Unsurprisingly, I did end up making the decision to switch systems. And yes, I did go Canon.
I was an early detractor of the RF mount, the first couple cameras seemed more like a cross between engineering test mules (especially the EOS R) and parts bin specials (both the R from the 5DIV and the RP from the 6DII and M5), the lens selections early on were really odd and I was really surprised when people started buying the RF stuff. But Canon iterated steadily on lenses, brought a couple all-round excellent bodies in the R5 and R6 and kept hitting from there. A year ago, in late June 2022, Canon finally shipped their first crop-sensor RF bodies and since then they've shipped 4 RF-S bodies from the high-end R7 down through the brand new and super inexpensive R100. And unlike Nikon these are not just 4 interpretations of the same body, although they are a mix of new bodies (R7 and R10) and RF-S versions of EF-M bodies with selective updating (R50 and R100). Only the R7 gets IBIS or the 32.5MP sensor, but the R10 and R50 share the excellent R3-derived AF system.
The bodies are solid, but what about the lenses?
The short answer is RF-S is VERY consumer. Right now only the 18-45, 18-150 and 55-210 exist. But we're less than 1 year into the system and Canon has now matched what took Nikon 2 years to accomplish for Z DX (it's actually worse than that, since Canon launched all 3 in a 9 months span). There are also some good fitting RF lenses, namely the 16/2.8 pancake, 28/2.8 pancake, 50/1.8 muffin, the 24/1.8 IS Macro, 35/1.8 IS Macro and 85/2 IS Macro, as well as the 10--400 f5.6-8, 600/11 IS and 800/11 IS that all make sense as mid-range options. Nikon does offer a 26/2.8 pancake, 28/2.8 muffin, 40/2 muffin and 50/2.8 macro that make sense, and of course recently launched their 4th & 5th Z DX lenses in the 24/1.7 and 12-28 (some 3.5 years into the Z DX systems slow-roll launch). There is a lack of good/fast wider glass in RF mount right now, but with the R7 available, that will come and EF glass can substitute for now.
My current plan is to get an EF-S 10-18 UWA and then the RF 100-400 in a month or two. That will cover most of my hiking needs, and the 18-150 kit lens is decent enough to handle interim use. I have the EF to RF adapter and the EF 50 STM, and can borrow an old 75-300 USM III if I really need more than 150mm (240mm-e) in the interim.
So I went with the EOS R7 kit. Some initial observations
1. The EVF is nowhere near as bad as the specs suggest. It's actually pretty good. No match for the OM-1's excellent unit, but quite usable.
2. There's a battery charger included. Yes, an actual charger. Really. In an era where USB charge has caused manufacturers to drop the chargers, Canon is still including their LC-E6 charger. This is a VERY nice addition (the OM-1 did not include a charger, despite being a more expensive body)
3. Handling is really good. I know some find the rear dial weirdly located, but I actually like the location better than the traditional Canon location. Unlike the Fuji's, the grip fits the hand well and the buttons are in the obvious location, no weird stretches.
4. The menus are really good. Very obvious and well laid out
5. Full touch integration, which the OM-1 lacks
6. No bracketing burst :-( I will miss that. Engaging bracketing quickly will need some study. I shoot a lot of 3 frame brackets.
7. I'll miss LiveND as well, but I found that I pretty much never used the other computational features, even if they were cool.
8. Better located power switch and a proper Video/stills mode switch (not on the mode dial).
9. AF is excellent. Tracking and lockon are easier to manage than the OM-1 and definitely stickier, plus basic AI Servo tracking actually works pretty well (AF-C+TR is still trash on the OM-1, despite every other aspect of the AF getting a lot better).
10. Initial look at IQ is positive, definitely more resolution than any other crop body, rivalling high-res on the 16MP m43 bodies. I'm actually losing no reach, the Canon sensor has similar pixel density to 20MP m43, so I can crop down to get my reach back.
11. 4:3 crop mode. YAY. 1:1 and 16:9 as well. I will use the 4:3 mode for sure, I love that aspect ratio and used 4:3 mode most of the time on the A7RIV.
12. Manual lenses are still up in the air. Supported, but a more Sony experience. I'll have to check to see if IBIS FL is written to EXIF (that would be really nice).
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