Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black)
- Price: $399.00
- Free Shipping (USA)
- In Stock
Selected Color: Black
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A memory card is required but not included with this item. Please be sure to purchase a memory card that suits your needs.
This XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black) from Olympus is is a compact camera that delivers exceptional picture quality--beautiful 10MP photos and dazzling 720p HD video with its super bright 4x wide-angle 28-112mm (equivalent) f/1.8 zoom lens and large 1/6.3" CCD sensor. Using the brilliant 3" OLED monitor with 610K dots of resolution, you can compose and view photos, knowing that the dual image stabilization and ISO up to 3200 will chase away those blurry-picture blues.
Six in-camera art filters--Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama and Dramatic Tone--help bring out your artistic side in stills and video. A panorama mode allows you to produce amazing ultra wide-angle panoramas by just shooting three pictures while you slowly sweep the camera across the scene--no tripod required. An accessory port allows the use of the SEMA-1 microphone adapter set and the VF-2 electronic viewfinder (both available separately), while advanced Face Detection improves on every portrait and AF tracking helps you keep moving subjects always sharp and in-focus.
All of this photographic goodness comes in a compact body that's less than 4.5" wide and less than 2" thick, and weighs less than 10 oz.
- 10 Megapixels
- The 10 million pixels in the high-resolution CCD create superior image quality. Create poster-sized prints without losing a single detail.
- Large, High-Sensitivity CCD
- Providing the best image quality ever in a compact Olympus camera, the large 1/1.63-inch CCD enables greater dynamic range and smoother gradations from highlights to shadows.
- 4X iZuiko Zoom Lens
- Based on the standards of Olympus DSLR lenses, the wide aperture of the iZuiko f1.8-2.5 allows a rich and vibrant range of photographic expression. It allows faster shutter speeds in low light - and it allows for a shallower depth of field than most compact point-and-shoot cameras.
- HD Movie 720p
- A simple, one-touch button allows you to record movies with amazing clarity in high-definition, right from your camera.
- Accessory Port
- The XZ-1 includes a port for accessories including the SEMA-1 Microphone adapter set and the VF-2 live-finder, a detachable electronic viewfinder. The viewfinder easily slides onto the camera's accessory port and hot shoe to provide 1.15x magnification for a 100% field of view. The VF-2 rotates up 90 degrees which is useful when shooting subjects from challenging angles. The external accessory port also allows for connection with the SEMA-1 external microphone adapter set for enhanced audio capture.
- In-Camera Art Filters-Movie and Still Images
- With six in-camera Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama and Dramatic Tone) you can explore your artistic side while taking both still shots and HD video. The Art Filters can be applied as you shoot, no additional software required.
- New Easy-to-Use Live Guide Control
- Seeing the results before you shoot can change the way you take a picture. Want more vivid or muted color in your shot? Want warmer or cooler hues? Want a brighter or darker subject, or a sharper or softer background? Or maybe you want to capture the fast-moving action of your subject with a little artistic blur, or perhaps freeze the action? Simply set the camera to iAuto, press OK to engage Live Guide, then press the up and down arrows on the back of the E-PL1 to easily slide through numerous photographic effects. Make adjustments and watch the LCD as the effects are made live -- before the image is captured! Live Guide also features a Tips section on how to compose a shot or shoot kids, pets, flowers and more.
- Dual Image Stabilization
- Dual Image Stabilization combines Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds so you can capture crisp, clear images even if the subject is moving.
- In-Camera Panorama
- Captures three images and stitches them together to create one amazing panoramic picture by simply pressing the shutter button and slowly panning across a panoramic scene.
- AF Live View With AF Tracking
- F Live View works as seamlessly as a point-and-shoot to display subjects, in focus, on the LCD the instant the shutter is pressed half way. AF Tracking locks your subject into focus right on the LCD, and constantly adjusts focus and brightness whether you or your subject is moving. With this mode, a simple push of the AF button and shutter release enables you to keep fast-moving and unpredictable subjects in focus.
