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It might’ve arrived slightly late to the high-end compact camera party, but people are definitely taking note of the Olympus XZ-1 with its bright f/1.8 lens, its three inch OLED screen, 720p video capability, and full manual mode.

The question is, does it have what it takes to compete with the Canon S95, the Nikon P300, Panasonic’s Lumix LX5, and the Samsung EX-1? It’s not a replacement for a dSLR or a mirror-less camera – none of these babies are – but the reviews are suggesting that Olympus has put itself on to a winner here.

See what you think for yourself!

CNET Asia says ‘The XZ-1′s facade looks simple, with only the Olympus name, the F1.8 insignia and a HD label. The remaining space is dominated by the large lens which is protected by a removable lens cap. While we’re not fans of lens caps on compact cameras, the XZ-1′s can be popped out by the lens which extends when you turn on the shooter. So, you’ll only need to put the lens cap back on when you switch off the snapper off.’ – Read the full review at Cnet Asia

DPReview says ‘There’s a bright lens, of course, with the XZ-1 becoming the first of the company’s compacts to ever wear its respected “Zuiko” designation. And it’s clear why the company would want to draw attention to the optics, having created the brightest zoom lens of any current compact while still offering a truly useful range.’ – Read the full review at DPReview

Digital Camera Review ‘The XZ-1 might not prove particularly intuitive for folks trying to shoot in the manual modes, especially those who have shot only digital equipment.’ – Read the full review at Digital Camera Review

ePHOTOzine says ‘Having now handled a few Olympus cameras, they seem to share a very similar approach to exposure metering. The XZ-1 follows the pattern and produces what I would consider to be fully exposed but slightly light results. This is not in itself a problem as it can either be adjusted in Photoshop or a small amount of exposure compensation can be dialled in.’ – Read the full review at ePHOTOzine

Imaging Resource says ‘Overall color is good and vibrant, with bright yellows just about spot-on accurate. Bright reds are pumped quite a bit, though strong blues are more controlled. A few small hue shifts are noticeable, such as cyan toward blue, orange toward yellow, and lighter greens toward yellow. Darker skin tones show a strong shift toward orange/red, while lighter skin tones have a more decided pink/purple shift.’ – Read the full review at Imaging Resource

PhotoRadar says ‘After years of producing long focal range bridge cameras and virtually indestructible pocket-size cameras, Olympus has finally done what we’ve all been hoping for and produced a ‘serious’ compact camera.’ - Read the full Review at PhotoRadar

PhotographyBLOG ‘In use, the Olympus XZ-1 proved to be a great little camera, providing easy access to aperture and shutter speed in manual exposure mode. Start-up was quick for its class, and so was the auto focus in most circumstances. The live histogram proved to be a real asset, and the big, high-resolution OLED screen was a joy to use for framing and reviewing images alike.’ – Read the full review at PhotographyBlog

Pocket-lint says ‘For all its impressive features, the XZ-1 cannot be considered a direct replacement for a DSLR, or even interchangeable lens compact. That is to say that image quality, for all its crispness, is not quite as sharp as a camera with a bigger lens and sensor.’ – Read the full review at Pocket-lint

Trusted Reviews says ‘First impressions of the XZ-1 suggest that it is indeed a class act that deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with existing high-performing rivals. As if you hadn’t already guessed, a current retail price a penny shy of £400 earmarks the Olympus XZ-1 from the outset as a premium compact.’ – Read the full review at Trusted Reviews