New Olympus XZ-1 challenges Canon S95

There’s almost no question that the Canon PowerShot S95 dominated the high-end small digital camera roost this holidays. Both S95 and it is predecessor the S90 happen to be wowing photo fanatics searching for superior image high quality in an exceedingly small body because the S90 arrived in 2009. These days, Olympus is wishing to topple Canon off its pedestal with the statement of it is new Olympus XZ-1.

Olympus XZ-1

The high-end small market is beginning to get a bit packed, with other contenders such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, Nikon CoolPix P7000, and Samsung TL500 — as well as Canon’s other prosumer small, the PowerShot G12. But why is the S95 stand out for most customers is it is small and light construct, simplicity of use, and great low-light efficiency.

As the XZ-1 isn’t quite as small as the S95, it’s still fairly trim, roughly how big the LX5 and smaller and lighter in weight than the P7000, TL500, and G12. Where it shines, though, is it is super vibrant iZuiko lens — the 1st Zuiko lens Olympus has used in a compact digicam. The 4x zoom lens is among the brightest zoom lens yet seen in a compact photographic camera, with a highest aperture of f/1. 8 at the wide position and f/2. 5 at telephoto.

Evaluate that to the S95’s 28-105mm, f/2. 0-4. 9 and it’s most likely that the XZ-1 can give the S95 serious competitors in low-light overall performance. Furthermore, the XZ-1 includes a devoted low-light mode that instantly adjusts ISO awareness up to ISO 3200 in addition to an Autofocus Illuminator for concentrating in dark conditions.

Another stand-out functions is the XZ-1’s high-resolution 610, 000-dot, 3-inch OLED display. The OLED technologies should provide the display deeper blacks and higher comparison ratios compared to TFT screens in most but the TL500 that provides a similar 3-inch AMOLED display.

For ease-of-use, the XZ-1 takes a web page from the Canon S95 with its new control ring round the lens. Combined with wheel controller on the back again of the digital camera, the control ring enables you to easily access all guide settings on the fly.

Being an added reward, the XZ-1 works with many of the add-ons made for the Olympus PEN digital cameras, including the FL-14 and FL-36R flash models, the VF-2 electronic viewfinder, the SEMA-1 Mic kit, along with the newly introduced Macro Arm Light MAL-1, that we love.

The Olympus XZ-1 will be white and black body options and will deliver this month for $499. 99. A new marine housing for the XZ-1 may also be available in Jan.

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