- Advanced Face Detection
- Face Detection automatically focuses on your subjects' faces and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.
- TruePic V Image Processor
- In addition to more detail, the image sensor, combined with the next-generation TruePic V Image Processor, delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity and reduced noise, all the way up to 3200 ISO.
Go To
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 10 Megapixel |
| Sensor | 1/1.63" CCD |
| File Formats |
Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: MPEG-4 Audio: WAV |
| Max Resolution | 10MP: 3648 x 2736 @ 4:3 |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Image Stabilization | Mechanical |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens |
11 elements in 8 groups EFL: 6.0-24.0 mm (35mm equivalent: 28-112 mm) Aperture: f/1.8 (W) - 2.5 (T) |
| Zoom |
Optical: 4x Digital: 4x |
| Focus Range |
Normal: 23.62" (60 cm) - Infinity Macro: 3.94" (10 cm) - Infinity Super-Macro: 0.39" (1.0 cm) - 23.6" (59.94 cm) |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| ISO Sensitivity | 100-6400 |
| Shutter |
60 - 1/2000 sec
1
Please Note:Up to 16-minute exposures in Bulb mode. close |
| Exposure Metering | Center-weighted, Digital ESP, Spot |
| Exposure Modes |
Modes: Aperture Priority, Auto, Low Light, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority Compensation: -2 EV to +2 EV (in 0.33 EV steps) |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent, Underwater |
| Burst Rate | Up to 2 fps at 10 MP for up to 2 frames |
| Self Timer | 2 Sec, 12 Sec |
| Interval Recording | No |
| Remote Control | RM-UC1 (Optional) |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes: Auto, Fill-in, Off, Red-eye Reduction, Second-curtain Sync, Slow Sync, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction |
| Effective Flash Range | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| External Flash Connection | Hot Shoe, Wireless |
| Memory | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | 54.6MB |
| Memory Card Type |
SD SDHC SDXC |
| Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | Yes, NTSC/PAL |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 3" OLED Rear Screen (614000 pixels) |
| Connectivity/System Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Connectivity |
USB 2.0 AV Output HDMI A (Full Size) |
| Software Requirements |
Windows: XP, XP (SP2), Vista, Vista (SP1), 7 Mac: OS X 10.3 or later |
| Environmental | |
|---|---|
| Operating/Storage Temperature |
Operating 32 to 104 °F (0 to 40 °C) Humidity: 30 - 90% Storage 68 to 140 °F (20 to 60 °C) Humidity: 10 - 90% |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery | LI-50B Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| AC Power Adapter | F-3AC (Optional) |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 4.35 x 2.55 x 1.67" / 11.06 x 6.48 x 4.23 cm |
| Weight | 9.70 oz / 275 g Camera, Battery & Media |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 68 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
94%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Good image quality (59)
- Easy to use (53)
- Large clear LCD (49)
- Good in low light (47)
- Fast / accurate auto-focus (45)
Cons
- No viewfinder (24)
- Limited zoom (10)
- Short battery life (4)
- Poor flash (3)
- Poor image quality (3)
Best Uses
- Travel (51)
- Family photos (42)
- Low light (41)
- Landscape/scenery (40)
- Video (12)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Photo enthusiast (41), Semi-pro photographer (12), Pro photographer (9), Casual photographer (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (65)
Most Liked Positive Review
Will Help You Make a Decision
I purchased the Olympus XZ-1 about a week ago, and after taking a few photos, I felt I needed to run a comparison to determine if I should keep the camera. One aspect...Read complete review
I purchased the Olympus XZ-1 about a week ago, and after taking a few photos, I felt I needed to run a comparison to determine if I should keep the camera. One aspect of the photos bothered me. I ended up spending nearly a day comparing the XZ-1 to my Nikon D40x D-SLR with two high-definition lenses (including the 18-200 mm zoom) and my Canon A650is, a 3-year-old, $, 12-megapixel point-and-shoot with vibration reduction.Outside of the issue I analyze below, I find the XZ-1 to be an outstanding camera. The best. Build quality is precise. It looks like a work of art. It fits in my pant and shirt pockets (but it is bulky and heavy in the pockets), it functions flawlessly, and the menu system is easy