On top you can see a new picture of the Olympus XZ-2. It has a new 12 Megapixel 1/1.7 inch sensor. The lens is 28-112mm f/1.8-2.5. It has a 920.000 dot 3 inch tiltable screen. Full HD, touch AF and for sale in October at 549 Euro
Meantime Digicaminfo also wrote that the The EPL5 and EPM2 will have the same 460k dots 3 inch screen but the one of the E-PL5 can be tilted.
82 Responses
Nice glow
Although I’m sure this new sensor in the xz-2 will be slightly improved, I think there is room in Olympus’s compact lineup for something like this:
-fixed 35mm equivalent
-large aperture f2.8 (or f2 if possible)
-4/3 sensor
-RAW capability
-body of camera in MUCH smaller compact form (no tilty screen etc).
Something like that could be what enthusiasts might want to carry in their pocket when not carrying their actual camera.
Do they have any plans to make such a mini powerhouse?
A digital XA, or mini-RX1?
Yes, I think there is a market as long as the price is realistic, like $500 (similar to or cheaper than the average m43 Pen including kitzoom or pancake prime).
Put me down for one!
They should, and it could be the size of the XA with the dust cover and easily accessible manual controls. I would pay good money for that. Please Olympus…
Well considering that Sony have done exactly that with a FF and 35mm F2 lens I would imagine that it would be a lot easier to do with a sensor a quarter the size.
460k dots = 153.3k pixels = 480×320 if 3:2 screen
Boooo indeed! The E-PL3 and E-PM1 display has the same specs (3″, 460k dots). Sounds as if Olympus has stuck with their old crappy 16×9 display. 🙁
I was ready to sell my P3 for an PL5 after reading the rumors here that it would use the same touchscreen as the OM-D (which in turn is more or less the same as what I’m used to on the P3) and new sensor. If this latest rumor is true it’s probably time to say goodbye to Olympus. The OM-D is too big and the PL5/PM2 too crippled…
+ 100000
hear you bro, oled on OMD is the best display evah!!! was expecting the same as the VF sucks (compared to NEX) for one pockatable camera…
now this, milking money via 3 year old tech, we are not apple sheeps!!
goodbye m43
at least they put a new sensor. I’m surprised that such screen exists nowday. it’s a 2~3 years old outdated tech 🙁
how will you compose on such a sh1ty lcd? die olympus! die m43! been nice few years, you have nothing to offer…
just overpriced lenses which are bigger than my nikon DX!!! or subpar 2 years old quality…
buying NEX system, theres some research/quality being put it
to all m43 fanboys: I WAS YOU FOR 3 YEARS!!! but sold my GX1 (still have ep3 was waiting for change) AS COULDNT STAND THE HORRIBLE LCD, THIS IS THE SAME…. if i am composing via VF, I will use omd not compact camera…
Apparently a tilt screen has been crammed in, but there was no room for a slightly wider lens. A 28 mm equivalent is outright gauche.
Is there a LOCKING EVF available, or must one use duct tape or a rubber band?
The iPhone 4s will produce better images.
You should have gone to specsavers.
Yes in your fantasies!!!
Apple-maniacs are strange people!!
… and the iPhone 5 will blow away the 4S… 😉
I’d rather get the Oly TG1 Tough camera than the XZ2.
“I’d rather get the Oly TG1 Tough camera”
My recommendations go to Sony TX10 underwater camera – great fun if you can live with touchscreen operation.
I have an old Oly 1030SW that needs replacing. So, what’s better about the Sony? I’m open to that, but it’s been discontinued. There’s a TX20 and TX200V.
The Oly seems more like a real camera and the lens is f2.0, not f3.5. I never liked the lens jammed in the upper corner and have lots of finger shots because of that. 😉
TX20 is TX10 with different body colors and some new effects. Marketing name change.
I bought TX10 because of the things my E-PL1 can’t do, such as full HD AVCHD video, panoramas and ( of course ) underwater operation. It does all those things very well, video and panoramas are the best there are in a P&S, similar as in Sony’s top models. Apart from that, it focuses very quickly and has very pleasant color rendering – sometimes I cannot tell its photos from PL1’s – until I enlarge them :). It has 10 fps burst and starts at 25mm – useful underwater as well.
