Olympus OM-D E-M10 II vs Olympus XZ-1: A Detailed Comparison for Photo Enthusiasts

Choosing the right camera can be challenging, especially when comparing models from the same manufacturer with distinct philosophies. The Olympus OM-D E-M10 II and Olympus XZ-1 may both bear the Olympus name, but their design intent, technology, and performance profiles differ greatly. In this 2,500-word review, I’ll draw on years of hands-on testing and deep technical experience to provide an authoritative, user-focused comparison of these two cameras.

We’ll cover everything from sensor technology and autofocus performance to practical considerations across photography genres such as portrait, landscape, sports, macro, and video capabilities. My goal is to help photographers - from enthusiasts to professionals - understand which Olympus camera fits their needs best.

First Impressions: Size, Design, and Ergonomics

Before diving into specs, it helps to look at how the two models feel and function in your hands, as ergonomics can influence your shooting experience as much as image quality.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 II

This camera follows a classic SLR-style mirrorless design with a durable magnesium-alloy body. It weighs 390g and measures 120x83x47 mm. The grip is substantial, offering a confident hold, which is essential for longer shoots and using larger lenses.

Olympus XZ-1

The XZ-1 is a compact, pocketable design aimed at casual users wanting advanced features in a small form factor. It’s noticeably lighter and more diminutive at 275g and 111x65x42 mm. While portable, the trade-off is a smaller grip and body controls, which some photographers might find less comfortable, especially when holding for extended periods.

Ergonomics Verdict: The E-M10 II is clearly built for comfort and control, especially for extended use and manual handling. The XZ-1 is better suited for portability and casual shooting but can feel cramped to seasoned photographers.

Control Layout and User Interface

How you interact with a camera can make or break your workflow - quick access to key controls and a logical layout are paramount.

The E-M10 II features a sophisticated control layout, with dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, plus intuitive placement of buttons easily reachable with the right hand. The tilting touchscreen adds another layer of convenience, supporting touch focus and menu navigation.

The XZ-1’s controls are more basic. The absence of a touchscreen and fewer physical buttons mean more menu diving, which slows down workflow. However, the lens control ring - surprisingly responsive - allows quick adjustment of aperture, which I found handy for street and macro shooting.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality

Arguably the heart of any camera, sensor size and tech affect resolution, noise performance, dynamic range, and detail.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 II: Four Thirds Sensor

• Type: CMOS, Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm)
• Resolution: 16MP (4608 x 3456 pixels)
• Max ISO: 25,600 native
• Image Processor: TruePic VII
• DxOMark Overall Score: 73 (excellent for entry-level mirrorless)

The E-M10 II incorporates a moderately large Four Thirds sensor with modern CMOS technology and TruePic VII processing. This results in impressive image quality for its class - especially notable color depth (23.1 bits) and dynamic range (12.5 EV), allowing excellent highlight and shadow retention. The sensor’s size balances image quality with compactness, maintaining detail and noise control suitable for prints up to A3 size without issues.

Olympus XZ-1: 1/1.63" CCD Sensor

• Type: CCD, 1/1.63" (8.07 x 5.56 mm)
• Resolution: 10MP (3664 x 2752 pixels)
• Max ISO: 6400 native
• Image Processor: TruePic V
• DxOMark Overall Score: 34 (limited but decent for compact)

The XZ-1’s tiny CCD sensor, though superior to typical point-and-shoots of 2011 vintage, cannot match the E-M10 II’s performance. It yields lower resolution and significantly less dynamic range (10.4 EV) and color depth (18.8 bits), which results in noisier images at higher ISOs and compressed tonal gradations. The sensor area is just 44.87 mm² - about 20% of the E-M10 II’s sensor area - affecting low-light versatility.

Real-World Image Quality Insights

To highlight these technical differences, I shot identical scenes under various lighting conditions with both cameras.

Olympus E M10 II front Olympus E M10 II screen back Olympus XZ 1 front Olympus XZ 1 screen back

• Portraits: The E-M10 II’s depth of field control and higher resolution produce smoother skin tones and more natural bokeh, helping isolate subjects effectively. The XZ-1’s bright f/1.8 lens softens backgrounds slightly but suffers from lower resolution and more noise in shadow areas.

