Stylus 1s

PR

Olympus announces the latest camera in the compact Stylus line, the Stylus 1s. As the successor to the Stylus 1, a camera that brought photo enthusiasts brilliant image quality and a constant aperture f2.8 lens, the Stylus 1s delivers an enhanced feature set and other improvements in a similar compact, lightweight design.

While maintaining all of the features of the Stylus 1, the Stylus 1s adds a variety of functions, such as Small AF Target, enabling pinpoint focusing on specific locations, and Step Zoom, which provides nine preset zoom positions. Olympus has enhanced the premium feel of the camera by redesigning the grip and also incorporating the blue line characteristic of the i.ZUIKO® DIGITAL lenses.

Despite its compact 2.2in (56.5mm) thickness and lightweight 14.2oz (402g) body, the Stylus 1s packs a punch with a 10.7x (28-300mm) constant aperture f2.8 i.ZUIKO DIGITAL zoom lens. This premium lens enables high shutter speeds for fast action or low light shooting environments, and captures crisp details against beautifully defocused backgrounds. Olympus anti-reflective ZERO (ZUIKO Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating, assembled through multilayer film deposition technology, is applied to the surface of the lens for incredibly clear depictive performance, even in backlit and unfavorable shooting conditions.

For close-up shooting, the Stylus 1s includes a Super Macro mode for capturing subjects as close as 5cm away from the end of the lens. With the combination of the wide converter lens, WCON-08X, and tele conversion lens, TCON-17X, it's possible to shoot from an ultra-wide-angle 22.4mm to a super telephoto 510mm. The bundled BLS-50 lithium-ion battery, which is also compatible with the Stylus 1, features an improved capacity for longer shooting times.

The Stylus 1s has a built-in 1.44-million-dot, high-resolution interactive LCD electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a 100-percent field of view that outperforms field coverage of entry-level DSLR cameras, allowing users to preview the exposure, color and focus peaks for clear images in any condition. The EVF's integrated eye sensor allows users to simply look into the viewfinder to automatically switch the display from the rear monitor to the viewfinder. Adaptive Brightness Technology raises the backlight brightness when shooting in bright outdoor conditions and lowers the brightness in dark indoor conditions, reducing visual errors from light and dark adaptation of the eye.

The Stylus 1s inherits an ideal blend of dedicated physical controls from the Olympus OM-D line for shooting professional quality images with ease. The Hybrid Control Ring allows users to quickly adjust settings with a simple twist of the ring without taking their eye off the subject. The subdial can be controlled with the thumb on the right hand, and functions can be assigned in the same way as the Hybrid Control Ring, making it easy to apply complex adjustments. The customizable zoom lever and two function buttons further improve shooting ease and speed.

Built-in Wi-Fi is a breeze to set up. Simply tap the Wi-Fi icon and launch the Olympus Image Share (OI.Share®) smartphone app to connect. By using the smartphone as a remote control, the Live View screen can be viewed on a smartphone while remote shooting in P, A, S, M, and iAUTO modes, and zoom and Touch AF Shutter are available to compose and capture the shot. Recorded images may be instantly transferred to a smartphone or tablet, ideal for sharing images on social networks.

Several new features found on the Stylus 1s are also available on the Stylus 1 through a firmware update. These features include Small Target AF, Focus Peaking, Interval Shooting, Time Lapse Movie, Easy Step Zoom, and Switchable Zoom Factor Display.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Olympus Stylus 1s will be available in mid-April 2015 at an estimated street price of $699.99 (available in Black).

Sample

STYLUS 1 Firmware Upgrade v2.0

• Compatibility with slim and lightweight WCON-08X wide converter lens and CLA-14 adapter, for wide-angle shots to 22.4mm* at 1:2.8 aperture without heavy equipment
• Interval Shooting and Time Lapse Movie for capturing spectacular phenomena over 24 hours
• Compatibility with OI.Share App v2.5 for remote shutter release from a smartphone via WiFi
• Step Zoom for instantly setting popular 35mm focal lengths in steps, from 28mm to 300mm
• 35mm equivalent shown in focal length display in Electronic Viewfinder or LCD monitor
• Small target AF for pinpoint auto focus
• Focus Peaking for easier Manual Focus
• Firmware is downloadable for free via the online Olympus Digital Camera Updater

http://www.olympus-europa.com/site/en/c/cameras_support/help/firmware_updates/digital_camera_updater.html

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

http://betterfamilyphotos.blogspot.ru/2014/03/olympus-stylus-1-review-part-1.html

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=5531&review=olympus+stylus+1+compact+camera

I own this camera and have had a basic play with it (albeit a couple of hours).

