Olympus just announced a smaller, more affordable high-end XZ-Series compact digital camera. The new Olympus Stylus XZ-10 has a fast f/1.8-2.7 5x zoom lens (26-130mm equivalent), 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, manual shooting modes, RAW shooting, a customizable control ring, touchscreen LCD display and full HD video. The main difference between the XZ-10 and the more expensive XZ-2 is a larger 1/1.7-inch sensor for even better image quality. However, with an f/1.8 lens, a lot of the same features and for $200 less, the XZ-10 is a great choice for photographers who want a super-capable compact camera. Plus – the smaller XZ-10 is perfect for carrying in your pants pocket so you’ll always be ready for surprise photo opps. It also happens to be a damn fine-looking camera. I really like the white version.
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 Key Features And Specs:
- 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch backlit CMOS sensor with iHS technology
- 5x 26-130mm f/1.8-2.7 (equivalent)
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- Customizable “Hybrid Control Ring” around lens and Fn button
- TruePic VI image processing
- P,A,S,M manual shooting modes for stills and video
- RAW mode
- 1920 x 1080 full HD video with built-in stereo mic
- 120 FPS 720p HD video
- Multi-Motion Movie IS image stabilization
- Sensitivity: ISO 100 to 6400
- 920k-dot 3-inch touchscreen LCD display
- 5 FPS full resolution high-speed burst
- Pop-up flash
The XZ-10’s 5x f/1.8 lens is a big deal – especially in a $400 camera. For those of you show don’t know, the larger f/1.8-2.7 aperture lets more light reach the sensor for better low light shooting. It also creates shallower depth-of-field, which can be used for creative effect with portraits and any other situation where you want your subject to stand out from the background.
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 Pocket Camera With f/1.8 Zuiko Lens
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 Pocket Camera With Touchscreen Display
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 With f/1.8 Lens & Customizable Control Dial
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 High-End Pocket Camera - Black
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 High-End Pocket Camera - Brown
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 With 3-inch Touchscreen - Brown
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 Premium Pocket Camera With f/1.8 Lens - Brown
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 Pocket Camera With f/1.8 Lens - White
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 With Touchscreen LCD - White
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 - Top View With f/1.8 Lens & Control Dial - White
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 High-End Pocket Camera - White
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 Premium Compact Camera - Front & Back
I’m really impressed by how much Olympus has packed into the XZ-10. I’ve already mentioned the obvious stuff – the f/1.8 5x zoom lens, P,A,S,M shooting modes, RAW shooting, etc. Some of the less obvious but cool details are 720p HD video at 120 frames per second for super-slow-mo video clips; Touch AF Shutter, which allows you to focus and shoot very quickly just by touching your subject on the LCD display; Photo Story, which creates multi-image themed layouts for quick sharing (see the short demo video below); and Olympus’s Live Guide to help inexperienced photographers take advantage of the camera’s manual controls. The XZ-10’s 11 Art Filters and the Photo Story feature offer social media addicts tools for creating Instagram-like effects at higher quality, right in the camera. Just add a Toshiba FlashAir or Eye-Fi SD card and you can wirelessly transfer those images from the camera to your Smart Phone and share them from anywhere.
Olympus XZ-10 Photo Story Feature Demo Video:
The Olympus Stylus XZ-10 is a great option for photographers who want a small, relatively inexpensive camera with a great lens and lots of features. It’s scheduled to be available in March (2013) in white, black and brown for a suggested retail price of US $399.99.
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 Press Release >>
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All Olympus Digital Camera Reviews
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Olympus Web Site
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