Review: Olympus XZ-1 - by Soon Ruey


What don't I like about the camera after 48 hours of use

1. The lens cap that drops off everytime I switch on the camera and not remove the cap first. Fortunately the set comes with a lens cap strap or else I would have lost the cap long ago :(

2. The black surface looks terrible after a few hours of use as finger print marks become very obvious. The white version may be a bit better than the black in this respect

3. Absence of a decent grip. An EP1 type og grip would be great

4. Lack of an AEL/AFL button but generally I am still okay without it. I can half press the shutter and that should work...

5. The straps rings for the shoulder starps are very small and decent hand grips available in the market do not fit.

6. No dedicated external battery charger included in the package. In camera charging. Fortunately however, I currently have a Tough 6010 which uses the same battery, and I am using the Tough 6010 as a charger so that I don't have to wait for charging to continue to use the camera.

7. Focusing on manual focus should have been on the front rotating ring than on the back dial.

What I like..

1. The ART filters. The Dramatic Tone filter is great!!

2. The Super Macro Mode

3. Usable pictures up to ISO 1600 (if you don't pixel peep)

4. Built in flash with wireless control

5. Ability to use many of the PEN assessories

6. Nice colour reproduction in Auto WB mode

7. Nice sharp pictures.

8. Presence of the control ring as well as the control dial at the back.

9. Small enough for me to carry in my 'Murse' all the time.
 

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The PEN ( I am using the EP1/2 and EPL1) uses a BLS battery and has an external charger. The XZ1 uses a LI-50B battery and is charged in camera. Though you can buy an external charger for it.

May I know how many shots can be taken with this battery? Thanks.
 

320 shots as compared with LX5, 400 shots
 

Good Job, S Ruey :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Thanks for the review.
 

Kudos on the effort and thank you for putting in the time to do the write up too... :thumbsup:
 

Some photos taken against the sunlight....:cool:







 

Just to add on a bit....

The shutter button is quite depressed and I think a soft touch button would be great for some who may find a depressed shutter difficult to use. With a soft touch button, focus and exposure lock may be easier plus there will be less camera shake. But again, this may not be everyone's cup of tea...
 

I had some questions about Auto Iso as well....

Auto Iso is between ISO100-ISO800

High Auto ISO is between ISO100-ISO3200

Candle Mode ISO is between ISO100-ISO3200
 

Hi..guys & gals...

I believe many of you would have bought the XZ1 by now...please do add in your thoughts to this thread. I am also learning about the functions of the camera and I certainly would love to see how much more this little cam can do... Thanks.
 

just a silly sounding question, can the auto ISO limit be set? if yes, is it on all modes or only limited to a few modes? thanks!
 

just a silly sounding question, can the auto ISO limit be set? if yes, is it on all modes or only limited to a few modes? thanks!

Auto ISO limit is preset...I dont think can change but will have a look in the manual again.
 

Accessories for the XZ1

My wish.....

A decent wrist strap

Maybe leatherette stickers for the front like that available for the PENs ( will reduce finger print marks plus make it less slippery)

A soft touch button

A lens cover ala Ricoh style

A leather body case?
 

Very nice review, and the XZ-1 is impressive!

There were two ads in the Straits Times today, one was on the rear page of the Home section, headline was "The Power of Isolation - DSLR can do it, so can the XZ-1!", presumably highlighting the f1.8 lens.

The ad also featured a huge picture of a boy holding a butterfly with a great bokeh effect. Hilariously, it was a picture taken by an E-5, not by the XZ-1. To be fair the ad does state this, but I just found it a bit misleading.
 

Very nice review, and the XZ-1 is impressive!

There were two ads in the Straits Times today, one was on the rear page of the Home section, headline was "The Power of Isolation - DSLR can do it, so can the XZ-1!", presumably highlighting the f1.8 lens.

The ad also featured a huge picture of a boy holding a butterfly with a great bokeh effect. Hilariously, it was a picture taken by an E-5, not by the XZ-1. To be fair the ad does state this, but I just found it a bit misleading.

Ha...ha...that is a good one!
 

thanks for spending the time on this review.

do you have any shots at full zoom with largest aperture to test the subject isolation qualities to post please? thanks!

noticed that most if not all of the shots were at wide angle :)

great oly colors from the cam
 

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i wonder if alex majoli might be tempted to shoot with the XZ-1.....:think:
 

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