We have collected 8 reviews of the Olympus XZ-1. Experts rate Olympus XZ-1 7.9/10. Reviewsor.com helps you find reviews, best prices, user reviews of the Olympus XZ-1 and Olympus Digital cameras.

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Olympus XZ-1 Reviews

PCWorld

04/2011

7.0/10

Olympus XZ-1

When you compare the Olympus XZ-1's features with those of the vast majority of point-and-shoot cameras, it absolutely blows them out of the water. We're talking about things like an F1.8 lens, full manual controls and manual focus, RAW shooting, a click-control ring around its lens to adjust in-camera settings quickly, exposure- and white-balance bracketing modes, a built-in neutral density filter, a 10-megapixel CCD sensor that's bigger than most, a hot shoe for various accessories, and a 3-inch OLED screen. Great things, all of those. But the problem with premium compact cameras is that, despite outclassing the lion's share of point-and-shoots, they ultimately have to compete with one another. The Olympus XZ-1 ($500 as of 4/18/2011) is certainly a versatile camera with a great range of features, but it falls short of similar high-end cameras in one way or another, and novices might have a hard time getting the most out of it. This camera leaves quite a bit to be desired in Auto mode, and accessing most of its features requires a fair bit of menu-diving. Some of its more-enticing features--the control ring around its lens and its manual focus controls, in particular--are better implemented in some of its direct competitors.

Imaging Resource

04/2011

Olympus XZ-1

With the market's increased focus on low light photography, it seems quite proper that Olympus has jumped into the fray, introducing the XZ-1, a high-end pocket camera with a fast f/1.8 lens and HD video recording. Designed to compete with the likes of the Panasonic LX5, Canon S95 and G12, Nikon P7000, and Samsung TL500, the Olympus XZ-1 is a first for the company; though it harks back to the larger C-2040, Olympus's first digital camera with an f/1.8 lens, dating back to 2001. Olympus is quick to point out that the XZ-1 is the first pocket camera to have a Zuiko-branded optic built in. Officially dubbed Olympus i.Zuiko Digital, the new lens ranges from 6-24mm, or 28-112mm equivalent, with a widest aperture range of f/1.8, changing to f/2.5 when zoomed. The smallest available aperture is f/8, with 1/3 stop increments available in-between the largest and smallest apertures. Though early literature dating back to photokina 2010 referred to the lens as "fixed," what they mean is that it's not removable; it most certainly does zoom. Its optics aren't the only story with the Olympus XZ-1, however: it also has a 3-inch OLED display with 610,000 dots. Olympus says the OLED "reproduces colors and shades more accurately with deeper black tones," while using less power than an LCD.

PCMAG

03/2011

7.0/10

Olympus XZ-1

The feature set and performance of the 10-megapixel Olympus XZ-1 ($499.99, direct) is far beyond that of most compact digital cameras. Its standout feature, an extremely bright (f/1.8) lens, will allow you to give your flash a break and capture much more natural-looking photos. This bright lens, alongside an image sensor double the size of most other same-class cameras, produces the best images you'll get from a compact shooter. There are also plenty of manual controls and accessory ports, which are a nice bonus. The only downside to the XZ-1 is that its size and price put it up against cameras with significantly larger image sensors. The Editors' Choice Sony Alpha NEX-3 ($549.99, 4.5 stars) and Olympus's own E-PL1 (3.5 stars), which currently lists for $499.99, will both deliver much better images and video for essentially the same price. The body of the XZ-1 measures 2.55 by 4.35 by 1.67 inches (HWD) and weighs 9.44 ounces. It may or may not fit in your pocket, and certainly won't fit comfortably. If you're looking for a truly compact camera, the Editors' Choice Canon PowerShot S95 ($399.99, 4 stars) fills the bill, and costs $100 less.

DigitalCameraInfo

03/2011

Olympus XZ-1

After spending several years developing its PEN brand of interchangeable lens cameras, it seems Olympus is ready to re-enter the market of high-end point-and-shoot cameras. As it turns out, the company's first attempt in about ten years is a home run. The Olympus XZ-1 is packed with manual controls, sports a fantastic control ring, gives users a beautiful 3-inch OLED screen, and features a stellar F1.8 Zuiko lens. Oh... and the picture quality is pretty great too. The ZX-1 is available in black and white for an MSRP of $499.99. The Olympus XZ-1 performed well in our color tests—unsurprising, given the camera’s high-end demographic and high-end price tag. We tested the XZ-1 across all picture modes and found that the Muted picture mode produced the most accurate colors. (Color error in Muted mode was 3.68, with a saturation of 104.7%.) This wasn’t far off from the camera’s Natural mode, so you should have no trouble achieving accurate colors if you choose either picture modes. More on how we test color. The models we chose for comparison are all top-notch performers, so the differences you see in this score comparison chart are nit-picky at best.

DigitalTrends

03/2011

8.5/10

Olympus XZ-1 Review

Review: The Olympus XZ-1 digital camera offers aspiring photographers a chance to step up to better image quality and manual controls, without all the bulk and expense of a full DSLR.The XZ-1 is a new addition to the Olympus lineup, and packages the power of a DSLR into…well, almost point-and-shoot size. While the device might be a little much for some pockets (not all) to handle, its capability and simplicity should at the very least cause pause before your next camera purchase.Unlike some Micro-Four-Thirds or even beginner DSLRs, there’s nothing intimidating about the make and mold of the XZ-1. That said, novices might find themselves relying on its iAuto settings before rushing into any of its manual capabilities. But once you get there, you’ll be happy you took the plunge.Olympus also outfits the XZ-1 with a highly capably OLED display, and of course, a wide-angle lens that can step up to just about any dimly lit scenario.Our first impression of the XZ-1 is how sleek and compact the wide-angle camera feels. Its chassis is very reminiscent of the Nikon CoolPix P300. It’s remarkable that manufacturers are able to fit extremely capable lenses onto such discreet bodies, and looks alone will tell you the XZ-1 is a pocket cam.

