I always felt that manual controls are not for slowing down, but speeding up 
The more dials, the quicker I can achieve what I want, without going into menus, or even looking at the camera body.
As long as the camera has 3 independent controls I can twiddle (eg two dials and an exposure control), I am usually fine. I like Panasonic bodies because they offer an amazing amount of customization, you can assign every button to pretty much everything, even crazy combinations.
Here is a concrete recommendation on the low budget side, for micro 4/3:
So you should get a reasonable starting kit for around €600, cheaper if you buy direct on Ebay etc, I linked MPB above but explore your options.
The logic behind this kit:
Explore similar vintages along these principles, eg a Sony NEX-6 with a 50mm prime for portraits, and you can assemble a similar kit for the lens mount of your choice, that you can sell with little loss later on.
What does the tripod weigh? If it is light, then putting a heavy camera on it will be unstable, eg it could wobble or blow over in the wind. If it is heavy, then it can be used with heavy cameras. If you carry a heavy tripod, then the choice between heavy and light cameras won’t make a significant difference to the total weight you are carrying.
For example, my usual tripod weighs 4.5kg, and has no problem holding my usual FF DSLR (about 1kg). My lighter tripods are okay at holding the camera in one position, but lousy for long exposures.
Of course, you could always replace your tripod, if needed.
For long exposures, a cable release is invaluable. Sadly, most cameras can’t use a traditional cable release, and instead need stupidly expensive electrical cables with switches.
So many buttons and dials, almost all programmable, is part of what made me buy my camera. And now I quite often forget what I set some of them to do 
Until recently, I did not have a lens with an aperture ring. I now do have. I prefer it — but still use my usual aperture dial, wondering why it is doing nothing, until I remember!
Same here! I regularly find myself thinking “I need an easier way to change X, maybe I’ll bind it to this button”, only to find out X is already bound to that button and I’ve forgotten about it 
I’m so good at forgetting things that I turned pro. So I keep a document where I record every customization I make to my camera, the reason(s) for doing it, the steps to set it up, and soon (if I don’t forget) how to undo the change. I also keep a list of the fastest way to do anything, given my setup. It helps a lot when life prevents you from getting out to shoot for a month or two (sadly, that happens).
All I need is one piece of paper in the camera bag showing the button/dial assignments. That, and remembering to glance at it occasionally as a refresher.
But to do that, first I need to get a-round-tuit. My mum gave me one once, but that was decades ago.
(Seriously, Sony’s new-menu setup for this stuff is reasonably easy to find and glance through.)
I’m really not a ‘features’ person, but dang, IBIS got my attention. Didn’t even consider it when buying the camera, but it has all but eliminated the need for me to carry a tripod for my usual shooting.
I have never tried a Panasonic camera, but I like the fact they are part of the L mount alliance. Do they offer more customization than other brands? What would you say is the distinguishing feature / USP of a Panasonic camera? For example, for OM Systems it might be weather sealing and computational features; for Fuji it might be their film sims and compact lens ecosystem; for Sony it might be their autofocus, innovation, etc.
I think it is getting a lot of controls and features at a price point that is much lower than other lineups. Eg for Panasonic, even travel zooms had zebra patterns for ages, you get enthusiast-priced MILCs with a ton of control, etc. It’s not that other brands do not have these, it’s just that they reserve them for the more expensive models.
That said, I am not that happy about their current micro 4/3 lineup, small cameras are sorely missing. I hope that will change soon.
Note that the L-mount is their full frame offering and as such it is relatively recent. I think that micro 4/3 used to be great because Panasonic and Olympus were not holding back anything for their “serious” full frame lineup, as they did not have one for a long time (Olympus still doesn’t, Panasonic does with the L-mount).
In comparison, whenever Canon, Sony or Nikon add something to their APS-C line, they are competing with their “pro” full frame models. It is not an accident that APS-C cameras are generally the second tier, for no solid technological reason.
Agreed. I don’t know if you saw this Richard Wong video (his technical test videos are quite comprehensive, btw) where he argues that expectations among consumers for new features like PDAF autofocus and other sensor improvements mean it’s hard to produce a camera with enough battery and heat dissipation that’s cheap enough to be attractive and guarantee a return. People complained that the S9 was only a little cheaper than the S5ii for quite a bit less function but smaller size.
It sounds like they need to think differently and stop trying to shrink a full-frame camera. Maybe if they tackle it as if they’re enlarging a phone camera instead
Ok, ok, adding in interchangeable lenses might need to be considered…
But I agree that having a wider range of smaller cameras would be great. I don’t like the oft-promoted narrative that full-frame is the benchmark. It’s just one option of where to take cameras, not the only option.
Their very good ergonomics is what I missed the most when I switched from Lumix m 4/3 to Sony A7 … since I got used to the sony …
The upgrade in quality (m4/3->FF) for a not so bigger body is not something I would reconsider though.
The controls buttons and dials conversation has be going on and I think it’s an important ppart of ergonomics but body size/weight and assistive functions to manual shooting (zebras and focus assists options) are also as important to me
I am not sure if this is the real reason. I think that they just need time to develop a lineup with PDAF and ML-based subject detection, which wasn’t in their portfolio before. Camera bodies take years to develop, and they prioritized the flagships first (G9ii and S1). Also, keep in mind that a refresh will pretty much kill demand for earlier cameras which they are still selling (g[ x ] 890whatever, I hate their model numbering).
Yes, it’s just speculation
By the way, off the back of the X-M5, the rumour is that Fuji is releasing a 1" sensor camera soonish. There aren’t that many details yet, like whether it will be a fixed lens or ILC. My hunch is that it will be fixed and very entry-level, so probably not of interest to me. But good to hear that a larger range of smaller cameras will be available. For me, a viewfinder is a must, and it seems that’s one of the first things to go when they design cheaper and smaller cameras.
Panasonic already has a lot of 1" compacts available, with EVF, like the neat tz100 (which I happen to own). Some of the Sony RX100 compacts also have an EVF and a 1" sensor, they are more premium.
I would love to see a MILC with a 1" sensor, but for compacts, it is hardly a novelty (except all of those are zooms). Smart move if Fuji does this, they made a cult item of the x100 series so they can pull it off. People enjoy small cameras that are not full of various gimmicks.
Returning back with new information, and from what’s available near me.
Ok, I think I’ll up my budget to $1300.
So far, I’m liking these:
I’m leaning toward 2nd because it’s Canon, which is what I used before the mirror got wrecked by the sunlight through accidental exposure. And it seems to be a much newer variant of it. Exchangeable lens. And finally, tripod mountable.