NickTrop
Veteran
I've been meaning to post about the Olympus XZ-1 that I picked up on a whim because I got a good deal on one and include some samples but kept forgetting. I am at work w/o access to photos or I would. I am very impressed with this little guy after swearing off small sensor digitals. Very rangefinder-esque. Noise starts becoming an issue at ISO 800 and beyond but the image stabilization is so effective and lens so bright you'll hardly need to go beyond that.
Highlights:
1. LENS! The 28-112 1.8-2.5 lens on the camera is a (as they say on the photo blogs) "superb performer". It is sharp at all apertures from corner to corner. The focal length chosen by Olympus is excellent -- for phtographers. It's really like having a bag full of great fast primes. It is the only digicam that Olympus designates with Zuiko, and they weren't kidding.
2. BOKEH! Yup, you can get surprising level of bokeh out of this thing zoomed out to 112mm. I have never seen this in a small sensor compact. (I have some nice examples of this but, alas, I can't show you...)
3. COLORS! Absolutely love the Oly colors. (Reminds me of Kodak Ultra Color -- punchy but not unnatural...)
4. NO Shutter Roll in vid mode (XZ-1 only). The XZ-1 uses a 1.63" CCD. No shutter roll in video mode which. I. hate.
The XZ-2 uses a slightly smaller back-lit CMOS sensor and is supposed to have better high ISO performance. Same lens.
The XZ-1 is a bargain on the used market. Great second camera when you don't want to carry a lot of lenses and gear. Did I mention the lens is a "superb performer"?
Highlights:
1. LENS! The 28-112 1.8-2.5 lens on the camera is a (as they say on the photo blogs) "superb performer". It is sharp at all apertures from corner to corner. The focal length chosen by Olympus is excellent -- for phtographers. It's really like having a bag full of great fast primes. It is the only digicam that Olympus designates with Zuiko, and they weren't kidding.
2. BOKEH! Yup, you can get surprising level of bokeh out of this thing zoomed out to 112mm. I have never seen this in a small sensor compact. (I have some nice examples of this but, alas, I can't show you...)
3. COLORS! Absolutely love the Oly colors. (Reminds me of Kodak Ultra Color -- punchy but not unnatural...)
4. NO Shutter Roll in vid mode (XZ-1 only). The XZ-1 uses a 1.63" CCD. No shutter roll in video mode which. I. hate.
The XZ-2 uses a slightly smaller back-lit CMOS sensor and is supposed to have better high ISO performance. Same lens.
The XZ-1 is a bargain on the used market. Great second camera when you don't want to carry a lot of lenses and gear. Did I mention the lens is a "superb performer"?
Snapper_uk
Well-known
I was beginning to think I was the only one who had one of these, considering the number of mentions this little beauty gets on RFF.
I'm mostly film, but the XZ-1 does for my digital snappings. I'd go along with everything Nick says above - an under-rated camera for sure.
I'm mostly film, but the XZ-1 does for my digital snappings. I'd go along with everything Nick says above - an under-rated camera for sure.