Olympus XZ-1 Review

Main Features

10MP - 1/1.63" CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3″ Fixed Type Screen

2 fps continuous shooting

1280 x 720 video resolution

275g. 111 x 65 x 42 mm

$548.89

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Olympus XZ-1 Overview

First introduced in January 2011 , Olympus XZ-1 is a 10.0MP Small Sensor Compact camera with a 1/1.63" (8.07 x 5.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor.

Olympus XZ-1 has an Overall Score of 58/100 and ranked #31 out of 626 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #357 out of 1171 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Olympus XZ-1 Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Olympus XZ-1 Compared to other Compact Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Olympus XZ-1 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Image Stabilization

External Flash Shoe

Electronic (Optional) Optional Viewfinder

RAW Shooting

Face Detection Focusing

11 Focus Points

614k dots LCD Resolution

Long Battery Life (320 shots)

275g Light Body

Manual Focusing

Manual Exposure

Fast 1.80 Lens at Wide

Fast 2.50 Lens at Tele

Panorama Shooting

Built-in ND Filter

Buy Olympus XZ-1 from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

Electronic (Optional) No External Viewfinder Option

Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP

Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps

No Environmental Sealing

Poor Low Light image quality

Olympus XZ-1 Sensor and Photography Features

Olympus XZ-1 has a 10.0MP 1/1.63" (8.07 x 5.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features TruePic V processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 3664 x 2752 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. XZ-1 has a native ISO range of 100 - 6400 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Olympus XZ-1 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Olympus XZ-1 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Olympus XZ-1 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 34 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Olympus XZ-1 here.

Let's look at how the size of the Olympus XZ-1's 1/1.63" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Olympus XZ-1 Physical Specs

Olympus XZ-1 weighs 275 g (0.61 lb / 9.70 oz) and has external dimensions of 111 x 65 x 42 mm (4.37 x 2.56 x 1.65″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Olympus XZ-1 is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 42mm, it is not small either, 13mm thicker than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Olympus XZ-1

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Average

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Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Olympus XZ-1

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Average

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Here is the front and top view image of Olympus XZ-1 with the dimensions:

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Olympus XZ-1, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Olympus XZ-1 with its main competitors:

Olympus XZ-1 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Sensor	Weight	vs XZ-1	Thickness	vs XZ-1
Olympus XZ-10	12.0MP - 1/2.3"	221g	54g lighter	34mm	8mm thinner
Olympus XZ-2 iHS	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	346g	71g heavier	48mm	6mm thicker
Panasonic LX5	10.0MP - 1/1.63"	271g	4g lighter	43mm	1mm thicker
Panasonic LX7	10.0MP - 1/1.7"	298g	23g heavier	46mm	4mm thicker
Fujifilm X10	12.0MP - 2/3"	350g	75g heavier	57mm	15mm thicker
Canon S120	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	217g	58g lighter	29mm	13mm thinner
Fujifilm X30	12.0MP - 2/3	423g	148g heavier	60mm	18mm thicker
Canon G16	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	356g	81g heavier	40mm	2mm thinner

Olympus XZ-1 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Olympus XZ-1 Lens

Olympus XZ-1 features a 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 4× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 28mm, and 112mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

XZ-1

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

XZ-1

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Providing a max aperture of f1.80 at 28mm, this lens is remarkably fast on wide end. Even better, having an aperture of f2.50 on tele end, this lens is exceptionally fast through out its range.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

XZ-1

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

XZ-1

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

XZ-1 is also equipped with Sensor-shift image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Olympus XZ-1's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.

Olympus XZ-1 Other Features

LCD and Viewfinder

Olympus XZ-1 has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 614k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

XZ-1 doesn't have a built-in viewfinder but an optional external viewfinder is available. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare) or Fujifilm X30 (Compare).
If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

Max Shutter speed
Olympus XZ-1 can shoot continuously at max speed of 2 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

Flash
XZ-1 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

Focusing
Olympus XZ-1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 11 points to choose from.

Olympus XZ-1 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

Video Features
With Olympus XZ-1, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

XZ-1 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker.
Olympus XZ-1 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 or Fujifilm X30 in a similar price range.

Connectivity and Storage

You can connect XZ-1 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Battery Olympus XZ-1 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 320 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, Olympus XZ-1 has a good battery life for its class.