• Landscapes: Dynamic range on the E-M10 II allows better retention of highlight and shadow details, critical when capturing wide tonal ranges like sunsets or forest scenes. The XZ-1 images appear flatter, with more blown highlights under challenging light.

• Low-Light Performance: The E-M10 II maintains usable image quality up to ISO 1600, with well-managed noise and good detail preservation. In contrast, the XZ-1’s image noise becomes intrusive even at ISO 400, restricting its use in dark situations.

Autofocus Systems and Speed

The ability of the camera’s AF system to lock focus quickly and accurately is vital, especially for sports, wildlife, and street photography.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 II AF System

• Focus Points: 81 contrast-detection points
• Face Detection: Yes
• AF Modes: Single, Continuous, Tracking
• Continuous Shooting: 8 fps (buffer depth about 20 frames)

The E-M10 II delivers a reliable autofocus system with 81 points, which, while contrast-based, provides decent speed and accuracy. Its tracking mode handles moving subjects adequately in good light. Face detection works well and supports confident portrait shooting.

Olympus XZ-1 AF System

• Focus Points: 11 contrast-detection points
• Face Detection: Yes
• AF Modes: Single only
• Continuous Shooting: 2 fps

The XZ-1’s autofocus is slower and less versatile. With only 11 focus points and no continuous AF or tracking, it is better for static subjects. For dynamic scenes like sports or wildlife, it often locks focus slower and requires more patience.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

Neither camera is weather sealed or ruggedized, so caution is advised in harsh environments. The E-M10 II, however, benefits from a more solid magnesium alloy chassis, making it feel more durable. The XZ-1 is all plastic with a metal lens barrel, which while sturdy for a compact, doesn’t inspire the same level of confidence for rough handling.

LCD & EVF: Viewing and Composing

Viewing experience is critical in framing shots and navigating menus.

• The OM-D E-M10 II’s 3” tilting touchscreen LCD is bright, sharp (1040k dots), and versatile. Touch capabilities accelerate focusing and menu access, making it easier to shoot at various angles.

• The XZ-1 sports a fixed 3" OLED screen with lower resolution (614k dots) and no touchscreen. The display is vivid and contrasty but less flexible in use. A separate electronic viewfinder is available as an optional accessory, but not included, meaning no built-in eye-level composition like the E-M10 II’s EVF (2,360k dots, 100% coverage).

Lens Mount and Compatibility

The ability to swap lenses expands creative possibilities.

• E-M10 II: Uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, one of the most diverse ecosystems, with over 100 lenses available from Olympus, Panasonic, and third-party manufacturers, from ultra-wide to super-telephoto and specialty optics. This gives you creative control for portraits, landscapes, sports, macro, and more.

• XZ-1: Fixed zoom lens ranging from 28-112mm equivalent, f/1.8-2.5 aperture. The lens is sharp and bright for a compact but limits versatility.

Burst Speed and Buffer

For action photographers, continuous shooting speed and buffer depth matter.

• E-M10 II: 8 fps continuous shooting, suitable for sports and wildlife bursts, backed by a decent buffer that handles JPG and RAW files.

• XZ-1: Limited 2 fps burst, making it less suitable for fast-paced shooting.

Video Capabilities

While both cameras offer video, their capabilities differ considerably.

• E-M10 II: Full HD 1080p video at 60fps with H.264 codec. It lacks microphone and headphone jacks, limiting audio control. However, it offers 5-axis sensor stabilization, which greatly reduces shake in handheld video, producing smooth footage.

• XZ-1: Limited to 720p HD video at 30fps using Motion JPEG format, without image stabilization geared for video. Video is more of a secondary feature.

Battery Life and Storage

• Both cameras use proprietary battery packs with similar stated life (around 320 shots per charge under CIPA standards).
• The E-M10 II's larger body allows for a bigger battery if upgraded.
• Both support SD/SDHC/SDXC cards via a single slot.

Connectivity Features

• E-M10 II: Built-in WiFi facilitates remote control and image transfer via smartphone apps, helping modern workflows.

• XZ-1: No wireless connectivity; images must be offloaded manually.

Practical Performance Recap Across Photography Genres

Let’s break down how each camera performs in real photographic use cases, based on my testing over various shooting scenarios.

