Olympus has just announced the latest member of its high-end compact 'XZ' line: the XZ 10. Originally announced to the world last month, strangely making no mention of a release in the United States. Well, three weeks after the rest of the world got the good news: Americans have now learned that they will be privy to the new camera, too.
So, what of the XZ-10?
If there is any single highlight feature, it is the lens: which is a 26-130mm film equivalent with a dazzlingly bright aperture of f1.8-2.7. For comparison, pro-grade zoom lenses are f2.8. If tat weren't good enough for low-light shooting, Olympus has boosted the ISO to 6400 to bring previously impossible photo-ops into the range of possibility.
As for other things to like, there's a lot. For starters, the camera is 40% smaller by volume than its predecessor, making for an ever more travel-friendly photo experience. Olympus also claims to have tweaked the AF mechanism, making for quieter, faster, more accurate AF capabilities, which will come in handy in the dark that the combination of fast aperture/high ISO demands to be shot at.
Another feature sure to please the serious shooter is the direct access controls. As has become the trend with some other manufacturers, Olympus has incorporated a control ring to the camera's lens that allows users to change a wide variety of settings without having to dive into the menus. Another such feature is the customizable “fn” button, which can be set to control different settings, too.
As for fluff, there's a lot of that, too. Want high-speed movies? Well, the XZ-10 can do a blazing 120fps. Additionally, there's a photo sharing function, touch-screen capability, and the whole truckload of modes and filters one has come to expect from today's cameras.
Want one?
Looking to buy photo gear in the Cleveland area? Well, there's Cleveland-based Dodd Camera, with its downtown superstore. In addition, there are many smaller Cleveland metro area chain stores in the Cuyahoga County area, too. According to Olympus, the camera will start shipping in the United States come late March at a price of $399.99. Dodd is an authorized Olympus dealer.
For more info:
Press release
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