Almost all photographers like their cameras. They are after all seen with them when they are out working. (i.e. Having fun and getting paid for it in my case.) Some people like big DSLR's and huge lenses. They almost walk around flaunting what they have. And yes I've done it and you probably have as well. It's harmless and if it makes us feel good about ourselves, then what's the harm? I also like retro styling, rangefinder type appearance and in particular a combination of chrome, silver and black. So it was no real surprise that when I changed from my heavy Nikon outfit, I chose Fuji. Because for me the Fuji X system is one of the most aesthetic out there.
The inspiration seems clear. The old rangefinder film cameras of the last century and Leica in particular. But then Fuji produced their own film cameras and that DNA has transferred to their current cameras.
And let's not forget that the Fuji film camera company has been around since 1934 and they first started producing cameras in 1948. So there is a history there and just like companies such as Olympus and Nikon there is a lineage of manufacturing photographic equipment. So not just the company that produces Leica knockoffs!!.
For me that history is important and one reason why I can never get excited by Sony, for example. For me they will probably need another 50 years before I take them seriously. (should I live that long!!) I make no apology for using retro styled cameras and I find the X-Pro 3 and those silver lenses pictured above superb in design and operation. And boy they look good. This means, of course, that I love going out and using them. Just like I did with my Leica M's. But now I need AF and a little less weight than the Leica's. If you've never picked one up you might be surprised at how heavy they are. A Leica M10 is 660g, the Fuji X Pro 3 is 497g. Not a lot admittedly but at the end of a long days shooting, that can be important.
I'm also impressed by the quality of Fuji camera bodies and lenses. Not handmade in Germany like Leicas, but nonetheless beautifully made in either Japan or China. There is also a 56mm f/1.4 made by Viltrox above and that is absolutely superb as well.
You all knew the answer to my question - Do camera aesthetics matter? Well of course they do. Just like the aesthetics of musical instruments matter to musicians and the aesthetics of their tools matter to craft workers. We all look to buy the best looking car we can afford, so why is it any different for cameras?
But let's not forget that the X Pro 3 is a great camera as well that produces amazing images. So as well as looking good it delivers what it should in terms of a serious photographic tool. And these days it's actually difficult to produce a really bad camera. (Though the ugliest camera ever made, the £5400 Zeiss ZX1 may make that statement redundant. Should it ever appear!!) So we all have a choice and chances are we will get excellent results no matter what we choose to buy.
