Olympus Stylus 1 vs Zeiss ZX1

The Olympus Stylus 1 and the Zeiss ZX1 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in October 2013 and September 2018. Both the Stylus 1 and the ZX1 are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on a 1/1.7-inch (Stylus 1) and a full frame (ZX1) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 11.8 megapixels, whereas the Zeiss provides 37.4 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Olympus Stylus 1		Zeiss ZX1
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
28-300mm f/2.8		35mm f/2.8
11.8 MP, 1/1.7" Sensor		37.4 MP, Full Frame Sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800		ISO 80-51,200
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (6221k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		4.3 LCD, 2765k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Fixed touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
410 shots per battery charge		250 shots per battery charge
116 x 87 x 57 mm, 402 g		142 x 93 x 46 mm, 800 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus Stylus 1 and the Zeiss ZX1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Olympus Stylus 1 and the Zeiss ZX1 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Zeiss ZX1 is notably larger (31 percent) than the Olympus Stylus 1. Moreover, the ZX1 is substantially heavier (99 percent) than the Stylus 1. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the Stylus 1 nor the ZX1 are weather-sealed.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Olympus Stylus 1	116 mm	87 mm	57 mm	402 g	410	n	Oct 2013	699
2.		Zeiss ZX1	142 mm	93 mm	46 mm	800 g	250	n	Sep 2018	5,999
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	116 mm	74 mm	66 mm	553 g	240	n	Feb 2014	799
4.		Canon G16	109 mm	76 mm	40 mm	356 g	360	n	Aug 2013	549
5.		Canon G1 X	117 mm	81 mm	65 mm	534 g	250	n	Jan 2012	799
6.		Canon G15	107 mm	76 mm	40 mm	352 g	350	n	Sep 2012	499
7.		Fujifilm X30	119 mm	72 mm	60 mm	423 g	470	n	Aug 2014	599
8.		Fujifilm X20	117 mm	70 mm	57 mm	353 g	270	n	Jan 2013	599
9.		Fujifilm X10	117 mm	70 mm	57 mm	350 g	270	n	Sep 2011	599
10.		Leica Q2	130 mm	80 mm	92 mm	718 g	370	Y	Mar 2019	4,995
11.		Leica V-LUX 5	136 mm	97 mm	131 mm	812 g	350	n	Jul 2019	1,249
12.		Nikon P7800	119 mm	78 mm	50 mm	399 g	350	n	Sep 2013	549
13.		Olympus Stylus 1s	116 mm	87 mm	57 mm	402 g	450	n	Apr 2015	699
14.		Olympus XZ-2	113 mm	65 mm	48 mm	346 g	340	n	Sep 2012	599
15.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	136 mm	97 mm	131 mm	810 g	350	n	Feb 2019	899
16.		Panasonic FZ1000	137 mm	99 mm	131 mm	831 g	360	n	Jun 2014	899
17.		Sony RX100 VI	102 mm	58 mm	43 mm	301 g	240	n	Jun 2018	1,199
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The Stylus 1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 88 percent) than the ZX1, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus Stylus 1 features a 1/1.7-inch sensor and the Zeiss ZX1 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the ZX1 is 1909 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 4.5 and 1.0. The sensor in the Stylus 1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the ZX1 offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 37.4MP, the ZX1 offers a higher resolution than the Stylus 1 (11.8MP), but the ZX1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.81μm versus 1.91μm for the Stylus 1) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the ZX1 is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 10 months) than the Stylus 1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the Stylus 1 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Zeiss ZX1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the ZX1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 37.4 x 25 inches or 95.1 x 63.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 30 x 20 inches or 76.1 x 50.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 25 x 16.6 inches or 63.4 x 42.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus Stylus 1 are 19.8 x 14.9 inches or 50.4 x 37.8 cm for good quality, 15.9 x 11.9 inches or 40.3 x 30.2 cm for very good quality, and 13.2 x 9.9 inches or 33.6 x 25.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus Stylus 1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Zeiss ZX1 are ISO 80 to ISO 51200 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Olympus Stylus 1	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	20.7	11.6	179	51
2.		Zeiss ZX1	Full Frame	37.4	7488	4992	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
4.		Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
5.		Canon G1 X	1.5-inch	14.2	4352	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
6.		Canon G15	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	19.9	11.5	165	46
7.		Fujifilm X30	2/3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
8.		Fujifilm X20	2/3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
9.		Fujifilm X10	2/3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/30p	20.5	11.3	245	50
10.		Leica Q2	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/30p	26.4	13.5	2491	96
11.		Leica V-LUX 5	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
12.		Nikon P7800	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/30p	21.2	11.7	200	54
13.		Olympus Stylus 1s	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
14.		Olympus XZ-2	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	20.4	11.3	216	49
15.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
16.		Panasonic FZ1000	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	11.7	517	64
17.		Sony RX100 VI	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the ZX1 provides a better video resolution than the Stylus 1. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the ZX1 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the Stylus 1 (6221k vs 1440k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus Stylus 1, the Zeiss ZX1, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Olympus Stylus 1	1440	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	7.0	Y	Y
2.		Zeiss ZX1	6221	n	4.3	2765	fixed	Y	1/1000s	3.0	n	n
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2	Y	Y
4.		Canon G16	optical	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2	Y	Y
5.		Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0	922	Swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9	Y	Y
6.		Canon G15	optical	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.1	Y	Y
7.		Fujifilm X30	2360	n	3.0	920	tilting	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
8.		Fujifilm X20	optical	n	2.8	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
9.		Fujifilm X10	optical	n	2.8	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	10.0	Y	Y
10.		Leica Q2	3680	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	20.0	n	Y
11.		Leica V-LUX 5	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
12.		Nikon P7800	921	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	8.0	Y	Y
13.		Olympus Stylus 1s	1440	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	7.0	Y	Y
14.		Olympus XZ-2	optional	n	3.0	920	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.0	Y	Y
15.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic FZ1000	2359	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX100 VI	2359	n	3.0	1229	tilting	Y	1/2000s	24.0	Y	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The Stylus 1 has one, while the ZX1 does not. While the built-in flash of the Stylus 1 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the ZX1 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Olympus Stylus 1 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The Stylus 1 is equipped with a zoom lens, while the ZX1 comes with a built-in prime. The Stylus 1 has a 28-300mm f/2.8-2.8 optic and the ZX1 offers a 35mm f/2.8 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Olympus provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Zeiss. Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

