Have a compact camera with fast, professional style lenses to big time in the past year blowing was.
Olympus joined the fun but only recently. Yes, the company some models for simple and quick style with "produced - almost" г.г - apertures back in the early 2000s the chunky 4 Megapixel Olympus C - 4040, with its f/1.8 lens was one of our favorites at the time. But he has been late, its focus on mirrorless interchangeable lens, micro four thirds camera such as the PEN E PL2.
All this changes with the new 10-Megapixel Olympus XZ-1, a stylish small camera with a stunning attached lens: a 4 X zoom (28-112 mm equivalent) with a minimum illumination of f/1.8.
The lower the aperture number, the larger the opening in the lens, so that more light, the sensor to beat makes for better photos in dim conditions (theoretical). Camera of nerds already professional photographers know the importance of this - the most essential part of any camera bag - consider a f / 1.8 DSLR lens, but at the level of the consumer, it is a big step from the norm.
The f/1.8 is but a little different with compact cameras. You can only reach this aperture, when you drag the camera lens back to the widest focal length - create 28 mm in the case of the XZ-1 - and as the probe into a simple and quick so small, it is hard to get shallow depth of field blur background beautiful portrait photos.
There are other benefits to a fast aperture, however, not least of which is, disable this nasty Flash on your camera and crisp to capture crisp photos even in the dark. Some of the XZ-1 competitors such as the 10-megapixel Canon PowerShot S90 and Panasonic Lumix LX5, which boast both f/2 lenses are true low-light killers. You can click No matter how bleary-eyed you feel sharp photos of your pals in the pub. In fact, the LX5 liked it so much we named camera of the year 2010.
The XZ-1 used in addition to its fast lens, a larger than average imaging chip for a simple and fast: a 1/1.63-inch 10 MP CCD, the the same size as our favorite LX5. With this one-two punch, plus a number of interesting features packed in a sleek, attractive camera body the XZ-1 should quite the little sniper, right? Well, Yes and no.
Although the all-black XZ-1 I have tested (it comes also in white) is similar to some competing cameras in this category, there are a few differences. On the one hand, the iZuiko brand is f / 1.8 lens not fully in the body like the lens on the S90, so withdraw the camera over an inch thicker than the PowerShot at its widest point.
This was not such a big deal – it's still pretty thin – to annoy me but what the dangling lens cap was. If you choose to use the CAP, you must bind hole with the supplied line on the collar or it will fall off when the camera expands its lens during spin up. Mounting the strap and the camera cord into this hole but good luck. It is a struggle. On the other hand, if you decide to do without the CAP, which the above lens has received too smudged a tendency.
Also, the tiny buttons and excessive Spartan layout on the back of the camera are disappointing. Because the XZ-1 allegedly photographers is aimed at may know their way around f-stops and shutter speeds, is, why it is not key to the camera for ISO, white balance, or other important creative features? Yes, you can on some of these with the control ring around the lens on the front of the camera, but there is an additional step, which will slow you down.
And while the 3-inch OLED screen with a 610, 000-dot resolution to back of the XZ-1 sweet is, the camera menu system is overloaded and intuitive. The napkin size quick start guide was also not much help in the sense of the settings and menus. If you want to do a deep dive on the XZ-1 functions, you need to pop in a CD-R, display the full user manual. Not convenient.
The good news is that if you find anything on the XZ-1 it hums like a well-oiled machine. The camera uses Olympus' TruePic V processor and powers up and is ready to photograph in one and a half second. Shutter lag is almost non existent in good light and little in low light. I liked the red one-touch video button on the back of the camera under the mode dial, which immediately the camera is roles in its 720 p, 30 fps HD video mode.