to use with just the right level of detail for me. I don't need or want 200 changeable parameters and settings. Just the basics. What a roll-a-coaster ride this purchase was. My first shots with the XZ-1 on a cloudy day showed a couple of areas of the photos were smeared and lacked detail when I zoomed way in. So I set up a still life and took photos indoors at night under incandescent lighting with all three cameras using similar settings. When I compared the XZ-1 photos to the Canon A650is photos (using Photoshop to zoom way in on the large format shots) the Canon photos seemed much sharper and contained much more detail. The XZ-1 photos looked like they had a watercolor effect applied to them. Detail "seemed" to be missing. I thought I would have to send the camera back. But then I compared the photos from my Nikon D-SLR to the Canon photos, and found the same phenomenon! Even the Nikon photos looked considerably softer than the Canon photos. So I was somewhat relieved, but still was not feeling great as the XZ-1 was the softest of all three. (Note, that in high contrast areas, the XZ-1 was the sharpest. It had this characteristic of being softer in low contrast areas, but much sharper in high contract areas. Quite unusual.) Other reviewers suggested that taking photos in RAW format would eliminate this characteristic. That was not my experience. RAW format helped, but did not eliminate this characteristic.The next day was sunny. Great light. I setup a still life outside and repeated the comparison with all three cameras and four lenses. What a difference. The XZ-1 blew all challengers out of the water. Yes, the XZ-1 simply killed my Nikon D40x D-SLR with 18-200 mm high definition lens. Killed it. No comparison. I was amazed. The XZ-1 defined the term sharpness. I was now feeling elated about the XZ-1.Then, with the XZ-1, I photographed my back yard, which is filled with trees and ferns starting about 50 feet away. I examined the photos using Photoshop, and when I zoomed in, many areas of leaves and ferns—particularly those far away—were smeared together. Now I am NOT feeling good about the XZ-1. What should I do? Finally, I took the same backyard shot using both Nikon lenses on my Nikon D-SLR. Guess what? The Nikon photos had the same smearing in exactly the same locations. So did the Cannon. Not quite as bad, but the smearing was there. Clearly this was not a camera issue so much as an analog-to-digital, optical, or who-knows-what phenomena. Now I am feeling very good about the XZ-1. I woke up the next morning, and at dawn, indoors, with really poor lighting, started snapping photos with all three cameras. I used the cameras' zoom feature to compare details of the photos side-by-side. The bottom line was the zoomed images of all three camera on any given spot in the photos were completely different. Each camera had its own way of interpreting the data and creating a jpeg. I finally started to realize that the XZ-1 was actually doing the best job. While the low contrast areas might have been a bit softer than I would like, the high contrast area were incredibly sharp, much more than the other cameras. When viewed at normal sizes, this characteristic produced outstanding images when viewed on a computer monitor.So I finally concluded that this characteristic of the XZ-1 is not bad, it is just different. It is the Olympus way of interpreting the data. Just like a guitarist will pick a certain guitar that will help form his or her art, the idiosyncrasies of an individual camera will help you form your art.In closing, I found the XZ-1 photos to be outstanding, better than my consumer D-SLR. I believe I found the ultimate carry-along camera that enables me to take "show quality" photos when I see a shot. I am keeping the camera and expecting it to serve me well for many years.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Great lens but noisy images
On the plus side the Olympus XZ1 has a sharp fast f1.8 lens. It is very compact, 3 ounces lighter than a Canon G12 or Nikon p7000, and accepts the accessories of the Olympus...Read complete review
On the plus side the Olympus XZ1 has a sharp fast f1.8 lens. It is very compact, 3 ounces lighter than a Canon G12 or Nikon p7000, and accepts the accessories of the Olympus Micro Four Thirds format, including the EVF (electronic viewfinder), and produces RAW files. It also has a ring at the base of the lens for changing lens openings when in Aperture Priority, or shutter speeds when in Shutter Priority (Tv). A good feature. It generally handles very well except it could use a right front grip.
