Olympus XZ-1 review

At 2.1 frames per second, shooting action would be somewhat of a challenge. While the AF tracking seems to work, it turns off the target display while shooting so you can't tell where it's focusing. There are two higher-speed burst modes, but they only work in Program mode and they drop resolution to 5 megapixels. Single-shot autofocus works well, however, and the camera feels quite responsive when shooting. Plus, the OLED display remains mostly visible in direct sunlight. It's not good for judging exposure or color decisions, though; like most, it seems to be optimized for punchy playback instead of accuracy, with cool, saturated colors and higher contrast than the images.

The camera has a straightforward and functional but attractive design that makes it comfortable to hold and shoot. Like most of its competitors, it's not very compact, but still small enough to fit in a jacket pocket or to throw in a bag. The highlight is the control ring on the lens, a la the Canon PowerShot S95, which you use to change shutter speed, aperture, scene--whatever the most important adjustment is in the context of your shooting mode. It has a nice feel, with decisive clicks for each stop.

On top, the XZ-1 has a hot shoe and the same accessory port for an add-on EVF as the PEN ILC models. The controls and mode dial are on the small side but probably would be OK unless you have very large hands. The mode dial has the usual PASM, auto, and scene modes, as well as an Art Filter mode with six of Olympus' typical options. It doesn't let you layer or select options for the filters the way you can with the PEN models. There's a Custom setting--easy to save but hard to edit--that allows you to save a single set of adjustments.

The XZ-1 operates much the same way the rest of Olympus' cameras do, with a separate, easier interface in Auto and the standard quick menu for most commonly accessed shooting settings.

I generally have no complaints about the design save the horrible, old-fashioned lens cap that flies off when you extend the lens. If point-and-shoots can muster up built-in electronic lens covers, why can't their more expensive siblings?

All the essential features are here, plus some nice extras like a built-in neutral density filter, a connector for an EVF, USB charging, and, of course, the wide-aperture lens with the biggest zoom range for its size.

Conclusion
Overall, I like the Olympus XZ-1; it has a lot to recommend it compared with the competition (see our roundup of compact cameras for advanced shooters). I just wish its photos were a little cleaner.