Review Olympus Stylus 1: advanced compact new formation

Compact market inexorably and quickly falls , the cornerstone of photographic equipment sales under pressure from smartphones staggered went foundation cracks. Camera manufacturers are forced to look for other ways to earn , do not bet on more expensive models , and representation on the world advanced compacts and mirrorless cameras (not trying to stick their noses in the mirror world with an established and there dvoetsarstviem Pentax active work to boot) – for which demand not only does not fall, but also increases. It works well in recent Olympus, betting on its mirrorless line PEN and OM-D and on the development of the line compact Stylus. Today we talk about the older camera in this series , the latest Stylus 1 – classic ” prosumer ” – unit , as they were understood in the mid 00 ‘s.

This camera does not differ very very small in size , although it is not a major name – it is close to the younger like Sony NEX-3N or Panasonic GF6. In this case the sum of its functions it is designed to fully meet the needs of the user – lover . Lens with a 10.7 – fold zoom and constant aperture , the viewfinder , built-in flash (on site and hot shoe ) , optical image stabilizer , and all this combined with a sensor size 1/1 , 7” ( crop factor 4.7 ) – not the largest , but adequate to the task. Matrices are equipped with such a similar format cameras like Panasonic Lumix LX7/LF1, Canon PowerShot G15, Samsung EX2F or Nikon Coolpix P7800. Ie size , normal for this segment. But Olympus positioning, features and price puts his model slightly higher.

Key characteristics

Matrix 1/1.7 ” CMOS sensor backlit (BSI), the number of effective pixels – 12 million ; format – 4:3
Lens: focal length – 6,0-64,3 mm (35 mm equivalent – focal length – 28-300 mm ) maximum aperture – 2.8 optical zoom – 10,7 x, construction – 12 elements in 10 groups with 8 aspherical elements
Processor : TruePic VI
Image Stabilizer : shift sensor , 2 axis
Focusing: Contrast AF
Focus area : 35 frames / all zones , zone group (9 points ) , one zone
Focus modes : manual focus, Single AF , continuous AF , continuous AF , Face Detection AF mode , Super
Focusing Distance: 0.1m – ∞ ( wide) / 0 . , M – ∞ ( tele) , Super Macro mode – 5 cm
Operating modes : Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority , Manual , i-Auto, SCN, artistic filters , photo story ,
Bracketing : Exposure to 2/3 of the frame ( + / – 1 /3, 2 /3, stage 1 EV)
Scene modes : Portrait, e – Portrait, Landscape, Sports , Night Scene , Night Scene with portrait , sunset , documents , panorama, fireworks , multiple exposure , Beach & Snow
Metering : TTL- metering with open aperture
Metering modes : ESP- metering , spot metering , center- weighted metering , light zone , shadow
Art Filters : Pop Art , Soft Focus , soft light , bright tone , grainy film , pinhole , diorama , cross process , gentle sepia, dramatic tone , contour sharpness
Image Size : Up to 3968 x 2976
Recording format : RAW ( 12-bit ), JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
Aspect ratio : 4:3 , 3:2 , 16:9, 1:1
Light sensitivity : ISO 100-12800
Display: TFT 3” diagonal with a resolution of 1.04 million pixels , touchscreen, rotary (vertical)
Viewfinder: built-in, electronic, 1.44 million pixels, diopter correction , 100% field of view
Maximum Burst speed – up to 7 frames / c
Shutter Type : Electronic
Shutter speed range : 1/2000-60 s (up to 15 min mode Bulb)
White Balance: incandescent, fluorescent , daylight , flash, cloudy , shade , temperature setting manually
Video: Up to 1920 x 1080 , 30p; MOV (MPEG-4AVC/H.264), AVI (Motion JPEG); artistic filters , a built- in stereo microphone
Flash: Complete guide number – 10.3, hotshoe
Other features: technology iHS, neutral density filter , support framing with zoom
Memory card slot SD / SDHC / SDXC, UHS-I
Interfaces : microHDMI, USB AV-out
Wireless Interfaces : Wi-Fi

Design and construction

Olympus cameras regularly obtained various design awards – and deservedly so. In particular this applies to mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses (PEN and OM-D), but the trend line Stylus also touched . Stylus 1, with its boring superzoom form factor , looks very nice: the combination of dynamic sag with sharp edges creates a rather spectacular way . And even though the viewfinder, swivel screen and a big lens , managed to keep the relative ease of forms , atypical superzoom . The housing is made of plastic, though with a metal chassis.

Sharma added chamber unusual petals covering the lens and expose those burgeon flower. No they do not drive , petals apart traveling telescopic lens , and this design can be easily removed – it is unscrewed from the threads on the perimeter of the lens with the rim.
Decision is very beautiful, but reliable system will not name – rose quickly to become loose and end testing refused to fully closed , “to make ” had hands. Build quality is generally not cause delight: controls are not the most pleasant course , the case in some places backlash jammed lever the battery compartment. Also, the camera work is not stable – but more on that below.