Speed: Turning on the XZ1 I was impressed at how speedily it was ready to shoot.
Olympus Master 2 software for RAW: painfully sloooow. On a Macbook Pro redraws took 30 seconds (viewed at 1:1) for EACH adjustment of sharpness, contrast, saturation, etc.,!! The XZ1 is too new for Adobe Camera Raw plug-in so I was stuck with using Olympus's software.
Even moderately contrasty subjects exhibited CA (chromatic aberration) red/blue fringe at the edges of the frame at f4.5 at the wide end (28mm equiv.) which was impossible to eliminate using the Olympus software. After generating a TIF from RAW using the Olympus software, I opened the files in Adobe Camera Raw to further enhance or eliminate CA.
A solid field of light grey or mistuned surfaces (viewed at 1:1) exhibited a subtle yet definite noise pattern of alternating red/blue patches, whether the Noise Filter was OFF or LOW, and that is disturbing for RAW. Color splotchiness was also visible in shadows but less apparent. The solution was in Adobe Camera Raw's Noise Reduction color setting at 40, which evened out the color and eliminated the noise (but also affects the blurring of sharp details).
One feature I use in cameras is the AE LOCK to lock an exposure setting, recompose, and shoot several shots. I could not find a way to do this with the XZ1 (other than depressing the shutter release halfway).
Video: the XZ1 DOES autofocus during video but does NOT zoom. It also has a dedicated button on the back just for video.
Image Stabilization was excellent for handheld exposures even at 1/10 of a second.
Conclusion: I really wanted to like and keep the Olympus XZ1, it is so compact and light and has such a fast lens. But I make prints larger than letter size and noise in RAW became an issue. Unfortunately with contrasty subjects even at f4.5 I found that there was always a residual chromatic aberration or color fringing that I could not be rid of even working with RAW files. The Canon G12, although bulkier, gives sharper results from RAW, more accurate color, smoother fine-toned JPEGs, and more controls. I returned the XZ1.
Reviewed by 68 customers
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Pros
- Beautiful image quality
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Full manual control
- Full menu
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Macro works very well
- Nice Panorama
- Short Lag Time
Cons
- F8 is the highest f stop
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Sports/Action
- Travel
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife photos
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I carry this camera with me virtually everywhere. It has stunning optics, (it takes gorgeous macros!), full manual control, the same full menu options as my full sized Olympus E520 SLR and the ability to shoot quality pictures in low light conditions. I love being able to get closeups of wildflowers almost as pristine as with my Olympus 50mm macro lens, nice wildlife shots on cloudy days, beautiful sunsets without a tripod or special color adjustment and family dinners without using flash.
Two limitations I can think of. One is that the f8.0 is the highest f stop. The other is a modest zoom. But Olympus makes a teleconverter that can be added.
Summary: I LOVE THIS CAMERA!
- Ease of Operation:
- 10
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Large Clear LCD
- Nice Body Color
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Poor Image Quality
Best Uses
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I really wanted to love this camera. It had all the makings of a great, smart and flexible point and shoot. The image quality, however, left something to be desired. At every ISO, the jpgs came out smeared. I didn't have any better results when I processed the RAW files.
I also found the video to be useless as the camera is constantly finding its focus.
