Randyh Loc: Calif.

Hello,and Happy New Year's day. I'm curious as to anyone owning the Olympus xz-1 camera and how do you like it. Is it a difficult camera to learn to operate? I've just recently let go of my Canon g 12 due to neuropathy in my hands. I had the Canon for about six months. I'm really still a newbie to photography.
I used a neck strap and tether so as to not drop it. It had become big for me to just handle and use. I've read on dp review and other sites about these cameras My search started with a Canon S 95, Panasonic Lx 5, Olympus ZX 1. So far the reviews favor the Olympus Zx1.
Are there any Olympus ZX 1 owners here that would be kind enough to help me in my choice for my next camera? I really want to keep shooting. I appreciate any and all replys to help me choose a camera. Thanks. Randy H

CanAmPete

Randy, I have had an XZ-1 for half a year or so and my feelings about it are mixed.

First, it really is no smaller or lighter than the Canon G12. I borrowed one of those from a friend for about a month but HATED it -- not for anything deficient in its quality, but I could not get used to its fiddly ergonomics. My thumb was forever pushing some button I didn't want pushed.

After I gave it back and bought my Oly, my Canon friend and I compared the two cameras side by side and I was surprised to note his G12 was just about the same dimensions and heft as my XZ-1. I would have sworn my Oly was smaller, but it's not, not significantly.

I'm fairly pleased with the Oly's performance, considering its small size, and its ergonomics definitely better suit my hand. However, I am still pushing buttons or turning control wheels I didn't mean to. This means I sometimes find myself accidentally recording video, or changing ISO (or some other parameter) by mistake, or getting blurry shots because the auto focus didn't hold on my intended subject. Shutter response seems pretty sluggish to me, too, I miss a lot of photogenic moments that my Canon DSLR would have captured effortlessly.

Other frustrations involve the lack of an articulated screen (I did like that about the G12) and the difficulty of seeing the screen display in bright daylight. (Indoors it's fine.) And the thing really is just a bit too big and heavy to comfortably carry in a shirt pocket.

I bought an Optima belt pouch, but that isn't really satisfactory either -- its padding makes it bulky, and its belt loop closes with velcro, so it sometimes falls off my belt.

I've installed the Richard Franiac accessory grip, which is a nicely machined piece of aluminum that glues onto the right side to provide a better hold for your 2nd finger. That works as advertised and I can recommend it.

I've pretty much dealt with the well-known loose-fitting lens cap issue by using a length of very slim lanyard and a small spring-clip. This lets me tether the cap either to the Optima belt pouch (so the cap comes off when I pull out the camera) or to another lanyard I've attached to the camera as a wrist strap. In this latter case, I carry the camera in my right hand (the Franiac grip really helps here, tho it gets to be a tiring way to carry the camera) and when I want to shoot, the act of powering on the camera extends the lens and pops off the lens cap. This then simply dangles on its lanyard, which also is an annoyance, but less so than losing the cap.

As I say, I have mixed feelings about the XZ-1. I guess that for me, at least, it's the best of the current crop of always-with-you little picturemakers, but it's still a long way from perfect.

Hope this helps you decide. Best New Year wishes.

CanAmPete

Oops, where I spelled it "Optima belt pouch" I should have written "OP/TECH"