Yeah, I get the occasional finger in the photo, but I suppose I’ll learn how to hold it in time :). The biggest problem is that capacitive touchscreen doesn’t work underwater and is very hard to use when partially wet. Small aperture? I use it mostly for snorkeling, down to around 3 meters, so there’s always enough light, you may have different needs.
Anyway, the pros outweigh the cons for me. Camera is miles ahead of Samsung WP10 I used before it.
I don’t know about the iPhone 4s vs 5, but I really have to wonder about any camera maker wasting much time and resources on small sensor point and shoots, unless they are just incredibly spec’d, when camera phones come pretty dang close to image quality and do a hell of a lot more things to boot.
Waaayyyy too thick.
I’ll stick to my XZ1
Great!
Sony RX100 28-100 1,8 4,9
XZ2 28-112 1,8 2,5!!!!!!!!
The RX100 has a 1 inch sensor, while the XZ-2 a poor 1/1,7… the RX100 will easily outperform the XZ-2.
20mpx sony jpeg engine VS 12mpx olympus jpeg engine. Not sure who is the winner, at least at low iso. But the price is too close to sony. And why Oly don’t put the high-res screen in the Pen series ?
http://media.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100/Comparisons
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/(appareil1)/812%7C0/(brand)/Sony/(appareil2)/724%7C0/(brand2)/Olympus/(appareil3)/677%7C0/(brand3)/Panasonic
Look at this data; a 1/1,7 sensor like the one on the XZ-2 will never have such performance.
I cant belive how they can stick with the 460k dots screens on the PENs. Of all disppointments about the new PENs this is the worst one. I expected EVF, internal flash and high-resolution screen, but got none. Exactly what are Olympus thinking? I mean SERIOUSLY?
They’re thinking that you’ll buy it anyway
The tilt screen of the XZ2 looks similar to the E-M5 …. also the spec at 920k dot 3″ is similar…. i wonder if XZ2 is weather sealed.
For the display resolution I agree, but if you want integrated EVF instead of the external just get the OM-D.
weather sealed would be a definite plus. It seems to rain or snow a lot lately.
Doesn’t look like an upgrade, I think I can still use my XZ-1 happily.
It’s just the CMOS-Sensor. I suppose it’s made by Sony. I suppose also that the 10mpix Sensor of the Lumix LX7 is made by Sony.
Even companies producing own sensors put them not in all of their cameras.
For example: The sensor for the small Fuji X10 (the camera with the white dots issue) is’nt made by Fuji. It’s in simmilar form with similar problems also in other manufacturers cameras. A guy from Fuji complained, that only Fuji has the bad press about the white dots.
What other cameras use the 2/3″ sensor? Fuji X10 and X-S1, what else?
Strange, since the XZ-1 was released all other manufacturers have improved their high end compacts by a large margin: with quite bigger (RX100) or much bigger (G1X) sensor, with much faster lenses (LX7, G15, EX2). In the meantime, Olympus (whose XZ-1 was very competitive when it was released) has kept the same lens and the same (or smaller?) sensor.
Pity, I expected it to have the RX100 sensor with a faster lens at the long end, even if the camera was bigger. This one is bigger too, but offers no advantage.
You nailed it!
It is not the same sensor, it is the same-sized image area on the sensor. Looks like the development cost was cheap – lens from XZ-1, processor and screen from E-M5, probably the sensor from P7700… It would make sense if they tried to offer it below all the $500 competition (which cannot even hold a candle to $650 RX100, so overpriced themselves). But for $550… I don’t see them making many sales.
Looks better from the top.
What does the „STYLUS XZ-2“ is supposed to mean?
Why stylus?
They keep the stylus in there – for touchscreen ;).
Just joking, that’s the name of camera line obviously.
More stylus more money. Like Prada and Gucci… 😉
So the XZ-2 has a better screen than the E-PL5?
Thanks God (Olympus) for the introduction of Touch AF in serious compact cameras.
XZ-2 is too thick to pocket it. The screen is OLED, isn’t it?
The prizes are prizes for “early adopters” and fans.
They have no chance, to sell manx cameras for this prizes, they are just not competitve.
Dont’t forget: The price for the OMD EM-5 already falls to 800 Euro (body only) – in italy for example.
In a few months (around christmas) the prizes of the new cameras will shrink:
XZ2: 360 Euro
E-PM2: 400 Euro
E-PL3: 500 Euro
or even less.
