Fuji X10 or Oly XZ1?

Biro

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Steve
I'm trying to give my brother some advice. He's got a Nikon D7000 and full kit. But now, he's looking for a compact, fixed-lens camera for travel with the family. He's currently considering both the Nikon P7100 and the Canon G12.

I've brought both the Olympus XZ-1 and Fujifilm X10 to his attention. Now, at first glance, the Oly might seem like the value proposition here. But let me ask this of the Serious Compacts best and brightest: What would you choose - the XZ-1 with optional VF-2 electronic viewfinder, or the X10 with its built-in optical viewfinder?

Inquiring minds want to know!
 
I currently own both :)

They are both wonderful cameras in their own way and it depends on weather you like the form factor style of each as they both take great photos.

Flickr is a great place to see what can be done with these little beauties.
 
Hi thekeddi, may I request a side-by-side comparison if the size of XZ-1 and the X-10, and maybe just a common point of reference, say a regular paperback? Thank you!
 
Here's a link to a side by side photo:

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/fujifilmx10/images/SidebySideFr.jpg

I had the XZ1 for about a week. I returned it primarily for two reasons. First, in aperture priority, the auto ISO refused to go beyond 400. Or maybe it was 200. Second, the noise reduction in JPG was very strong even at low ISO. So JPG's looked a little smeared at times. I'm typically a RAW guy. But on point and shoot cameras, I'll typically just stay with JPG's.

I got the X10 two weeks ago. So far, I absolutely love it. Great JPG's, great low light performance (for a point and shoot), and lots of cool features like a very easy to use sweep panorama and the pro focus mode (which creates a fake bokeh). I took the X10 and X100 to a recent vacation trip, and I ended up using the X10 much more than the X100.
 
I think the XZ1 is nice and compact. Buy it if you want a very usable P&S with wonderful IQ.
But I would recommend a X10 if you are going to use the viewfinder on a regular base.
Unless you already own an Olympus M43 or you are going to buy one soon., in that case go for the Xz1 and share the electronic VF.
 
I think the XZ1 is nice and compact. Buy it if you want a very usable P&S with wonderful IQ.
But I would recommend a X10 if you are going to use the viewfinder on a regular base.
Unless you already own an Olympus M43 or you are going to buy one soon., in that case go for the Xz1 and share the electronic VF.

My wife has an E-PL1, so I can use its EVF (amazing, but nothing compared to the NEX-5N's!), for my XZ-1 - very, very nice!

The wife's NEX-5N with the E18-200 is an amazing piece of camera, far beyond my XZ-1, and even past my K-5!

No experience with the X10, nor the X100, sorry!
 
NEX and compact?

The wife's NEX-5N with the E18-200 is an amazing piece of camera, far beyond my XZ-1, and even past my K-5!

No no no way!
NEX-5N even with the standard kit lens is no more compact. You can only place 16mm prime on it to call it in that category.

And with 18-200mm massive lens!

I beleive the Camera itself is good but without any sensible lens option the excellent IQ is pale in-front of any M4/3 or DSLR from Canikon or Pentax banks.

Oh and your K5 is lovely, try 16-50 and 50-135mm both at f2.8, or any of the excellent primes from Pentax. The IQ on K5 is better than NEX as they got the same sensor chip from Sony, but K5 still get better underlying assembly so better readouts.
 
Back to the topic of the forum, I just returned X10 yesterday with tears in my eyes for its WDS bug. Search on that guys before committing to it. Or wait till Fujifilm fix it and then get it immediately, as the camera is amazing, in almost all fronts.

If they won't fix the bug in another couple of months, I may buy Oly XZ-1, As I really want a fast processor and bright lens camera in an enthusiast compact body. Well have already tried LX5 (very good) with its limiting lens range and really not interested in Canons/ Nikons (big and not as bright-lens).
 
I decided to go for the XZ instead of the X10 (I have the x100 and intend to get the XS1) and the reasoning was completely illogical, it was just because I have a soft spot for Olympus. Can't see the screen in bright sunlight (not that I do much shooting in the middle of the day) so it would have made more sense to get something with a VF. But... I dunno... just didnt feel right about the X10, much as I thought I wanted it. Maybe next year. In the meantime, XZ does wonderful pictures. Crisp and clean. Excellent. Same size sensor as the LX5, 1/1.63.
 
much as I love my several Fuji's over the years, I really Oly colors and IQ. The XZ-1 may not be as superbly ergonomic as my Ricoh GRD's, but its wonderfully fast and sharp lens and distinctive IQ are tough to beat...
 
Cool. Which one do you have? I see theres an EVF and also an OVF type available for olympus, but they dont say they are compatible with XZ, they only speak of PENs. I guess I would like to get the EVF if possible, I like having the info in the little VF.

Sue, I have the VF-2.Both the PEN EVF's work just fine on the XZ-1. It's superb though I wish there were a way to lock it on the hot shoe; I have come close to losing it :(
 
Sue, I have the VF-2.Both the PEN EVF's work just fine on the XZ-1. It's superb though I wish there were a way to lock it on the hot shoe; I have come close to losing it :(

Would you consider taking a photograph of it with the VF-2 mounted? I could see that if its top heavy, it might easily fall off, doesnt the little plug hole create some stability (another reason I was considering the electronic rather than the simple optical)
 
I went out and made a shot with the white circle on the X-10 just to see it. I've decided I can live with that. The camera is just too good at other things (like low light and DR) for me to go through a whole round of "try this, try that". I would recommend it, WC and all.
 
Would you consider taking a photograph of it with the VF-2 mounted? I could see that if its top heavy, it might easily fall off, doesnt the little plug hole create some stability (another reason I was considering the electronic rather than the simple optical)

Here ya go, Sue. As you can see it is rather large next to the sleek XZ-1. It fits snugly, will not simply fall off. However it can be knocked off rather easily so one must be careful. The VF-3 is cheaper, lower res and the tilt can be locked which this one cannot be. I have considered getting the VF-3 just for the XZ-1 but I cannot find it in black so will stick with the VF-2.
6488344665_98af451615_b.jpg
 
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