Olympus Stylus 1 Review

12 Megapixels12 MegapixelsUltra-Zoom: At least 10X optical zoom.Ultra-Zoom: At least 10X optical zoom.Electronic View FinderElectronic View FinderHigh ISO: ISO 6400 or more is available at full-resolution.High ISO: ISO 6400 or more is available at full-resolution.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Continuous DriveContinuous DriveFull 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more but less than 4K.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more but less than 4K.Manual Controls: Both fully-manual (M) and semi-automatic modes (T and V).Manual Controls: Both fully-manual (M) and semi-automatic modes (T and V).Custom White-Balance: Specifies exactly what should be white to the camera.Custom White-Balance: Specifies exactly what should be white to the camera.Action Photography: Shutter speeds of 1/1500 or more.Action Photography: Shutter speeds of 1/1500 or more.Night Photography: Reaches shutter-speeds longer than 4 seconds.Night Photography: Reaches shutter-speeds longer than 4 seconds.Hotshoe: Allows external flash units to be attached.Hotshoe: Allows external flash units to be attached.Spot MeteringSpot MeteringAccepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed reviewNeocamera detailed reviewDiscontinued: No longer produced by the manufacturer. May still be in stock or found used.Discontinued: No longer produced by the manufacturer. May still be in stock or found used.

Olympus Stylus 1 Performance - How well does it take pictures?

Performance starts with image quality, which is the criteria used as the foundation of our digital camera ratings. Ergonomic issues may get in the way, but in the end, image quality counts the most. Image quality has multiple components which can be attributed to the sensor, lens and processing.

Image Noise

The Olympus Stylus 1 shows good control over image noise. It produces very low-noise images until ISO 800, although noise-reduction is always at work. This reduces maximum print sizes yet produces nice moderately large prints, say 16" x 12", prints up to ISO 400. At ISO 800, such a large print are slightly grainy but completely usable.

ISO 1600 is still good for such a small sensor. It can pull-off a nice 12" x 9" print in good light. Low-light images are definitely grainy at that size. Just take a look at the fireworks image in the gallery and compare it to the horse statue next to it. ISO 3200 is a little more noise and barely usable for a mid-size but reasonable for a small one.

ISO 6400 is very noise with all fine details removed. It can pull off a small prints for emergencies but that is it. ISO 12800 is clearly too noise to be useful. Still, this is completely expected for such a small sensor.

Olympus Stylus 1

Optics

Image sharpness is impressive and extremely consistent from edge to edge. Only a slight degradation occurs right at the extreme corners of the lens. Details are resolved nicely but do not appear completely tack-sharp. A little reduction of image-size is enough to hide this, so it will not be an issue for anything but the largest prints. What is nice is that Olympus noise-reduction is gentle enough to keep sharpness constant until ISO 400.

The lens on the Stylus 1 keeps a bright F/2.8 maximum aperture throughout its 10.7X optical zoom range which helps use faster shutter-speeds than usual. This camera also features Sensor-Shift image-stabilization that compensates for involuntary movements of the photographer. This provides around 3 stops of improvements above hand-holding.

There is a moderate amount of barrel distortion towards the wide-angle end of the zoom. It takes more zooming in than usual to make it disappear but it eventually does. Geometry stays good all the way to the telephoto end. Vignetting, however, does not appear to be a problem at all.

Olympus Stylus 1

Color & White Balance

Color accuracy for the Stylus 1 is nice. Among color modes, Natural is closest to reality while still being slightly over-saturated. Lowering Saturation to -1 improves things. The Vivid style is best suited for things which do not resemble reality. Muted is very similar to Natural, mostly with lower contrast.

Automatic White-balance is good and even handles artificial light well, occasionally leaving only a slight yellow. Outdoor, it works very well. Presets work just as expected. The custom white-balance option is spot-on. As said in the capability page of this review, the Stylus 1 features white-balance fine-tuning. This lets one easily fix color-balance issues.

Exposure

This compact digital camera has a sophisticated multi-segment metering system called ESP. It is extremely reliable and produces well-balanced exposures. It occasionally misses small bright highlights but less so than most digital cameras. Of course, the small pixel-size of the 1/1.7" CMOS sensor limits dynamic-range, so many high-contrast scenes clip both shadows and highlights.

Dynamic-range is average for a fixed-lens camera. It declines as ISO increases but less so than usual. Even until ISO 1600, about one stop is lost which is quite impressive. The Stylus 1 manages to keep exposure and color consistent at all but the maximum sensitivity.

Auto Focus

The autofocus system of the Olympus Stylus 1 is quick, accurate and reliable. It always locks focus unless the subject is too close. Super Macro focusing is equally dependable. Autofocus takes under ½s to lock even when light is relatively low. In very low light, it can take up to 1s yet it manages to lock focus in surprisingly dark places.

Speed

In use the Olympus Stylus 1 is extremely responsive. Nearly every button-press and dial-turn gets an immediate response. Operating speed generally good:

  • Power On: 1½s. Good.
  • Autofocus: Around ½s, up to 1s in very low-light. Nice.
  • Shutter-Lag: Not quite instant, but almost. Average.
  • Shot-to-Shot Time: 1s. Better than average.
  • Time-to-First-Shot: 2½s. Very good.
  • Playback: Under 1s to enter. Instant to exist. Reasonable.
  • Power Off: 3-5s, depending on zoom position. Average.

Olympus Stylus 1 Conclusion

Olympus Stylus 1

The Olympus Stylus 1 is essentially a miniaturized OM-D E-M10
Olympus OM-D E-M10
with a highly versatile fixed lens. It provides an incredibly similar feature-set and level of controls, while being considerably smaller. This removes the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and, most importantly, the larger Four-Thirds sensor. As they always say, there is no free lunch.

