XZ-1 farewell tour

It's official now. The puzzle is finally complete now: I picked up a walk-around lens for my new (well, lightly used second hand  )Panasonic G2 MILC. Yesterday when I was going for a walk in a nature preserve with the rest of the family I knew it would be one of the last, if not the last, outings for my XZ-1. It has served me humbly for 2 3/4 years. I have taken many (IMHO) great shots with it. It has seen many different countries and places (albeit, IMO, still not enough ). Its larger sensor was a nice upgrade from my SZ-10 superzoom compact, that IMHO was rather mediocre and its lens was apart from being very bright, extremely sharp for a compact camera lens I think. The time has come to start thinking about a way to sell it off, to recoup some of the cost of my new combo.

Anyway, I still got some pretty nice shots during the farewell tour. So I am rather happy. While I had loved to compile a greatest hits collection below too, I do not have access to my photo library at the moment unfortunately.

First some experimentation with bokeh, of the kind my XZ-1 has always encouraged! 

Another one of the same breed 

Speaks for itself, I believe

Sorry, I could not hep myself, had to post another one...

Finally I got an airplane shot with some decent scenery too!

A view of the hills from the freeway

If any of these shots appear noisy, slightly soft or lacking the Oly colors: that is because they are, these are unprocessed RAWs merely exported to JPEG using Apple Preview. So if you are looking for some virtually fresh from the camera RAW samples that you can view on a device that lacks a RAW viewer, you have come to the right place!

You might be thinking how I could still sell my XZ-1 after the creation of these images (though I admit they are imperfect, so please do not burn me for presenting them as the greatest ever ). Well, chin up, I have at least not abandoned Olympus completely: the main (and so far only) lens for my G2 is an Olympus 12-50 mm EZ zoom lens...!

I ended up never selling the XZ-1 and now, years later, I am finally planning to. I used the XZ-1 during the months my Olympus 12-50 mm f3.5-6.3 was being repaired for a decentered lens element, shortly after I had purchased it. After that I did not get around to selling it and paradoxically ended up using it as my 'low-light camera' as it actually did better than my Panasonic G2+12-50 mm combo! Now I am planning on selling/trading in the 12-50 mm to get a Sigma 19 mm f.2.8 or Olympus 17 mm f2.8 (maybe I will end up replacing the G2 as well as I like that the old Olympus E-P(M)s use the same batteries as their latest models).

XZ-1 selections 2017-2019 (new DPR album)

That's awesome that you took the time to go back and find this 5 year old thread and update it.

I don't think you should sell the XZ-1. Even when you DO find a lens good enough to match the XZ-1's, you'll find that the rig is not nearly as portable.

Take a look at my Gear List. I have some good contenders for a walk-around lens for MFT. The 14-42 pancake motor zoom is the kit lens that comes with a lot of the Olympus MFT bodies, so people put them up for sale immediately when they go for some fancy f/2.8 zoom. The lens though is VERY compact and also very sharp.

As something that can match or beat the XZ-1's lens for range, take a look at the Panasonic 12-60 f/3.5-5.6. It's a great lens. Not compact like the 14-42, but it's not too big or heavy, either.

I have a couple of the Olympus primes: the 45/1.8 and the 17/1.8; they are good for their own reasons.

I previously had the Panasonic 20/1.7, and it was a bit sharper than the Oly 17/1.8, but it was a lot slower focusing; not a candid or snapshot lens. Still fast, compared to manually focusing, but quite noticeably slower than the Oly primes. I also prefer the 35 mm eq. focal length to 40.

When on vacation, I think my favorite combo is the Panasonic 12-60 and the Olympus body cap fisheye, which is so thin that it's free. This rig then gets me everything from an ultrawide to 120 mm telephoto.

Jurre van Wouw wrote:

I ended up never selling the XZ-1 and now, years later, I am finally planning to. I used the XZ-1 during the months my Olympus 12-50 mm f3.5-6.3 was being repaired for a decentered lens element, shortly after I had purchased it. After that I did not get around to selling it and paradoxically ended up using it as my 'low-light camera' as it actually did better than my Panasonic G2+12-50 mm combo! Now I am planning on selling/trading in the 12-50 mm to get a Sigma 19 mm f.2.8 or Olympus 17 mm f2.8 (maybe I will end up replacing the G2 as well as I like that the old Olympus E-P(M)s use the same batteries as their latest models).

XZ-1 selections 2017-2019 (new DPR album)

That's awesome that you took the time to go back and find this 5 year old thread and update it.

I came across it while reading some of my old posts.

I don't think you should sell the XZ-1. Even when you DO find a lens good enough to match the XZ-1's, you'll find that the rig is not nearly as portable.

Unfortunately I have to downsize and one camera has to go (and I don't want to get rid of the MILC and large sensor camera). With an f2.8 lens the 12MP M4/3 camera should be adequate in low light(ish) situations. I am aware that it would not be a full replacement for the XZ-1 (or even the G2+12-50 mm), but I have to sacrifice something. The Sigma 19 mm is smaller and lighter than the 12-50 mm and I can use the change/difference in value. It also is a bit sharper and faster and I have always wanted to shoot a prime. Besides, even when I bought the XZ-1 in the first place I was compromising: I had had superzooms before and planned on buying another one to complement the XZ-1 but that never ended up happening. I have never regretted sacrificing the tele range for IQ.

Panasonic 12-60 f/3.5-5.6

Oly 17/1.8

I would definitely like to own these but unfortunately I can only dream of them for now...

The 14-42 pancake motor zoom is the kit lens that comes with a lot of the Olympus MFT bodies

This is a very interesting lens. Unfortunately according to two professional reviews it is less sharp than 12-50 mm and it is also more expensive at KEH than the Sigma. Hopefully in the future I will be able to expand my lens collection beyond the 34-38 mm prime. A 35-100 mm or Sigma 60 mm would be nice. Maybe an old MF 200 or 300 mm as well.

I have enjoyed my XZ-1 and my photo library has been greatly enriched by it, but I think it is time for us to part ways... I have decided to try to sell it here first so it finds a loving home with an XZ series enthusiast hopefully.