I bought a compact camera - Olympus ZX-1 first look by me

Mondo · 08-09-2011, 22:20

A quite summary/review, I won't go into great details on its spec, if you want to read up on it. There are plenty of info for that online. The main one that I concern about is

F/1.8 lens (with IS) (F/2.5 at length)
HD 720 video at 30fps
10mp
SD card

First - Size

It is tiny to what i am used to, actually fit in my pocket.

Picture speaks a thousand words.

Aluminium (or some kind of metal alloy) body, well screwed together, the only plastic part is the flash pop up, lens cap, dials and some buttons.

Second - Photo

First outing with it, it cannot be in a more difficult situation. I basically got the camera at 1pm at Birmingham, took the train to London and charge the battery on the way down on the train and in the hotel, then left at 6. Didn't read the manual (can't, the manual is in the CD, not a booklet!) so I winged it like a man would lol

So I went to see Kate Voegele in a gig in Dingwalls in Camden...dark, spot lights (red for that matter, it is a bitch for camera sensors).

I set the ISO to 100, and intend to take more videos than pictures really but I did take some pictures. All these are 1/15th, ISO 100, some at 1.8, some at 2.0 or 2.5.

I shot all the photos from the same spot. (can see in photo 3)

1

2

3

4

I am pretty please with it, considering the condition, first time using it (it means it is not difficult to get to grips with), really good IS capabilities to compensate 1/15th that I was shooting with.

Most of my rejects were blurred shots from her moving as I was shooting at 1/15th.

Third - video

What is odd is the metering, spot metering in particular. Although you can choose different zones to focus, when I used spot metering (had to, 1 singer with spotlight on stage), when shooting video, you get a grid that has a centre part and if I deviate out the main subject out of that centre square, it over expose the singer.

Also, the AF also keep on hunting in video mode in the dark...then later I found out when I got back to the hotel there is a manual focus, although it was too late so I haven't figure out how to use that yet.

Video is pretty good, not had a chance to watch them all yet so may put them up later but pictures wise...not bad eh! All in all considering!

Mark · 08-09-2011, 23:06

It's amazing what compacts can do when they don't overdose on pixels, though no doubt that big fast lens helps too. If only average Joe would understand that more pixels doesn't mean better picture.

Matblack · 10-09-2011, 09:10

Nice camera

That woman needs a sandwich

MB

Stan_Lite · 10-09-2011, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matblack

Nice camera

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matblack

That woman needs a sandwich

MB

Several.

Toby · 10-09-2011, 14:42

Sandwich? She needs Scooby Snacks tbh.

Del Lardo · 10-09-2011, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan_Lite

Agreed.

Several.

A pie sandwich.

Is the lens fixed or does it have built in zoom. I'm starting to think that I want something more than a traditional compact but I would never carry a full SLR so this could be an alternative.

Mark · 10-09-2011, 21:32

4x (28-112 equiv.)

Stan_Lite · 11-09-2011, 05:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Del Lardo

A pie sandwich.

What a brilliant idea. Gonna have to have a pie sandwich when I get home on Thursday

Kitten · 11-09-2011, 15:08

my friend swears by pie sandwiches. Chunky chap.

Ray, what price range is it?

Matblack · 11-09-2011, 22:45

~£350

MB

08-09-2011, 22:20	#1
Mondo Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,174	I bought a compact camera - Olympus ZX-1 first look by me A quite summary/review, I won't go into great details on its spec, if you want to read up on it. There are plenty of info for that online. The main one that I concern about is F/1.8 lens (with IS) (F/2.5 at length) HD 720 video at 30fps 10mp SD card First - Size It is tiny to what i am used to, actually fit in my pocket. Picture speaks a thousand words. Aluminium (or some kind of metal alloy) body, well screwed together, the only plastic part is the flash pop up, lens cap, dials and some buttons. Second - Photo First outing with it, it cannot be in a more difficult situation. I basically got the camera at 1pm at Birmingham, took the train to London and charge the battery on the way down on the train and in the hotel, then left at 6. Didn't read the manual (can't, the manual is in the CD, not a booklet!) so I winged it like a man would lol So I went to see Kate Voegele in a gig in Dingwalls in Camden...dark, spot lights (red for that matter, it is a bitch for camera sensors). I set the ISO to 100, and intend to take more videos than pictures really but I did take some pictures. All these are 1/15th, ISO 100, some at 1.8, some at 2.0 or 2.5. I shot all the photos from the same spot. (can see in photo 3) 1 2 3 4 I am pretty please with it, considering the condition, first time using it (it means it is not difficult to get to grips with), really good IS capabilities to compensate 1/15th that I was shooting with. Most of my rejects were blurred shots from her moving as I was shooting at 1/15th. Third - video What is odd is the metering, spot metering in particular. Although you can choose different zones to focus, when I used spot metering (had to, 1 singer with spotlight on stage), when shooting video, you get a grid that has a centre part and if I deviate out the main subject out of that centre square, it over expose the singer. Also, the AF also keep on hunting in video mode in the dark...then later I found out when I got back to the hotel there is a manual focus, although it was too late so I haven't figure out how to use that yet. Video is pretty good, not had a chance to watch them all yet so may put them up later but pictures wise...not bad eh! All in all considering! __________________ My Website / MSN / Email / Flickr / Blog

10-09-2011, 09:10	#3
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Nice camera That woman needs a sandwich MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

10-09-2011, 14:42	#5
Toby Absinthe Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,023	Sandwich? She needs Scooby Snacks tbh. __________________

11-09-2011, 15:08	#9
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	my friend swears by pie sandwiches. Chunky chap. Ray, what price range is it? __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

11-09-2011, 22:45	#10
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	~£350 MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

08-09-2011, 23:06	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	It's amazing what compacts can do when they don't overdose on pixels, though no doubt that big fast lens helps too. If only average Joe would understand that more pixels doesn't mean better picture.

10-09-2011, 21:32	#7
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	4x (28-112 equiv.)