The shooting experience delivered by the Stylus 1 is great. Its powerful controls are accessible and intuitive for the most part. The dual control-dials and, particularly, the unique control-ring are highly usable. This makes this one of the best compact cameras for creative photography.

The 1/1.7" CMOS sensor and constant-aperture F/2.8 lens of the Stylus 1 let it gather more light than a typical fixed-lens camera. This is useful for staying within low ISOs. This digital camera shows good image-quality and compares well to typical compacts. However, it does not quite match that of other premium models.

The bottom line is that the Olympus Stylus 1 is a fun camera which packs tons of features. It is made for being creative and that is exactly what it excels at. As a learner's camera or a photographer's second, it easily fits the bill.

Good
Buy from these sellers: Buy From Amazon.com

By Neocamera on 2014-07-24

Please Support Neocamera

All information on Neocamera is provided free of charge yet running this website is a huge endeavor. Purchases made via affiliate links found throughout the site help keep it running and up-to-date. There is no additional cost to you, so please consider buying via these links to our affilates:

  • Adorama Banner
  • Best Buy Banner
  • Photography Store Banner
  • Essential Photo Banner

If you found any information on this site valuable and did not purchase via our affiliate links, please considering donating via PayPal:

Any amount will be greatly appreaciated. Thank you for your support!

Olympus 1 Highlights

Olympus Stylus 1
Medium digital camera

Sensor-Size: 8 x 6mm

1/1.7" Sensor

Actual size when viewed at 100 DPI

12 Megapixels Ultra ZoomISO 100-12800
10.7X Wide Optical ZoomShutter 1/2000-60s
Built-in StabilizationFull manual controls, including Manual Focus
0.44" Built-in EVF 1.4 Megapixels (0.58X)Custom white-balance with 2 axis fine-tuning
Automatic Eye-Start sensorSpot-Metering
2 Axis Digital LevelHot-Shoe
7 FPS Drive, 70 ImagesLithium-Ion Battery
1920x1080 @ 30 FPS Video RecordingSecure Digital Extended Capacity
3" LCD 1 Megapixels
Buy from these sellers: Buy From Amazon.com

Camera Bag

Clear

Your camera bag is empty. To add a camera or lens click on the star next to its name.

Your camera bag is empty.

Add cameras or lenses by clicking on the star next to their name.

Updates

    2023.11.20

  • 2023.11.20

    Best Digital Cameras of 2023 Update Poster

    Best Digital Cameras of 2023

    Find out which are the Best Digital Cameras of 2023. All the new Mirrorless Digital Cameras from entry-level to high-end professional.

  • 2023.07.10

  • 2023.07.10

    Fujifilm X-H2 Review Update Poster

    Fujifilm X-H2 Review

    40 Megapixels APS-C Hybrid Mirrorless Digital Camera with 7-stop IBIS. Fastest shutter ever and 8K video capture. Large builtin EVF with 0.8X magnification and 5.8 MP, plus an Eye-Start Sensor. Packed with features and large number of controls in a weatherproof and freezeproof body.

  • 2023.05.07

  • 2023.05.07

    Sony FE 20-70mm F/4G Review Update Poster

    Sony FE 20-70mm F/4G Review

    Review of the unique Sony FE 20-70mm F/4G lens. The optical zoom of this lens spans ultra-wide-angle and medium focal-length coverage, making it one of the most versatile Full-Frame lenses on the market.

  • 2023.01.15

  • 2023.01.15

    Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 Review Update Poster

    Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 Review

    Review of the Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 tablet, a medium sized drawing surface with dual dials and customizable buttons. Connects via USB-C or Bluetooth 5.0 with Windows, Linux and Android support.

  • 2022.12.08

  • 2022.12.08

    How to Pack for a Photo Trip Update Poster

    How to Pack for a Photo Trip

    Find out how to pack for a travel photography trip, carry your gear safely while meeting airline regulations.

  • 2022.11.13

  • 2022.11.13

    Best Digital Cameras of 2022 Update Poster

    Best Digital Cameras of 2022

    The best digital cameras of 2022. A short list of the most outstanding models in their respective categories. Choose one for yourself or as a gift.

  • 2022.09.21

  • 2022.09.21

    Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 SDM Review Update Poster

    Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 SDM Review

    Review of the Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 SDM, the constant-aperture telephoto zoom with the highest zoom-ratio on the market.

  • 2022.09.20

  • 2022.09.20

    Pentax DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 SDM Review Update Poster

    Pentax DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 SDM Review

    Review of the Pentax DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 SDM, the lightest professional telephoto zoom native to the K-mount.

  • 2022.09.10

  • 2022.09.10

    Pentax DA* 11-18mm F/2.8 DC AW Review Update Poster

    Pentax DA* 11-18mm F/2.8 DC AW Review

    Review of the Pentax DA* 11-18mm F/2.8 DC AW, the widest professional ultra-wide zoom native to the K-mount.

  • 2021.11.24

  • 2021.11.24

    50 Gifts Under $50 For Photographers in 2021 Update Poster

    50 Gifts Under $50 For Photographers in 2021

    50 Gifts photographers will love. All for under $50 USD. 2021 Edition.

  • 2021.11.17

  • 2021.11.17

    Best Digital Cameras for 2021 Update Poster

    Best Digital Cameras for 2021

    Neocamera shows which are the very best Digital Cameras for 2021 in every category: Mirrorless, DSLR, Premium Compact, Ultra-Zoom and Rugged.

  • 2021.09.04

  • 2021.09.04

    Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 PLM AW Review Update Poster

    Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 PLM AW Review

    Exclusive review of the Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 PLM AW professional lens of Pentax K-Mount APS-C DSLR cameras.