Pancake: 50 Euro
12mm: I bought the silver version regularly for 599 Euro and they want
999,- for the black? That’s not a good business conduct. Olympus watch that you will not lose your supporters.
You are not Leica!
Italy will also be on sale. 😛
Oh yes – I forgot – as a german – I have to spare my money for Italy. 🙂
Much better than Olympus-stuff: Pizza, dolce vita, Michelangelo 🙂
Yes, that’s what I want for christmas!
Her mit den kleinen Italienerinen!
Side by side (old and new):
http://kuva.termiitti.com/v.php?img=26902
Yeah, the XZ2 is quite a bit thicker than the XZ1, but really the TiltyScreen™ makes the extra thickness worthwhile.
I shot with a Nikon CoolPix 4500… the last of their pivot-bodied cameras… for years and really came to appreciate and rely on it. (Still have it and use it occasionally, too.)
Because of the TiltyScreen©, I’d consider the XZ2 over most of the other high-end compacts because of that feature alone. It really adds a huge amount of usability!
agree that the tiltscreen is great for this type of camera, but it makes the XZ-2 almost non-pocketable … what use is a carry-always camera with a great feature if it doesn’t fit in your pocket? One might as well chose a slightly bigger m43 camera then.
This is even more painful because there is a competing camera with similar zoom range, much bigger sensor, much lower weight and smaller size and almost same price…
still the crappy 430k dot screen.. oh fuk off.. they can stick that where the sun don´t shine.
this is 2012 not 2002…..
i hated the e-pl1 screen. one reason i sold that camera.
http://www.abload.de/img/xz1h2pzy.png
That’s how it looks compared to the XZ-1. I’m afraid not pocketable anymore.
Hallo Peter, compare the XZ1- with the Sony RX100 – dispite of the bigger sensor – it’s even smaller than the XZ1.
Yes – such a camera has to be pocktable – Sony is leading.
Whatch at this site – it’s amazing:
http://camerasize.com/compare/#332,160
Sony puts the camera industry to shame in terms of size and compactness.
The RX100 and RX-1, especially (!!!) makes me feel that there’s hope that someday Sony will release a full-frame sensor mirrorless of similar scale to 35mm SLRs of the past, not the bloated behemoths that Nikon and Canon keep churning out.
Just take a look at the “small” full-frame D600, it’s a friggin’ joke!
I have no problem using FF lenses on a small camera, either, since I already have a bunch of Nikon AI-S lenses that I regularly use with my GH2.
well there are PROS and then there is you..
i prefer a DSLR for my work…. any day!!!
To each his own, obviously. There are trade-offs and compromises we all make, depending on what we do and preferences, regardless of which camera or system we choose. I’ve just never been willing to hump around a 2 lb camera body + a pile of lenses.
BTW, I’m an enthusiast, not a pro photographer, but do use my GH2 professionally for my design business and get very good results with my GH2. My clients are happy and write me checks. 😉
I simply prefer a smaller, lighter camera when walking around or when biking or hiking… which is the main reason I went with a GH2 DSLM instead of a D700 (my 2 final choices at the time). My GH2 is almost exactly the same size as my old FM2 or Pentax Spotmatic, for instance. I’d love the better IQ of a FF DSLR, but am unwilling to compromise on weight/size/bulk. If I had a car, assistants, interns or a sherpa, I might feel differently. 🙂
@stickytape, the Sony RX-1 is nowhere near the size and bulk of a D600. Pentaprism or not, there’s still no need for a mirror! It’s not much larger than an EP3 or GX1. It’s phenomenal what Sony has managed to do.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj524/picrumors/rx1_gf5.jpg
Once Sony makes an interchangeable lens version, I’ll buy a pile of Nikon, Pentax M42, Olympus OM and Leica M/L adaptors and be quite happy and content!
Well, there is the issue of the pentaprism…chop the entire top off the D600 and it’ll be the size of the RX1. Thing is, professionals seem to prefer huge grips to small cameras, and those on Nikon and Canon DSLR are pretty much the perfect size.
Here’s another: The RX-1 with the D600 side by side.
http://camerasize.com/compare/#376,378
Yep, just shear off that nasty old pentaprism and they’re exactly the same!
I suggest making an appointment with an optometrist… immediately! 😉
Yep, I checked camerasize before I posted. I did say to shear off the ENTIRE top of the camera, right above the lens mount, in which case it is only slightly taller than the RX1 =)
I guess it would still be much thicker than the RX1, but I’m sure if they tried hard enough, they could pack it all into a smaller space…but their target market seems to like big cameras and battery grips.