- Ease of Operation:
- 9
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Short Lag Time
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I carry the XZ-1 when I don't want to lug a dslr and it does not disappoint. ISO is great through 400, I find most situations seldom need a faster setting due to the lens. The lens is super sharp, even wide open and a pleasure to use. While not the cheapest alternative I think the XZ-1 is well worth the cost.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good in Low Light
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Small / Compact
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
Purchased this small Olympus point-n-shoot for one of our college students to take "day in the life" kind of shots (no experience with cameras what so ever...except smart phone imaging). This small camera is built like a TANK! I was really surprised at how heavy it was when I first picked it up. The images are superb. I had no idea point-n-shoots has evolved to this level of excellence. At least this one has. Think I'll purchase one for our family outings and leave my pro-DSLR at home. This camera has many manual settings as well as auto and full-auto. Even has a hot shoe! Very nice, solid little package.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Short Lag Time
Cons
- Limited Zoom
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Sports/Action
- Wildlife photos
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
Have taken this camera on two dives in the pt-050 housing. Having upgraded from the C8080 I am very pleased with the results. Much better color definition and of course writing raw files in 1 second really helps!
- Ease of Operation:
- 9
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Short Lag Time
- Small / Compact
Cons
- No Viewfinder
- Short Battery Life
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I read a lot about poor 'JPG' processing before I purchased this camera. Let me set you straight, this camera produces excellent 'JPG' images at all ISO's right out of the camera (with no post processing). No I don't print 24 x 36 images but for an 11 x 14 print this camera is a gem! The best JPG's I've seen from any compact digital camera. Another advantage, this lens is razor sharp! Olmypus has a real winner here.
- Ease of Operation:
- 6
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Short Lag Time
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I was looking for a compact camera to supplement my DSLR when traveling. Years ago I bought a Canon G9 and promptly sold it due to the high noise in the images. I kept my eye open for a reasonably priced, well featured camera that boasted high image quality. Finally the XZ-1 came. I read many reviews on it and can agree with most of them.
The camera is well sized for me, some complain that it's bulky...but a pro SLR is bulky. I can't stand the slippery little cameras that everyone seems to have these days. It's much easier to hold when the camera has some body to it.
There are complaints that the controls are too small and I agree fully with this. And they are not immediately intuitive, like macro mode (a bit of an oddity in itself) requires hitting the macro button, then the info button, then selecting the mode you want.
The JPEG images that this camera produces are vigorously sharpened in-camera and for real find detail (especially low contrast texture detail) it's better to go RAW.
There is a fantastic control dial around the lens, reminiscent of the old f-stop rings on manual lenses many years ago. This really helps in manual mode, as well as Aperture and Shutter Speed priorities.
The lens is fast. f1.8 when zoomed wide. It's also satisfactorily sharp even wide. The shutter lag is also tolerable. If you are used to an SLR like I am, you have to accept that there is going to be some shutter lag and time between shots. As long as you know this it is not a problem.
The flash is a bit weird, but I'm not using it much. there is a hot-shoe which could be nice, but most flashes are bigger than the camera, so I don't see much reason for it. Except...
This camera has an underwater housing offered by Olympus as well as Ikelite. The Ikelite housing supports the flash hot-shoe.
Here's an odd thing that I'm not too pleased with: In camera battery charging via proprietary USB cable. That's not cool. If you lose your cable (or even want to charge a battery while using your camera) you are out of luck. There are other companies that make wall chargers for the LI-50B. The camera comes with a wall-to-usb adapter, but of course you still need to put down your camera to charge the battery.
Overall this is a great camera with features tailored toward users that want more control. (But they must have nimble fingers to use many of those controls.) I will be traveling (and diving) with this camera in the Philippines and am confidant that it will perform well.
And there are lots of complaints about the lens cap. If you are used to a lens cap it is not a problem, if you don't know what a lens cap is then you might have trouble keeping this really nice lens in good shape.
- Ease of Operation:
- 7
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Large Clear LCD
- Small / Compact
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
Good quality, easy to use, best for travel.
- Ease of Operation:
- 9
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Nice Body Color
- Short Lag Time
- Small / Compact
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife photos
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
Still learning the fine points of this fine camera.
