Upgrade suggestion from Stylus 1

I am looking to upgrade from my now old Stylus 1 and was wondering if anyone has found a better all in one system that the Stylus 1? I would like a bigger zoom range like 400-600 in about the same compact size than the stylus. Also looking for a better dynamic range SOOC. I shoot jpegs and always have to do a batch adjustment with auto tone correction to get the best result. I have tried various in camera settings for gradation but it seems not as efficient as the OV3 auto tone correction. I shoot a mix of animal, scenery and city. Thanks for your recommendations.

My choice would be the Panasonic FZ300 since it has similar specs to the Stylus 1 but is bigger. I own one and like it a lot but prefer Olympus colors. Currently the FZ is in stock at a good price at the big online sellers.

Highlights

• 12.1MP 1/2.3" MOS Sensor
• Venus Engine Image Processor
• Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8 Lens (constant all the way to 600mm.)
• 25-600mm (35mm Equivalent)
• 1.44m-Dot 0.7x OLED EVF
• 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Free-Angle Touchscreen
• 4K UHD Video Recording at 30 fps
• Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity
• ISO 6400, 12-fps Shooting, 4K Photo Mode
• 5-Axis HYBRID O.I.S.+, DFD AF System

I have & still use the Stylus 1 occasionally. There are no true heirs to the Stylus 1. If you want a camera with better image quality with a decent zoom that fits in a pocket (even a jacket pocket), you are limited to 200mm or under.  And you will want a 1 inch sensor type camera for better image quality.  See either the Sony RX100VI or VII (24-200mm), or the Canon G5X II (24-120mm).  I have the Sony VII and use it a lot (biggest issue for me is poor battery life), and have used the Canon G5X (found the zoom too limiting & autofocus was much slower--not sure how much faster the AF is on the Mark II). You can tweak the JPEG output of the Sony as you see fit, and I find it pretty good.  If you are willing to go bigger, the Panasonic FZ300 as noted earlier, but I would actually say go for the Panasonic FZ1000 (I, or Mark II if you want a touchscreen). The FZ1000 image quality with its 1 inch sensor is much better than the FZ300's smaller sensor.

Thank you everyone for you suggestions and welcome.

After reading your posts I have the feeling that there is really no similar improved package and that I will have to give up on something. What I really like about the stylus is the compactness and lightness of the camera, the constant aperture and the viewfinder. I stopped following new camera release since I bought the stylus1 in 2015. I thought there would be new choices similar to what the Stylus offered 7 years ago. For me it was the perfect direction for a point and shoot.

The Sony RX10 is very tempting but I don't think I can deal with the size and weight. Same for all the Panasonic. They are in a different category for portability. The Sony Rx100 seems very good but the 200 telephoto is a bit too short for my need. I might stick with the stylus for now and deal with the x2 digital Zoom for additional range.

I was reading on the TCON-17X 1.7x teleconverter. This could be a great option for me since  I am looking for more range. It's not clear to me if it gives you access to the full range when attached or only full tele?

See Imaging-Resource's review of the Stylus1 with the tcon 17x, it mentions zoom range possible with tcon 17x attached (5.9x to 10.7x), I think.

https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/05/10/olympus-stylus-1-meets-tcon-17-transformation

-Will

Hlouis wrote:

I was reading on the TCON-17X 1.7x teleconverter. This could be a great option for me since I am looking for more range. It's not clear to me if it gives you access to the full range when attached or only full tele?

I have the TCON-17 but honestly cannot recommend it.  I plan on taking it back to UK next month and Ebaying it, it is that useless (for me) The beauty of the stylus 1 is its compactness, and that is lost with the TC, and the image quality is not that good either!  Others will disagree and that's fine.

The Stylus 1 is really unique and there is no upgrade for it yet especially if you like the long, fast, lens (as I do).  I find it is a really interesting camera to have.  The controls have obviously been designed by a real photographer (unlike many other models, it seems) The RX100 is fiddly to use, even though the Mk vii has a lens nearly as long (after cropping). The Panasonic TZ200 has muddy IQ compared with S1.  The biggest S1 shortcoming for me is the lack of water resistance.

I have an EM5iii and an EM1ii and each camera has its place and use.  (e.g. EM5iii with 12-200 for boating pics, EM1 with 100-400 for wildlife). If I am going on a casual trip or picnic the S1 in a small belt holster is no trouble to carry which either of the EMs would be.

Of course it needs a bit of PP to make the results sparkle, having said that, with PL5 and Deep Prime I find it is often very good.  There are other cheaper software packages  which need a bit more work to PP.