I personally prefer lighter, smaller, cameras myself, but I have to say that the grip on DSLRs are more comfortable than, say, the GH2. However, I also think that the lighter the camera, the less important the grip becomes in order to achieve an ergonomic camera.
I can fit my E-620 with HDL-5 and 12-60 in my pocket. I’m like a fricking kangaroo.
You are a lucky guy! Respect!
“I can fit my E-620 with HDL-5 and 12-60 in my pocket. I’m a fricking kangaroo.” FTFY.
🙂
People often think I have an E620 in my pocket, but it’s something else entirely.
Yeah. No.
sorry to bring it to you guys but this and simmilar news dont have a place on this site … its 43rumors and i dont see a point in this article alone. I like and i owned Olympus and i probably will again but this aint OLYs church or is it? Not even interested in EPL5 (EPM not worth of mention). BMC should be more on this site as at least it has m43 mount. Anyway give us more GH3 news and maybe GH2 price drops 🙂
I don’t understand why the new PENs have a crap old screen when this compact gets a better one?
Who is this camera for?
People who want a compact second camera? Nope
People who want a high quality compact as their primary camera? Nope, there are lots of better options.
I guess maybe people who want a higher-than-PS quality camera that is smaller than a DLSR, but marginally less expensive than a new mirrorless compact and which has the option of a viewfinder that they will likely never buy because then they are talking PEN money. That can’t be a big group of buyers. Oh, and fanbois, obviously.
OK. So they took the already large XZ1, stuck with the same sized sensor, same lens, and made it BIGGER … what do they … sigh.
I’d hate to see this true about the PEN screens. 430k is not acceptable at all. I’d rather have better resolution and no tilt, and now word is that it will be an extra $100? Ugh, maybe I should be back to the NEX-5R for the same price. I’ll wait to pre-order until it’s official, but it sounds like I’m out on MFT if all of this proves true.
Well thats disappointing…I expected at least a 1.4-F2 lens(or a larger sensor)…No reason to pick this up over my XZ-1.
Is the lens really 28-112mm (not 30-11Xmm) when the sensor is changed to 1/1.7?
Well, P7700 doesn’t feel like a too big compact anymore. Side by side XZ-2 and Nikon
http://kuva.termiitti.com/v.php?img=26911
Yes. XZ-1 takes a 1/1.7 crop from its 1/1.63 sensor. So it doesnt matter when they made XZ-2 1/1.7 and same lens
Does not like it is pocketable. And yet not a match for RX100 for the most of the range.
Why don’t you like that it is pocketable?
Nice, I was just wainting. Now I will get the Sony RX100 for the same price 😛
Well, $100 more, but it will probably be worth it (unless you use long focal lengths all the time).
i wonder:
– what the little switch on the front face of the camera is for
– if the lens cap is built-in or separate
They have a new shade of gray for the epl5.
Check digicame for new pics on samy’s.
@admin:
At Samy’s you can play with the numbers xxxxx.html
As people continue to say it’s too bulky, can one of them actually post the dimensions of the XZ-2? From the side-by-side, old-to-new the thickness doesn’t appear to be that different…
as far at the quality is compared to others, I’ll wait until I see it to compare myself.
12MP is understandable for a compact regardless. Not everyone needs massive images to store (most don’t)… the 10MP of the XZ-1 was too small since it was smaller than my stylusTough.
I’ve been waiting for this to come out to decide between it and the TG-1
The XZ-2 is ticking my boxes pretty well as a second camera:
– You can use it with a viewfinder. I wouldn’t pay 50 euros for a camera without one, let alone 500.
– It’s got a tilting screen, great for candids and strange angles.
– It’s got a grip, it’s comfortable to hold for extended periods.
– The lens is right. I spent Sunday photographing inside the British Museum on a 35-105 zoom. 28-112 would have been perfect for me.
– It’s happy with Lightroom, unlike Fuji’s otherwise fine cameras.
I’ll take that over extra sensor performance anyday. It’s potentially a decent camera for photographers, rather than camera testers. It will be interesting to see how quick and reliable the focus/exposure are, and if the interface is any good for selecting the AF point.
So for me it’s XZ-2, LX7, or in left field the Nikon V1 (bigger but responsive like a SLR).