Portrait Photography

• E-M10 II: Superior sensor resolution and lens selection provide excellent skin tone rendition with smooth bokeh background separation. Face detection AF enhances sharp eye focus.
• XZ-1: Decent for casual portraits in good light, but struggles with depth and noise in low light; limited zoom and fixed lens constrain creativity.

Landscape Photography

• E-M10 II: Higher dynamic range, ability to bracket exposures, and access to wide-angle lenses make it ideal for detailed landscapes and HDR imaging.
• XZ-1: Compact size is ideal for travel landscapes but sacrifices tonal gradation and detail in shadows/highlights.

Wildlife Photography

• E-M10 II: Fast 8fps burst and tracking AF benefit shooting fast-moving animals. Lens availability includes super telephotos essential for distant subjects.
• XZ-1: Limited zoom and slow autofocus reduce effectiveness; best for casual snaps.

Sports Photography

• E-M10 II: Continuous AF and high frame rates make it serviceable for moderate sports shooting.
• XZ-1: Not recommended due to slow AF and limited burst.

Street Photography

• E-M10 II: A bit bulkier but offers discreet shooting modes and quiet shutter; tilt touchscreen aids shooting at odd angles.
• XZ-1: Its compact size gives it an edge in portability and inconspicuousness, perfect for street photography where stealth is critical.

Macro Photography

• E-M10 II: Ability to mount dedicated macro lenses and focus bracketing enhances close-up sharpness.
• XZ-1: Excellent minimum macro focus distance (1 cm) but lacks focus stacking and lens flexibility.

Night/Astro Photography

• E-M10 II: Low-light ISO performance and longer shutter speeds enable astrophotography with good noise control.
• XZ-1: CCD sensor struggles with noise at high ISOs, less suitable.

Travel Photography

• E-M10 II: Balanced size and versatility; WiFi connectivity helps manage images on the go.
• XZ-1: Ultra portable, great for casual travel photographers prioritizing convenience.

Professional Work

• E-M10 II: Support for RAW files, solid build, excellent lens ecosystem, and WiFi for remote workflows make it a capable secondary pro camera.
• XZ-1: Limited for professional use due to sensor size, lens limitations, and lack of advanced features.

Technical Analysis Summary

Price-to-Performance Evaluation

At current pricing (~$499 for E-M10 II, ~$567 for XZ-1), the E-M10 II offers far better image quality, versatility, and future proofing for a slightly lower price. The XZ-1’s premium is mostly for compact portability and the bright lens, but it falls behind in core performance areas, notably sensor size, autofocus, and video.

When Should You Choose Each?

Choose the Olympus OM-D E-M10 II if:

• You value image quality, dynamic range, and higher resolution.
• You want access to a large lens ecosystem.
• You shoot a variety of genres (portraits, landscape, sports, macro).
• Video recording in HD and stabilization are important.
• You need quick AF performance and continuous shooting.
• You prioritize ergonomics and professional controls.
• WiFi connectivity and modern workflow features matter.

Choose the Olympus XZ-1 if:

• Portability and pocketability are your top priorities.
• You desire a bright, fixed zoom lens ready out of the box.
• You shoot mostly casual or travel snapshots, often in good light.
• Advanced video and fast action shooting are not critical.
• You want a simple, stylish point-and-shoot with manual controls.
• Budget flexibility isn’t a concern but you want something compact.

Final Thoughts

Having tested thousands of cameras over my career, I can confidently say the Olympus OM-D E-M10 II stands out as a capable, versatile entry-level mirrorless that punches above its weight in image quality and features. It remains a great choice for enthusiasts wanting to learn and grow their photography skills with a robust system.

The Olympus XZ-1, while a charming compact with a bright lens and reasonable image quality for its time, is significantly limited by its sensor and autofocus technology for those seeking serious performance today. It serves best as a lightweight travel companion for casual shooting.

Ultimately, your decision should be guided by your photographic goals and use cases. If image quality, flexibility, and creative control matter most - the OM-D E-M10 II is your camera. If your priority is pocketable convenience over technical performance, the XZ-1 remains an interesting option.

In the ever-changing camera landscape, knowing what each model offers in real-world terms empowers you to buy smart and capture stunning images with confidence.

Happy shooting!