What Digital Camera

03/2011

9.0/10

Olympus XZ-1 review

The Olympus XZ-1 marks a welcome return for Olympus to the advanced creative compact category, a sector in which it was once a leader, but in recent years had abandoned for the mass volume, point-and-shoot market. The Olympus XZ-1 incorporates some of the best features and innovations from rival creative compacts such as the Canon Powershot S95 and Panasonic Lumix LX5, as well as from its own ground-breaking Pen series of compact interchangeable-lens cameras. In fact the Olympus XZ-1 bears so many similarities to the latest Pen, the E-PL2, that it could almost be described as a smaller, fixed-lens version.Creative compacts like the Olympus XZ-1 are aimed primarily at hobbyists seeking a high quality pocket camera as a lighter alternative to the unwieldy DSLR system that they most likely also own. To pass muster with this discerning audience there are several key features that these cameras must possess to distinguish them from your run of the mill point and shoot: a larger sensor, a superior lens with wider maximum aperture, full manual control, and the ability to shoot raw files. The Olympus XZ-1 ticks all these boxes, plus a couple more nice-to-haves, such as a hotshoe for external flash and, almost uniquely for a compact, the option to attach an electronic viewfinder.

TechRadar

03/2011

8.0/10

Olympus XZ-1 review

The 10-million-pixel Olympus XZ-1 enters a market in which compact and compact system cameras are becoming increasingly popular. In addition to the burgeoning collection of interchangeable lens hybrid models, the enthusiast photographer who wants to travel a bit lighter now has options available from Canon (PowerShot G12), Leica (X1), Nikon (Coolpix P7000), Panasonic (Lumix DMC LX5), Ricoh (GR Digital III) and Sigma (DP1x and DP2s) as well as Olympus, and soon Fuji will enter the fray with its X100. So if the XZ-1 is to prove a commercial success for Olympus it's going to have to offer snappy performance and deliver top-knotch images.With the exception of the APS-C format models from Sigma and Leica (and Fuji in the next few weeks), the Olympus XZ-1 has the largest sensor of the popular enthusiast-level compact camera collection, with a 1/1.63-inch CCD unit. This is only matched by the Panasonic LX5, while the Canon G12, Nikon P7000 and Ricoh GRD III have 1/1.7-inch devices. A larger sensor should give the Olympus camera an advantage as it often allows for bigger photosites, which usually means less image noise.

DigitalVersus

02/2011

8.0/10

Digital Camera Reviews: Choose the Best Compact Camera

While the Pen range of compacts with interchangeable lenses is still going strong, Olympus has launched another new toy to attract the attention of advanced photographers. The XZ-1 is an expert compact that may not look like anything out of the ordinary, but this camera is full of nice surprises Launching with an RRP of £400, the Olympus XZ-1 is definitely aimed at the high-end, expert-level market. The camera has a fairly simple interface, a compact body and is pleasant to handle. However, some of the options clearly show that this camera is as suitable for beginners as it is for advanced users. As well as all the usual expert settings, including a dial for choosing the exposure mode (P, S, A, M), the XZ-1 also features the kind of automatic scene modes typically found in mainstream compacts, as well as creative filters and an Auto Intelligent mode. Similarly, the settings accessible via the click-round wheel on the back of the camera are standard options (flash, focusing, self-timer and exposure correction) and there's no way of directly accessing certain more advanced functions like exposure metering, white balance or saved exposure settings.

Prices

Information	Prices
Olympus XZ-1 10 MP Digital Camera with f1.8 Lens and 3-Inch OLED Monitor (Black)	$399	See it
Olympus XZ-1 10 MP Digital Camera with f1.8 Lens and 3-inch OLED Monitor (White)	$399	See it
Olympus XZ-1 10 Megapixel Digital Camera, 4x iZuiko Digital Lens, Amoled 3.0 inch Monitor, HD Movie/HDMI Control, 1/1.63in CCD, White	$399	See it
Olympus XZ-1 10 MP Digital Camera with f1.8 Lens and 3-inch OLED Monitor (White)	$399	See it
Olympus XZ-1 10 MP Digital Camera with f1.8 Lens and 3-Inch OLED Monitor (Black)	$399	See it
Olympus XZ-1 X Series 10 Megapixel Digital Camera - White	$399.99	See it
Olympus XZ-1 X Series 10 Megapixel Digital Camera - Black	$399.99	See it
Olympus Xz-1 Digital Camera Black Bundle Iomxz1bkp	$421.21	See it
Olympus Xz-1 Xz1 Fast F/1.8 Black Digital Camera	$499.99	See it
Olympus Xz-1 Fast F/1.8 White Digital Camera + 2gb	$499.99	See it
Olympus XZ-1 Digital Camera (Black)	$499.99	See it
Olympus Olympus XZ-1 Digital Camera (Black)	$499.99	See it
Olympus Xz-1 Fast F/1.8 Black Digital Camera + 8gb	$499.99	See it
Olympus Xz-1 10.0 Mp Digital Camera - Black & 16gb Sdhc Memory Card + Bundle	$550.29	See it
Olympus OLY-XZ1 10MP Digital Camera w/ 4X Optical Zoom	$569.96	See it
XZ-1 White	$863.99	See it
XZ-1 Black	$879.14	See it