I Sold All My #fujifilm Kit and Went Running Back to

I returned an XS10 because the shutter button felt mushy and like you said, the half shutter press for AF was almost non existent. I know what you mean. Shutter buttons should not feel like that. At least modern cameras lol. But oddly enough, my day 1 XT2 still works flawlessly.

I have enjoyed watching your vintage glass videos, so I am happy to know you back.
I'm also in the process of downsizing my Fuji gear after picking up a Lumix fullframe camera for cheap. It makes so much more sense with the old lenses than with APS-C with a speedbooster or crop. Intuitive operation is important to me with a camera, which I love with Fuji (my beloved old X-E2 is perfect for me in that regard), and I immediately found myself with LUMIX and its options to customize all important features to buttons and dials to my liking.
A thought regarding the system change. If you don't want to waste lots of money, you have to think very carefully about what is important to you. The new camera came with a practical zoom and I will probably get the 50mm prime, if occasionally I need the modern look, that's it.
Otherwise, the feeling is simply indescribable when you manage one of these magical shots with an old Canon 50mm 1.4 ltm or Meyer Görlitz Lydith. As you say, it is the hard way, but so satisfying. It is like driving an Oldtimer with its quirks. There's no way with reasonable arguments to convince someone who fell in love with it.

Need to get my hands on that Romanian beer. Local beer shop is run by a Romanian guy in London so I should have a word

I debated jumping the ship and switching to a completely different system, for that I appreciate warnings like yours greatly.

Since I'm not up to date on the current canon lineup I cannot comment on how well third part integration is, but it definitely wasn't always like that.
When I bought into the system it was the best for third party support, that was my reason for it. Third party lenses were dirt cheap and just worked.
I still have a feeling like that about my 5d mk2 (bloody hell am I old…), It has it's limitations but no matter what i throw at it it's a workhorse. Times change and the commercial greed never gets less.

I already passed the peak of being bored with my kit and feel like vintage lenses are a way of achieving new joy by being challenged to new ways of working. I have to say that having a simple workflow resonated with me, knowing your camera in and out is a must for me, thinking about buttons is a painful break in the process. But being challenged also works in the field of data. I work with the Adobe Eco System because it fits my workflow the best, it's far from perfect BUT taking the time to study the underlying engine with camera- and lens profiles is a very satisfying experience when you realise that someone else's standard settings are limiting your vision from becoming reality.

Gear is great and all but whether it’s Fuji Nikon Sony canon or whoever, as long as you’re getting out there and shooting you’ll have a great time. I wrote this comment from Fedora Gnome btw 😊

Do not – i repeat, DO NOT allow the Sony A7R3 hot shoe to get wet. Cover it any way you can. This is a level of frustration you do not want to know. Looking forward to vintage glass reviews once again!

I will be interested in what you think about the Helios 44-2 Valdai vs the other versions (KMZ(best?), MMZ). I had both the Valdai, which is supposedly the worst, and the KMZ (supposedly the best). I did a direct, head-to-head comparison between the 2, and as far as image quality is concerned, I found no difference whatsoever. I did find a bit of difference in the build quality, with the Valdai version having a bit more play in the lens mount. But other than that, they performed identically. I didn't need 2 of the same lens, so I decided to sell the Valdai version, but only because it had a bit more wear, whereas the KMZ version looks almost brand new and I bought it mounted on a Duramic R-1, which is apparently a Zenit model that was built and labeled specifically for the Canadian market. Also, the KMZ body has "Made in USSR: stamped on the barrel, which I think is kinda cool.

Really looking forward to what you find in your comparison. If you want to borrow mine to review, let me know. And if you like shooting film, you can try the body with it.

Am patit si eu, xe2 cu 50k cadre nu mai porneste random, xf10 rotita de expunere sare -1 la +3, x100v nou in cutie sigilata pixely morti pe ecran, dupa 20k i a sarit o parte din cauciucul de la vizor, xt1 portita de pe lateral de cauciuc s a deformat in timp, xt4 nou nout sigilat joystick-ul de foarte proasta calitate, merge cum vrea el. Cu toate astea nu m-as intoarce la sony