It does zebra (both highlight and blacks), histogram has a ND 4 built in, and it can take a lens filter (via attachment CL-13). Physically, it is very customisable - fair few buttons that can be reprogrammed, and has a 28-300mm constant f2.8 lens. You'd be paying through the nose to get that on m43rds!

I was hoping it would make a nice upgrade from my Lumix LX7, which it certainly is for stills (cleaner sensor, better lens). Not so much in video though. The big issues with it for video are:

1. there is no manual control during video. You have to be in P mode to shoot video (if you are not it drops you into P mode), and that doesn't allow you to even lock shutter (AEL isn't maintained).

2. you get no UI when you are in movie record. histogram, zebra, and even aperture/shutter and crosshairs/focus points go... so you basically have the square of the viewfinder and nothing else.

3. No 24/25p

That's with firmware 1.0, but it looks like this is a stills camera with no ability to shoot 'DSLR film' due to the inability to lock shutter during movie recording. Its rather unfortunate, because it has a ton of video friendly features, except they only work in stills mode :(

I'll be putting in a request for movie mode to at least respect the AEL so we can get the absolute minimum (constant shutter), more chance of getting it if other owners ask for it.... not that hopeful though as this camera doesn't seem to have raised a lot of interest here!

The Stylus 1 is a very interesting camera to us at Imaging Resource. What led to its development? Who do you see as its target customer, and where does it fit into the market?

Olympus: We had a lot of demand from users for a bright lens combined with long tele focal lengths, not having to compromise aperture at the tele end.

Responding to your second question, there are three targets. First, a second camera for people who are already SLR users. Second, those people who had been using an SLR, back when we first launched the DSLR -- people who kind of gave up because it's heavy and they got tired of carrying those bodies and lenses. They want a lighter option, but don't want to compromise having a bright lens. Third, for people who want to travel, pack light and have an all in one camera -- they want to go with one body. Those are the three main customers.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/02/03/olympus-qa-the-story-of-the-stylus-1-the-relationship-with-sony-and-where-i

Given the relatively small size of the camera's sensor, the review cameras turned in a good enough performance to satisfy most potential purchasers and handled most types of lighting competently. For everyday photography, the Stylus 1 provides all of the functions most photographers will want – as well as a number of 'nice to have' shooting modes like the Super-macro and 2x digital zoom options and 'fun' features like the Art Filters and Photo Story modes.

http://www.photoreview.com.au/reviews/advanced-compact-cameras/fixed-lens/olympus-stylus-1

Built to be one of the best performing compacts available in low light situations, the Stylus 1 has to contribute its success to its sensor, lens and I.S. system. The 12-Megapixel BSI CMOS imaging sensor provides the best performance possible out of a sensor this size (1/1.7-inch). Olympus's 10.7x optical zoom lens with the constant f/2.8 aperture lens captures an amazing amount of light throughout the entire 28mm-300mm equivalent focal range, which makes it easy to shoot indoors or at night; in situations that most compact cameras normally could not handle. Helping to support this large zoom lens is a mechanical lens-shift image stabilization system.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/olympus/stylus-1/olympus-stylus-1-review.html

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/newproduct/20131218_628058.html?ref=rss

The Olympus Stylus 1 super-zoom is a successful marriage of the company's high-end XZ-2 compact and the flagship OM-D E-M1 compact system camera. A fast lens, raw file support, a reliable 35 multi-point AF system and a well implemented manual exposure mode complete with an optional live histogram.

JPEGs had very pleasing colours, excellent sharpness and good overall tonality. High ISO is also quite good for what is after all a compact camera, and with the f/2.8 lens and effective VCM image stabilisation on board, the Stylus 1 can certainly cope with most lighting environments.

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/olympus_stylus_1_review/

Another studio tests - http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-stylus-1/olympus-stylus-1A7.HTM