Build and Handling
Having recently been impressed with the handling and design of the Olympus Pen E-PL2, I was pleased to see that the XZ-1 has much in common with this camera. Both models have just the essential buttons on their rear, with the XZ-1 also featuring the live wheel controller found on the E-PL2. This wheel sits around the directional control buttons and can be rotated to allow menu items and images to be scrolled through quickly.
The simplicity and ease of the XZ-1’s controls make it great to use. I was very impressed with how simple it was to change settings, with everything on the on-screen shooting menu self-explanatory and easy to use. Especially useful is the ring at the base of the lens.
Depending on the shooting mode you are in, this dial can be used to change the current settings. However, it feels at its best when used in aperture-priority mode, where it is used to change the lens aperture.
While there are smaller compact cameras available, the XZ-1 is not as large as the Canon PowerShot G12 or Nikon P7000. In terms of size, its body has more in common with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. The Olympus camera’s solid plastic body fits easily into a jacket pocket and is great for days out when a DSLR is too intrusive. It does become a little awkward to fit into a pocket with the EVF attached, but I found that I could leave this loose in my pocket and attached it when required.
Overall, the build and handling of the XZ-1 is impressive. It is straightforward and intuitive to use and the buttons and controls are well positioned for quick access, making the camera a pleasure to use.
