viewfinder and you're set. When traveling I like my extension tube for filters and sunhood.


extension-tube-x1 by aad_b, on Flickr
 
Thanks again for all your suggestions.

In the mean time, I found some hidden settings that allowed me to remove most of the annoying visual clutter in the E-PL1 display. I even bought a VF-2 and now shooting with the PEN is a lot more fun than it was before. Thus, no X1(00) for me ...
 
This:

Olympus-OM-D-E-M5-camera-top.jpg


Linked from: http://photorumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Olympus-OM-D-E-M5-camera-top.jpg
 
So sad that's not a real shutter dial on top! Put the mode on any assignable dial, but shutter speed should be dedicated. Or better yet - if it really is a "Digital OM" put the shutter speed around the lens mount!
 
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