Actually I have two S1s in case one packs up!  I like it that much.  Don't give up on it, you will be disappointed!

tom

Hlouis wrote:

I am looking to upgrade from my now old Stylus 1 and was wondering if anyone has found a better all in one system that the Stylus 1? I would like a bigger zoom range like 400-600 in about the same compact size than the stylus. Also looking for a better dynamic range SOOC. I shoot jpegs and always have to do a batch adjustment with auto tone correction to get the best result. I have tried various in camera settings for gradation but it seems not as efficient as the OV3 auto tone correction. I shoot a mix of animal, scenery and city. Thanks for your recommendations.

Nothing in my opinion compares in terms of handling and pocketable size. In the past I've had a RX100 m4, the image quality is better, zoom range is not so good and the handling is awful as the battery life. So I've sold it.

I prefer the joy of using dials and the handling of the Stylus1, a successor could be a big success in my opinion.

Neoredpill wrote:

Hlouis wrote:

I am looking to upgrade from my now old Stylus 1 and was wondering if anyone has found a better all in one system that the Stylus 1? I would like a bigger zoom range like 400-600 in about the same compact size than the stylus. Also looking for a better dynamic range SOOC. I shoot jpegs and always have to do a batch adjustment with auto tone correction to get the best result. I have tried various in camera settings for gradation but it seems not as efficient as the OV3 auto tone correction. I shoot a mix of animal, scenery and city. Thanks for your recommendations.

Nothing in my opinion compares in terms of handling and pocketable size. In the past I've had a RX100 m4, the image quality is better, zoom range is not so good and the handling is awful as the battery life. So I've sold it.

I prefer the joy of using dials and the handling of the Stylus1, a successor could be a big success in my opinion.

+1. I had the same experience with the RX100 IV. Sure it's smaller but menus are awful compared to Olympus. My Stylus 1copy has been very reliable except that the capacitor for date & time loses memory when the battery is removed. My wife says the same about me. 🙃

The Panasonic ZS100 and ZS200 both have the 1" sensor and 250 or 380mm FF equivalent optical zooms.  But the Stylus 1 is a hard act to follow. These panasonics are smaller, and have the 20mp 1" sensor, but lenses are slower. Just got myself the ZS100 and the verdict is still out on replacing my Stylus 1.  So far, I see the 1" sensor will handle higher iso ratings, and image quality is good, but still learning, and for sure still have my Stylus 1 and intend to keep it also.

In retrospect - it does not exist,  there is no upgrade for it available today.

1. The upgrade from the Stylus1 is the Stylus1s, but of course that is just a readily available firmware upgrade which adds a few features. To the person who is happy with Olympus the upgrade would be to a small mft camera. But of course as has been said many times there is no other camera with the features and small size of the S1. In my case my main cameras are Olympus OM-D, but as a knock about I have a Stylus1s. I like it so much I bought a second one as a stand-by, and then for almost no money at all, another complete but non-working Stylus1, that will be a doner camera for parts. I live in SW France and there are dozens of Stylus1 for sale privately from about 130€ to 400€. I even saw a new unused boxed Stylus1 that sold for 150€. Sadly I was too late for that one.

I know that this is an Olympus forum, but I am going to comment upon another brand as a possible upgrade, shock horror!! I have been an Olympus user for many years, my first being a C2000Z in around 2000 and now owning 3 Stylus 1 cameras and a couple of Om-D bodies and a stock of lenses. I like Olympus cameras.

A friend of mine who is beyond any doubt not a photographer has recently bought I camera that I was totally disinterested in, until I handled it yesterday. The guy just wants to take pictures as memories and records of where he has been and what he has seen. He never prints, never does any post processing and needless to say, he does not make fine art. In fact he makes no kind of art at all! Though not a bird watcher he does like to record the distant rare bird he spots on his wanderings, so a long focal length is important to him. His new camera is a Panasonic Lumix TZ90. It has a zoom range from an equivalent focal length of 24mm to  720mm at f3.3 to f6.4. AND it has an electronic viewfinder. It is very slightly lighter than the Stylus1 and about the same size. It feels very solid and chunky and I liked the feel of it a lot. So it beats the Stylus1 at the wide end, which is very good, in my view that is the weakness of the Stylus1. The sensor is slightly smaller than the Stylus1 and the viewfinder is very small, unlike the lovely large EVF on the Stylus1, but at least it does have one. Of course the Stylus 1 has a constant f2.8 but I wonder how many people really value this. Is the smaller sensor of the Lumix significantly different to make a difference to picture snappers who set-and-forget the camera to iAuto? In my opinion, the TZ90 is very definitely worth considering, especially for people who value a really long focal length. The inclusion of an EVF, despite its small size, puts it ahead of most other truly compact cameras for non-photographers. I would be very reluctant to buy any camera that does not have an EVF.

So that is it, traitor that I am.

Ken C