The Stylus 1 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the ZX1 uses an internal SSD.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus Stylus 1 and Zeiss ZX1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Olympus Stylus 1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Zeiss ZX1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	3.1	Y	Y	Y
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon G16	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
5.		Canon G1 X	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon G15	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Fujifilm X30	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Fujifilm X20	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Fujifilm X10	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Leica Q2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y
11.		Leica V-LUX 5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
12.		Nikon P7800	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Olympus Stylus 1s	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
14.		Olympus XZ-2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
16.		Panasonic FZ1000	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX100 VI	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

The ZX1 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Zeiss. In contrast, the Stylus 1 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the Stylus 1 was succeeded by the Olympus Stylus 1s. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Olympus and Zeiss websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Olympus Stylus 1 and the Zeiss ZX1? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Olympus Stylus 1:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/2000s vs 1/1000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
• More compact: Is smaller (116x87mm vs 142x93mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 398g or 50 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (410 versus 250) on a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (88 percent cheaper at launch).

Reasons to prefer the Zeiss ZX1:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (37.4 vs 11.8MP), which boosts linear resolution by 81%.
• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (6221k vs 1440k dots).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.58x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (4.3" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2765k vs 1040k dots).
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More prestigious: Has the Zeiss luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the ZX1 is the clear winner of the contest (16 : 12 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus Stylus 1 and the Zeiss ZX1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the Stylus 1 or the ZX1. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Olympus Stylus 1	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	699
2.		Zeiss ZX1	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2018	5,999
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	3/5	+	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	799
4.		Canon G16	4/5	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	549
5.		Canon G1 X	5/5	+	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	799
6.		Canon G15	4/5	+	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	499
7.		Fujifilm X30	4/5	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2014	599
8.		Fujifilm X20	4/5	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2013	599
9.		Fujifilm X10	..	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2011	599
10.		Leica Q2	..	..	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	4,995
11.		Leica V-LUX 5	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2019	1,249
12.		Nikon P7800	3/5	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2013	549
13.		Olympus Stylus 1s	..	..	..	..	..	Apr 2015	699
14.		Olympus XZ-2	4/5	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	599
15.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	..	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2019	899
16.		Panasonic FZ1000	4/5	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	899
17.		Sony RX100 VI	4.5/5	+ +	83/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2018	1,199
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Olympus Stylus 1 vs Zeiss ZX1

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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