Battery Life Comparison in Small Sensor Compact Cameras

Olympus XZ-1

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Average

Max

Fujifilm X30 with its 470shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Compact cameras. Check the comparison of Olympus XZ-1 vs Fujifilm X30 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

Olympus XZ-1 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Olympus XZ-10 >>Compare to XZ-1	1920 x 1080	240shots	No	No	No
Olympus XZ-2 iHS >>Compare to XZ-1	1920 x 1080	340shots	No	No	No
Panasonic LX5 >>Compare to XZ-1	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Panasonic LX7 >>Compare to XZ-1	1920 x 1080	330shots	No	No	No
Fujifilm X10 >>Compare to XZ-1	1920 x 1080	270shots	No	No	No
Canon S120 >>Compare to XZ-1	1920 x 1080	230shots	Yes	No	No
Fujifilm X30 >>Compare to XZ-1	1920 x 1080	470shots	Yes	No	No
Canon G16 >>Compare to XZ-1	1920 x 1080	360shots	Yes	No	No

Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Olympus XZ-1 is $548.89

What type of Photography is Olympus XZ-1 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Olympus XZ-1 in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the XZ-1 compares with the average Compact camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Olympus XZ-1 for Portrait Photography

Olympus XZ-1 has a score of 69 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode

Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/1.63" (8.07 x 5.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-1 for Portrait Photography

Olympus XZ-1 for Street Photography

Olympus XZ-1 has a score of 88 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Image Stabilization
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80

28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
RAW shooting capability
Small Body
Small 1/1.63" (8.07 x 5.56 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-1 for Street Photography

Olympus XZ-1 for Sports Photography

Olympus XZ-1 has a score of 34 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theXZ-1.

11 Focus Points
Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
External Flash Shoe
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability

Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
112 mm Tele Lens

Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-1 for Sports Photography

Olympus XZ-1 for Daily Photography

Olympus XZ-1 has a score of 69 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
275g
RAW shooting capability

4X Optical Zoom
Body Thickness 42mm
Small 1/1.63" (8.07 x 5.56 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-1 for Daily Photography

Olympus XZ-1 for Landscape Photography

Olympus XZ-1 has a score of 45 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
RAW shooting capability

Small 1/1.63" (8.07 x 5.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-1 for Landscape Photography

Olympus XZ-1 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Olympus XZ-1 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of XZ-1 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Olympus XZ-1 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Olympus XZ-1

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Olympus XZ-1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Olympus XZ-10

Compare

Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Compare

Panasonic LX5

Compare

Panasonic LX7

Compare

Fujifilm X10

Compare

Canon S120

Compare

Fujifilm X30

Compare

Canon G16

Compare

Olympus XZ-1 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Olympus XZ-1 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Olympus XZ-1's price range.

Sony A7

Compare

Panasonic GX8

Compare

Olympus E-M5 II

Compare

Olympus E-M10 II

Compare

Panasonic GX85

Compare

Sony A6300

Compare

Canon M50

Compare

Canon M5

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Olympus XZ-1

Does the Olympus XZ-1 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Olympus XZ-1 have RAW support?
Does the Olympus XZ-1 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Olympus XZ-1 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Olympus XZ-1?
What is the Sensor Size of Olympus XZ-1?
is the Olympus XZ-1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Olympus XZ-1 have Touch Screen?
Does the Olympus XZ-1 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Olympus XZ-1?

Olympus XZ-1 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Olympus
Model	Olympus XZ-1
Announced	2011-01-26
Body Type	Compact
Price	$548.89
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	28-112 mm (4×)
Max Aperture	F1.8-2.5
Macro Focus Range	1cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Technology	OLED
Screen Size	3″
Screen Resolution	614k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	60s
Max Shutter Speed	1/2000s
Continuous Shooting	2.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	34
DxO Color Depth	18.8
DxO Dynamic Range	10.4
DxO Low Light ISO	117
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	1/1.63"
Sensor Dimensions	8.07 x 5.56 mm
Sensor Area	44.87mm²
Sensor Resolution	10 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	3664 x 2752
Max Native ISO	6,400
Min Native ISO	100
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	11
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Video Formats	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	275g
Physical Dimensions	111 x 65 x 42mm
Battery Life	320 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	Li-50B
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage Slots	1