Back in December I picked up a Canon S95 and explained my thinking in an article here Review - Canon PowerShot SX30 IS I’m still very happy with the S95, but for the first time since buying it I’ve used a camera that has created some doubt about the purchase. That camera, the one that could possibly win my heart where the Panasonic LX-5, Canon G12, Samsung TL-500 (EX-1), and Nikon P7000 could not, is the Olympus XZ-1.
The XZ-1 is the hottest new camera in the high-end point-and-shoot category. Priced at $500 (with an MSRP of $549) it takes the place of the Panasonic LX-5 as the premier $500 compact, especially since the LX-5 has since dropped to $399 (though the S95 has actually gone up in price, to $412, on Amazon.com). The XZ-1 packs a relatively large sensor, an f/1.8-2.5 lens, 4x optical zoom, and a brilliant 3-inch OLED display. It has just about all the features of Olympus’ PEN E-PL2 camera aside from the detached lens. The XZ-1 even has a hot shot and accessory port.
Size is a crucial issue with point-and-shoot cameras, so it’s something to consider with XZ-1. It’s bigger than the S95 and the LX-5, but smaller then the E-PL2 or E-P2 PEN cameras. So it’s definitely a compact camera, but it’s not pants-pocketable and it’s dangerously close to the size of the Panasonic GF1 Micro Four Thirds camera with the pancake lens. Sure, that setup doesn’t have as versatile a lens, but it does have a great sensor and it takes excellent pictures. The XZ-1 comes with a neck strap, but I think it’s a better size for a wrist strap, which says something good about its size/weight. For people that regularly carry bags the size will be a non-issue as it’s not large or heavy enough to feel like any more of an addition in a bag than the S95 or similar camera.
As far as controls go, the XZ-1 keeps things simple. There aren’t that many buttons on the back, just like a basic consumer camera, but there is a dedicated video button. It effectively has two dials–one on the back and then a ring around the lens, which (like the S95) can act as a secondary dial. This is not very useful in basic modes (where it tends to either do nothing or control the ISO) but once you move to manual it means you can control both shutter speed and the aperture without messing with any software. All the dials are fine-tuned so they are easy to turn without ever accidentally moving.
Ergonomics are top-notch, making a compelling case for a slightly larger point-and-shoot. The metal body feels great in the hand and this camera seems to be quite solidly built. The knurled metal control ring around the lens is a really nice touch, as well is the metal door over the HDMI/USB connections. The flash is spring-loaded and can be manually popped out with the flip of a switch, making for another nice touch.
The software menus are basically what we’ve seen from Olympus before, which is to say easy to use and relatively intuitive. There are some minor issues, for example getting to macro/super macro means you have to go into the AF zone control and then hit Info, and then choose your Macro mode. Things like this are annoying but overall the camera is easy enough to control if you can deal with having DSLR-like power in a camera without that level of physical controls.
When it comes to photo quality the XZ-1 is very good. Images are sharp, colors are great, and pictures are taken without a hitch thanks to a quick, reliable auto focus. JPGs look great, RAWs look even better, and the camera takes great images up to ISO 1600. After that there is more noise but images are very usable. Macro on the camera is fine, nothing too special, and while 4x optical zoom beats some of the competition its still not great for the camera’s size.
While image quality is very good, video quality is sub-par. It’s fine that the XZ-1 can only take up to 720p but the resulting video isn’t as sharp as it could be and the autofocus isn’t great. This is a camera for taking still images. (Sample video)
As much as I love shooting with the XZ-1 I never forgot that, at $500, it’s an expensive camera. This makes minor issues seem much worse than they are. For example, for $500 I’d like to see a lens cap that will stay on the camera. The one the XZ-1 includes is miserable. I’d also like to see a battery charger, not charging using an AC adapter and the USB port. And because the camera has an accessory port all the cool extras (like an external audio input) are all paid-for accessories.
So, overall, the Olympus XZ-1 is a fantastic camera if you are looking for a serious compact. It’s fun to use and takes fantastic images. That noted, the video needs work and if you want something this size you should seriously be considering Micro Four Thirds. If you want to stick with a fixed lens I’d recommended the XZ-1 over the Canon G12 or the LX-5. The S95 has a size and price advantage so that will come down to user preference.
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