Olympus XZ-1

60

Winner

Olympus XZ-1

"The XZ-1 combines simple direct controls with an excellent lens to create probably the best photographers' compact currently available."
dpreview.com | talking about the XZ-1's overall-performance
"Despite the lack of any protruding grip on the front of the camera, the XZ-1 still sits pretty comfortably in the hand."
dpreview.com | talking about the XZ-1's feel

Reasons to buy the Olympus XZ-1

Sensor size
Large sensor
1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
Aperture
Wide aperture
f/1.8
Light sensitivity
High ISO
6,400 ISO
Screen type
OLED Screen
Bright and vivid
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Samsung EX1

56

Runner-up

Samsung EX1

Reasons to buy the Samsung EX1

Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
Aperture
Wide aperture
f/1.8
Wide angle
Wide angle lens
24 mm
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Screen type
OLED Screen
Bright and vivid

differences

Advantages of the Olympus XZ-1

Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
Around 20% larger sensor
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The XZ-1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 1.5 fps
Help
More than 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 320 shots vs 240 shots
Help
More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Weight Lighter 275 g vs 386 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 16s
Help
Around 4x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/2000s vs 1/1500s
Help
More than 20% faster max shutter speed
Olympus XZ-1 Learn more about
the Olympus XZ-1

Advantages of the Samsung EX1

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
More than 10% better wide angle
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 614k dots
Help
Around 50% higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.1 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 40.0 vs 34.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 129 ISO vs 117 ISO
Help
The EX1 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Size Smaller 114x63x29 mm vs 110x64x42 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Color depth Better color depth 19.2 bits vs 18.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.7"
Help
More than 30% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $386.26 vs $499.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $113 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Samsung EX1 Learn more about
the Samsung EX1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro digicams, and ignoring price

Olympus XZ-1 Olympus XZ-1
60 vs 56
Explain scores
Samsung EX1 Samsung EX1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus XZ-1.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Olympus XZ-1 or the Samsung EX1,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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by Luke-Pettett 5 days ago
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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Very wide aperture Help
f/1.8
Screen type OLED screens Help
Bright and vivid
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
XZ-1:1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm
EX1:1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
XZ-1:614k dots
EX1:920k dots
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Lowest price Very expensive Help
XZ-1:$499.00
EX1:$386.26
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Color depth Poor color depth Help
XZ-1:18.8 bits
EX1:19.2 bits
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Movie format Poor movies Help
XZ-1:720p @ 30fps
EX1:480p @ 30fps
Zoom Poor zoom Help
XZ-1:4x
EX1:3x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
XZ-1:110x64x42 mm
EX1:114x63x29 mm
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
10 MP
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
XZ-1:117 ISO
EX1:129 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Sensor size Has a significantly larger sensor
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has significantly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$300 - $315

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon Coolpix P300

Pro digicam

$299

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash

Olympus XZ-1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Olympus XZ-1.

Samsung EX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Samsung EX1.

appearance

Olympus XZ-1 Samsung EX1
Olympus XZ-1 Samsung EX1
Olympus XZ-1 Samsung EX1

discussion

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