One can do so much with the features that are in the programs.The pictures that I have taken are sharp and true to color.
- Ease of Operation:
- 8
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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- You may also flag this review
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Short Lag Time
- Small / Compact
Cons
- No Viewfinder
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
- Wildlife photos
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I have been looking for a small camera that would fit in my travel bag but also gave me many of the features of my big bulky Nikon SLR. This camera fits that bill. I love it. The pictures are awesome and the size perfect. I am a complete amateur and like simple techniques to taking pictures. This one fits that bill also.
I would definitely rec. It
- Ease of Operation:
- 9
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Limited Zoom
- No Viewfinder
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
- Wildlife photos
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
Great all around camera
- Ease of Operation:
- 9
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good battery life
- Good Image Quality
- Large Clear LCD
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Limited Zoom
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Travel
- Video
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
The image quality and fast 1.8 lens make this an excellent choice for travel. I have not seen any other camera match the low light pictures taken with this. I would appreciate a little longer telephoto on the zoom, but I can crop to get the content I would have gotten with a slower zoom on a DSLR and still have very good picture quality. The biggest plus, though, is having the additional advantage of HD video with good stabilization. I am amazed at the video quality, even from hand-held shots. I have numerous Olympus DSLR and SLR cameras, and this new entry to the collection is a real treasure.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Small / Compact
Cons
Best Uses
- Underwater with pt-050
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
Great compact. A lot of manual settings. F 1.8!
Best use underwater with pt-050.
- Ease of Operation:
- 9
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
- Poor Image Quality
Best Uses
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I seem to be of the minority opinion but I have not been satisfied with any images from this camera. The edges on my images are really poor and looked very smudged at any magnification. They look fine at first glance on the monitor but quickly degrade as soon as I zoom in at all. It seems that my Canon S40 from the early 2000's even got better pics so I am baffled. I am a dSLR shooter and wanted something for the pocket so I thought this was the holy grail. It is fast but the jpeg's seem awful and the raw images not much better. I can't figure out what I am doing. I wanted to like this camera but the images make me wince when I think of the camera costing >$400. I think I'll go with the G12 but don't want to jump the gun if a G13 is coming out in the near future.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Awesome lens
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
Cons
- A bit large
- Limited Zoom
- No Viewfinder
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Travel
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
Its a great camera. I have this and the canon s95, I like the photos I'm getting from the olympus better. They are both pretty similiar except for the lens which I think is much better on the olympus, which is to be expected since good lenses are usually better than thier small counterparts. However this makes the camera not as pocketable as the canon. I don't mind the size and am willing to sacrifice for better pictures especially in low light. As a going out/vacation camera i prefer its low light capabilities for going out at night since I sometimes don't want to take my big slr. Overall its a great camera- better than the canon s95 in my opinion but in a larger package due to the lens.
- Ease of Operation:
- 10
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Nice Body Color
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Limited Zoom
- No Viewfinder
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I'll be going to Hawaii soon and decided that my previous Canon SD870 wasn't going to be good enough. My original thought was to get a DSLR but I didn't want to worry about breaking it or lugging around something so big.
After some research I decided that the XZ-1 was a good balance between image quality, performance, and portability. So far after using it for a couple weeks it would seem my research holds true.
The image quality is very nice and has excellent low light performance due to the bright lens and big sensor. The build quality is also superb with a lot of dials which makes navigation easy.
My only gripe would be that it uses a lens cap rather than some built in iris. Other than that no problems so far and couldn't be happier with the camera.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Small / Compact
Cons
- No Viewfinder
- Poor Flash
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I bought this camera to use it when I don't want to carry my DSLR with me. I have had the camera now for about a week and it fits to my needs really well.
Although the flash is pretty poor the fast lens compensates it. IS helps you getting sharp images even with a bit longer exposure times.
I would prefer having a viewfinder, but can manage without. The screen is bright enough that you can see it in bright daylight so it helps.