Dimensions Olympus Stylus 1 – 116,2 x 87 x 56,5 mm. The camera is not pocketable , but very small , especially when compared with ultrazoom . In his hand is good, despite a small , lined with pretty slippery (though perforated ) plastic protrusion . Weight – 402 grams ( with battery and memory card) . Also the normal rate for its class , the camera will look entirely appropriate even handbags .

Functional elements . Located on the front panel with a four lens cap , the focus ring and zoom lever , a button to activate the flash , autofocus and LED backlight function key , combined with the lever switch the focus mode ( with automatic to manual ) .

On the right edge – covered with lid USB and HDMI, as well as for the neck strap eyelet . On the left – nothing but the same eye .

At the top end is the mode dial , flash pop-up vertically (the mechanism , by the way , quite original , the flash is on the very short legs ) , selector disc shutter button a second latch the zoom button on the start button and the video.

Bottom is a compartment for the battery and memory card , and tripod socket located very close to the bay .

On the back panel there is a fold-up screen with a touch-sensitive surface , viewfinder button forced output image on it , the second function key , five-way navigation joystick , play button , the menu and change the type of display information .

Interface and Control

Olympus Stylus 1 – purely amateur camera , but in spite of their status , it is equipped with a convenient and comprehensive management scheme : two customizable function keys, two adjustment wheels (one made ​​up , another ringed lens ) , just two tabs zoom (one around the lens , another , again, at the top, near the shutter button ) . Plus the mode dial , the focus mode switch on the front panel , five-way navigation key . Pressing the central part is called an adequate quick menu .

Stylus 1 is really simple and quick to operate, efficiency level of quality in this regard bezzerkalok , including issued by the company Olympus, to which this model is close enough to ergonomics. By arrangement and execution buttons and selectors claims minimum.

Common interface for cameras Olympus – a set of categories with vertical lists as a menu with a picture of the camera in the background , the problem , again, is the same – most of the fine tuning is hidden in a submenu, and access to them, respectively , is complicated . But there is a good quick menu provided in the form of a matrix with the basic settings , amenable to adjustment directly from this screen , without isolation of each category.

In the Live View ( equally applicable and the EVF ) on the screen can display a grid of several species , histogram , virtual horizon (again, two species), configuration information, and visualization overexposed / underexposed areas of the frame. Available touch control – in addition to working in the quick menu will allow the fingers to allocate focus area and press the trigger.

The screen itself is a quality 3 inch, 1.04 million pixels, very bright , with good colors , rotated in the vertical plane – up to 90 degrees up and 45 degrees down .

Electronic viewfinder – with the last generation OM-D ( model E-M5): large, 00 to 1440 points, with 100% m -angle , adjustable diopters . Very nice viewfinder, which definitely did not expect the camera of this level . In the arsenal of Olympus and has the best EVF , but on the model E-M1, a completely different formation. Viewfinder displays everything that happens with the picture – and the current exposure, and planned artistic filters , you can use it to exercise full control over the result of the shooting . The combination of high-quality screen and the viewfinder – one of the important advantages of the Olympus Stylus 1.

Functionality

Olympus Stylus 1 has a camera module , no change borrowed from the model XZ- 2 : Sensor size 1/1, 7” and 12 megapixel resolution combined with the processor TruePic VI. Good characteristics for prosumer- camera.

The first thing you notice when working with Stylus 1 , – its speed. The camera is responsive , for inclusion , given by a mechanical retractable lens drive , leaving a little less than a second . Burst speed – 7 frames per second. Duration Series – up to 40 JPEG images while shooting and 9-10 in the format of RAW + JPEG.
No problems with autofocus . He then purely contrast , of course , so expect the utmost tenacity portraits is not necessary, but in general, neither the speed nor accuracy significant claims not presented – this is one of the most nimble autofocus systems on compact that I have ever seen . Nicely complements the mode and ” super macro “, allowing to focus and get a sharp image with a minimum shooting distance is 5 centimeters. Available while zooming , so that only the wide angle . Provided for manual focusing aid scaling portion of the frame . Pixel mapping on a camera with replaceable optics is not so relevant.

Electronic shutter , deprived of lag , but allows you to shoot at a minimum shutter speed only 1/2000 of a second. The maximum exposure time – 60 seconds (in Bulb, available here – 15 minutes).

