ET Review: Olympus XZ-2

NEW DELHI: The XZ-2 is the successor to two year-old Olympus XZ-1 and comes with a fantastic set of features. It has a max aperture of f1.8, RAW support, multiple shooting modes, hotshoe, 3-inch tilting touchscreen display and a 1/1.7-inch back illuminated CMOS sensor – the specs alone place it amongst the best cameras in this segment. What makes this camera stand out is it’s dual function lens ring.

The lens ring works in tandem with a front function button/lever and can be used to set exposure, ISO and other settings. With a flick of the function lever, it can be used for zoom or manual focus. This makes it easy to do quick adjustments while framing a shot Image quality is fantastic.

Even at ISO 2000, photographs have minimal visible noise – only visible when zoomed in at 100% on the image. Even images taken in low light are great thanks to the f1.8 aperture.

In the 1cm macro mode, we were able to get some amazing pictures due to the shallow depth of field. The camera records video in full HD resolution with stereo sound and supports the use of zoom during recording.

One issue with the camera is its size – it is bulkier than most other similar cameras (Sony RX 100, Canon S110) that offer similar features and functions. And it also has an all-plastic body which feels less sturdy.

The steep price of the camera is another disappointment. No doubt that the XZ-2 offers excellent performance and the hybrid ring is a feature we would love to see on more cameras. However, by spending another few thousand, you can get the Sony RX-100 that has a larger sensor and better build quality in a more compact body. Of course, if you want interchangeable lenses, you can get a Micro Four Thirds camera from Sony or Panasonic.