- Ease of Operation:
- 7
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Short Lag Time
- Small / Compact
Cons
- No Viewfinder
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
- The XZ-1 is an excellent (perhaps the best in class for stills) camera, primarily due to its fast f/1.8 lens and good zoom range (28-112mm w/ f/2.5 at the long end.)
- The user interface is very good and much simpler than the E-PL1's which I owned prior to the XZ-1.
- Image quality is excellent and the colors are (to me) more pleasing than the Canon S95, which I also own.
- A few users complain that noise reduction is too strong in JPEGs; I can't complain about the JPEG quality. RAW is available for picky post processors.
- Video quality is acceptable but the AF does hunt in video mode. Using Manual focus is preferable in video mode.
- One of the best features is Super Macro mode. Combined with the fast lens, Super Macro produces very nice 'bokeh'.
- The optional OVF-3 electronic viewfinder improves composition and focusing in bright light.
- Ease of Operation:
- 9
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Small / Compact
Cons
- Lag / Shutter Delay
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I was looking for a small, light camera to carry with me everywhere since my Nikon D7000 was too bulky. I did my research and found this gem. Small but powerful, with point-and-shoot, P, A, S, M capabilities, plus digital zoom. The picture quality is amazing. While it doesn't save pix as fast as my Nikon, its size, weight and features more than compensate for that. I don't take videos, so can't comment on that feature.
The only drawbacks I found were the location of the review pix button, which gets in the way of one-handed shutter release, (I was riding a horse at the time), and a shorter battery life than my Nikon.
- Ease of Operation:
- 9
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast/accurate auto-focus
- Good Image Quality
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Large Clear LCD
- Nice Body Color
- Small / Compact
Cons
Best Uses
- Travel
Comments about Olympus XZ-1 10MP Digital Camera (Black):
I am taking photos almost exclusively with my DSLR, but wanted something smaller that I can always carry with me in a pocket, and that is less bulky on hiking trips etc.
I did a lot of research on the Internet for the best possible camera for me.
My criteria were
* As high-quality optics as I can get
* Reasonably compact, needs to fit in a pocket of my jacket
* Don't care so much about JPEG or video, as I shoot RAW stills.
* A plus for low-light performance
The XZ-1 came out as the clear winner. In some reviews, you can read about some issues in some rare circumstances (like low light) while shooting JPEG, but I don't care about that since I'm shooting RAW.
I don't find the control wheel hard too small to use, but then my fingers are pretty small.
The user interface is very intuitive. The only thing I found I had to look up in the manual is how control shutter speed when shooting in full manual (when shooting in aperture priority or shutter priority, the ring around lens is used to control the setting; in full manual, the ring controls aperture and it's not obvious how you control shutter speed).
The one thing I have found to be a problem with the camera is that the lens cap tends to pop off accidentally at times. I've seen an aftermarket lens cap that I'll give a shot.
- Ease of Operation:
- 9
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-20
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Memory Cards
Required item: Sufficient memory is not included so be sure to have enough storage capacity.
- Price: $9.99
Batteries & Power
Always keep a spare battery handy so you won't get caught without power.
- Price: $27.99
- Price: $16.16
Bags & Straps
Carry, store, and protect all your equipment with a bag or a strap.
-
- Original: $13.95
- Save: $1.39
- Price: $12.56
Lenses & Adapters
Capture the right view with a conversion lens.
- Price: $34.99
Viewfinders
Refine your angle of view.
- Price: $249.00
Flash & Accessories
Get a flash to add light to your picture.
- Price: $199.00
Card Readers
Download your pictures faster and save battery life.
- Price: $9.95
What's in the Box
- Lens Cap
- Lens Cap Strap
- CD-ROM (ib and OLYMPUS Viewer2)
- USB Cable
- Audio Video Cable
- Shoulder Strap
- Battery Charger (F2AC)
- Lithium-Ion Battery (Li-50B)
- Instruction Manual
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
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