Just making this test right now - two days ago I got a used XT-20 with the 18-55 f/2.8-4. I've only used m4/3 since the beginning (still have a GH2, a E-P1 and a LX100, had the GX7, GX85, E-M10 MKI and the E-M5 MKII - currently have a GX9 and a E-M10 MK III). No complaints about the system, I love it - but (personal opinion) I think that Olympus will not come back and Panasonic probably will only release a GH6 and a G9 sucessor, and my only option would be Fuji (no interest in full frame at all - BIG lenses).
In fact, my interest is the X-S10 - once you have IBIS, you never go back. The XT-20 is a test bed for the system, to see if there is a BIG deal breaker. The XT-20 is very similar to the latest models - almost the same IQ of the 26mp sensor, almost the same PDAF performance (only in the center of the sensor, though), same EVF of the X-S10, general operation is the same. The price is much lower, though - got a used one in VERY good condition, with the 18-55, seven (1) batteries, an external grip (not original, but much better than the Fuji one - more on that later) for 20% less than a new XT-30 body only (if comparing only the bodies, was less than half the price).
Let's start with the bad ones:
- The EVF: holy sh*t. The same reviewers that trounced the GX85/GX9 field sequential EVFs said that this EVF is good? For me, is worse - and much worse than the E-M10 MK III, which looks like have the same OLED panel. Bad optics (corners and a little bit hard to see), bad eyepoint...it is usable, but even the EVF of the E-M10 MK I looked better for me. And the eycup is shallow and a hard plastic one - already ordered a 3rd party rubber eyecup. Not a deal breaker, but dissapointing.
- The Fuji screen info did not help too - font is VERY small for a guy with growing presbiopia. You have an option to make them bigger, but they become VERY big and some info (like af mode) is lost. After two days I'm getting used to it, but both Olympus and (specially) Panasonic have better EVF/LCD infor layouts.
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@shreebles talked about the front/back dials feeling, and I second that. Very small, mushy feeling. After using the glorious Olympus dials, it is strange.
- Size / grip - small camera, with small grip. Always used external grips in my m4/3 cameras, this one will be no exception.
- No vertical electronic level gauge, only horizontal.
- You must reset your mind to operate it. Much more than the "film dials" (somewhat diminished with the drive mode on the left - better for hybrid users), the operational flow is very different (like, metering mode is something somewhat relegated, and I change it a lot). After two days, starting to get the grips, but right on the start is VERY frustrating.
Liked:
- The 18-55 f/2.8-4. Loved id. The OIS is amazing (much better than the OIS of every lens that I had - the 2 Panasonics 14-42, the 12-32, the 45-175, the 42,5 1.7, 12-60 Panasonic...) - not Olympus IBIS or Panasonic Dual IS level, but as far as OIS goes,it is very good. And VERY sharp too - better than all my ordinary Panasonic zooms, even the 12-32, that I consider a little gem. Weather resistant too, if I pick a WR body in the future.
- The AF. In Single AF, a tad slower than M43, but in the range of miliseconds. But in C-AF...never played with the PDAF Olys (probably will get the E-M5 MK III in the future even if I switch systems), or the GH5 / G9 after firmware updates, but comparing to the E-M10 MKIII or the GX9, is miles ahead, VERY reliable and precise. Liked the grouped target modes, the touchpad AF is slow but usable, and the Eye AF is better than the GX9s. For manual mode, the peaking looks better than my cameras too.
- Video AF: works VERY well. Not bulletproof, but much, much more precise than the GX9 (the better that I have in this regard).
- Image quality: ok, very subjective topic here. The last Panasonics (like my GX9) have a much better color science and Olympus color are always lovely. Made a photo shoot of my little daughter some time ago with the E-M10 MK III in good sun light that was gorgeous, incredible skin tones. But yesterday, with dull interior light (ISO 2500 needed), pointed the 18-55 in 35mm (50eq mm) to my daughter, took some shots...and right after that, my mind was made, and got a 35mm f2 from the same person that sold me the camera and a Viltrox 85mm f/1.8.
The pictures look amazing, VERY low noise, perfect skin tones, good boked even in f/3.5, eye AF nailed. Right after tried the same with the Oly 45mm 1.8 and the Panny 42,5 1.7, both with the Oly and the Panny - clear win for the Fuji.
Of course, working the RAWs, for sure I could got the same, or very close results. But I'm tending to prefer already done images when needed, tired of spending time in editing. And the film profiles of Fuji needs very little or no adjustments to my taste (used Provia in the mentioned photos, but Classic Chrome and Astia looked amazing too).
And since I like to shoot music concerts, better high ISO is always welcome - albeit I got very good results with my m43 cameras (specially with the Olympus 75mm 1.8, this lens is out of this world), was even once fetured in the Franz Ferdinand's Instagram account.
Conclusion: if you like your m43 gear, or if you make money from it (making the eventual ending of the system less painful - your body / lenses will generate income, it's devalution could even be an advantage to get better ones in the long haul), or you don't mind if Oly and Panasonic drops the system - stay with it. Not insane advantages from Fuji - maybe better C-AF for video (not so much if you have a PDAF Olympus - but maybe the X-T4 better codecs will make a difference), maybe better C-AF in stills in the lesser bodies, or some high ISO work a little bit better. In fact, if the system continues, and a newer sensor could gain 1 more low light stop (for me, 20mp is good enough), very likely I will come back. Just Live Bulb / Live Composite from Olympus (the most underrated feature of the system, in my opinion) would be enough to justify it. But I live in a country that don't have official Olympus or Panasonic support (Fuji have), prices of the m43 gear here are VERY inflated (I will probably sell my GX9 + 12-60 for MORE money than 1 year ago, when I bougth it), and if the system don't go forward, the prices will drop almost 50% instantly (as happened with the Samsungs, with the excepction of the NX1). As an amateur, I will get the good present oportunity to move the bodies and lenses for the locally good current prices - cannot afford a huge devaluation.
And Fujifilm, here in Brazil, have sometimes VERY good sales prices - got a LiPlay Instax in the official store for the same US prices, and the X-T4 is around 20% than the US price; the usual here for photo equipment is 80 to 100% more than US price because of import taxes (60%).
It is more a case of what you think about the future, and the consequences of the possible outcomings - it will vary from people to people, with geographic reasons in the mix. I will switch (with a LOT of pain in the heart, i really love m43, and will always have some m43 gear), but anyone will have it's opinion.
Feel free to ask some specific questions.
