The X1D-50c may fit in a bag designed for a Micro 4/3 camera, but in more ways than one, a Micro 4/3 camera this manifestly is not, and for me – an habitual M4/3 user – the transition was definitely a transition, and not without speed bumps. The entire shooting experience is much more deliberate – the bigger sensor means longer startup time (around six seconds) and there are a whole host of other differences inherent to both the camera and the format. For one thing, I've gotten a little sloppy about shutter speed, thanks to the the in-camera image stabilization in the M4/3 cameras I've been using for the last four years; for another thing, the generally shallower depth of field you get from a medium format camera means you have to be that much more careful about hitting focus. And this is not an inconspicuous camera; the body is surprisingly compact for the sensor size, but it's still hefty enough, and big enough with the lens mounted, that it's not so easy to fade into the woodwork if you're trying to do candid street shooting.

This is a camera that demands your undivided attention, and then some. However, when everything comes together you get almost unbelievable image quality.