Many pluses quickly leveled the camera stability with which Olympus Stylus 1 big problem. Within two weeks of testing the camera proved not the best way – there were difficulties with the lens ( zoom in spontaneously ) , periodic hang ( only helped reset all settings ) .
The conditions in which we tested , imperfect , but it is too harsh could not call them – New York winter , temperature from +10 to -10 . Unfortunately, the experience of working with Stylus 1 remained approximately the same as those of its assembly – that is very weak . Camera is not proved sufficiently reliable.

Modes Olympus Stylus 1 : P / A / S / M, iAuto, two custom , story , art and photo story. Usual set any camera Olympus, designed for advanced amateurs . In particular, the iAuto mode function is activated iHS, accurately defining a particular subject when shooting on full automatic .

SCN typical, their number included automatic gluing panoramas , but use it not too convenient.

Artistic filters , as always, full of very high quality and detail. The list is almost full (compared to the E-M1 lacks only vertical dioramas ) . There is also loved by the other cameras by Olympus bracketing artistic filters , allowing all available immediately impose one frame – after the event and choose a favorite filter. However, access to it is difficult – bracketing can be activated only in the manual , semi-manual or program mode and do this for several manipulations : the regular menu and list -mode . Above all they are presented along with several variations on the color schemes.

There is also a new “trick » Olympus – automatically glued collages. For them, you can select multiple frames , the type of image processing. The resulting pictures can be seen above.

Additional camera features are quite broad : different color schemes ( including proprietary system to work with color i-Enhance), numerous types of bracketing setting image brightness , saturation and contrast , and tuning curves have shadow / illumination , but only by selecting presets, and not flexible manual tuning. Chamber being adapted for use with tele mode can be enabled in the menu. But no usual for older models modes Live Bulb, Live Time, interval shooting , HDR. But there is a built-in neutral density filter , which helps to align the exposure for pictures with brightness differences .

The camera is equipped with a built-in flash , and Flawless : guide number – 10.3 , several modes (including slow sync with reduced effect of “red eye ” and fill flash) . About atypical mechanism of lifting I wrote above .

Another important advantage of the camera should be named corporate regulator – only two-axis , five-axis and not , as in the older models , but still enough to shoot at a relatively slow shutter speed ( about 1 /15).
Wireless connections . The camera is built module Wi-Fi, allowing you to quickly transfer the captured images and use your smartphone / tablet as a remote control. Organized function activation standard for Olympus and not typical of all the rest – is displayed on the camera screen QR- code , which must be regarded as the camera of your smartphone using the app Olympus Image Share. It is much faster and more convenient than to enter username and password on your smartphone . But many companies are gradually turning to the NFC, even more conveniently , but limited by the smartphone / tablet ( on iPhone NFC still is not) .

Can remotely control the camera from a smartphone ( in auto mode ) , GPS- stamped labels , imposing any of the 11 available filters , image transfer to your smartphone and then putting some social networks. No problems with the performance of these functions have been observed .

Video. Olympus Stylus 1 FullHD- able to shoot video at 30 frames per second progressive scan formats MOV and AVI. You can connect art filters . There is a built -in stereo microphone with noise canceling . Just enough to time to time to record video of decent quality for the home archive , but recording a video enthusiasts seriously better pay attention to other cameras – video here , of course, is as a ” makeweight ” , though the execution of a good .

Battery

The camera comes with a lithium- ion battery BLS- 5 capacity of 1080 mAh. It is enough for about 250-270 shots. If you shoot without flash and do not actively use the screen for viewing pictures , you can prolong the pleasure to 300-320 shots. Enough average.

Opinion WOVOW.ORG

In the face of Olympus Stylus 1 planned to make the most advanced compact versatile , able to fully meet the needs of the amateur, not interested in devices with interchangeable lenses , a lover who wants a camera for all occasions , but it does not take up too much space in your bag . Whereby it is possible to prefer Olympus Stylus 1 other advanced compacts (such as eg Fujifilm X20, Sony RX100 II and already mentioned Nikon P7800, Panasonic Lumix LF1)? Of course, thanks to a combination of 10.7 – fold zoom , aperture constant and relatively large for such optical characteristics of the matrix ( the camera with a big zoom is usually completed sensor size 1/2, 3” , and here we have a 1/1, 7” ) . In addition to this – convenient operation with a large number of analog and high-quality electronic viewfinder resolution of 1.44 million pixels. In theory – a very attractive and versatile solution.

 This is more than all competitors, including Sony RX100 II. And the camera brings the build quality and stability – test proposed for serial copy was not much reliability. Among other drawbacks worth mentioning about the gate , the shutter speed is only running to 1/2000 and maximum aperture f/8.0, which may prevent the footage to make super-long exposures.

In this design, ease of use, speed and quality of shooting – all for the class is high . If you do not mind the price you are willing to put up with the described problems and prefer versatile superzoom with a small matrix bezzerkalke or advanced compact with a smaller zoom – then 1 Stylus is well worth attention.