After half a year of intensive use and multiple 1000 photos I can now write my subjective opinion that perhaps one or the other interested parties will help to make his decision.
Advantages that inspire me particularly:
1. the extreme focal length at the wide angle make taking pictures both in buildings and outdoors a pleasure. While there are sometimes at near objects, a slight distortion, but rarely interfere.
2. The light intensity stunned again. Whether at the hotel, in the dimly lit bar, in churches, museums, etc. in the evening, enough available light "always" out. The (good) flash you need only rarely.
3. the double anti-shake performance. Does the normal optical image stabilizer already very good, so the camera can be accessed at more extreme light conditions on a specialty. With the double protection, additionally 2 images shot next to the IS, an underexposed, but sharp image and a blurred but color correct image, both are added together and what comes out as offset, in a marvel. Of course you can use this recording technique only when standing motives, but in churches and other occasions where class little or nothing is moving. An aperture is at least. Won, and the correct color temperature.
4. The size and handling of the Camera. The size is perfect (well they could while wearing a few millimeters smaller and few grams lighter), but when photographing them is ideal, is very comfortable to hold and can be operated optimally. If not, the game of hide would see ... software. Particularly well this is achieved by the rotating AMOLED, this can be turned so that he himself "protect" just great if you still to take the really good lens cover (slats are nonsense), then the camera is so small that you You can put in your pocket without their own protective cover, without fear, the camera happens. So she is "always there" suitable for.
5. RAW. Who wants to actually take better pictures, the can not get to RAW. Almost every photo you can "develop" an even better image. It is nice that the EX1 both jpg, and Raw stores simultaneously. Even better is the editor Converter 3, attaches the Samsung free. Those who like to edit pictures and even see what the difference between jpg and Raw is (grayscale 256 to 4040 steps), which will be thrilled.
6. The price. The EX1 will cost far less, a price the competition can be "old" look.
7. feel. The EX1 looks great and high quality. The extremely large lenses of the Schneider lens, metal body, the professional lens cover, all reminiscent of the high-quality viewfinder cameras bygone analog days.
8. Equipment. The EX1 is almost fully equipped. Everything is in place, maybe hiding a bit, you need to give up anything: Face Detection, Lächelautomatik, intelligent scene speed, etc., etc. up to the HDR billing.
Of course the camera also has vulnerabilities that can annoy a nt:
A) Illogical program shortcuts that are not explained. Although somehow logically, but nervous in use. Provides you the contrast weaker one (what the dynamics increases), the face recognition does not work anymore. If this is turned on, HDR is not working, etc., etc. Does not sound bad, but can quite bring one from the rest, especially since I forget these combinations after a time, and have to think again.
B) No macro. Who wants to shoot close-ups, is operated safely better with another camera. Closer than 30-50 cm you can not serve up the object! and the auto focus also needs a fairly large area (!) to focus, a spider, for example, recognized the AF simply not.
C) Weak zoom range. 3x sounds normal, but 3 times 24 is just only 72 and that is very little. So be careful.
D) Slowly. The EX1 is not the fastest camera, 0.4 sec., The normal value, rather longer. The reached from most, but for playing children and fast Tierfotos it is perhaps too slow.
Other experiences:
When charging your battery in the camera will look good. I have indeed with 2 additional batteries bought an extra charger (about 20, - Euro) to take but I do never. Also, the battery lasts for about 200 pictures and if you have 2 spare parts here, no problem.
Very well dissolved with the flash. Good that there is no automatic connection here, so you can decide for yourself with (lightening) flash or not.
The video function is good, the extra trigger perfect, the clip also good. But only VGA, but I do not and my wife need it just fine.
Conclusion: The EX1 is a great special-Compact Camera, which is trimmed to image quality and therefore requires some compromises. Who, as we - as a duo (with my Sony H1) uses will not be disappointed. For me (under the circumstances) a strong buy recommendation.
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Addendum dated 28.2.2012: Macro (from 5 cm) is possible but in my opinion ... I have allowed myself to be happy "instruct". For this, thank you! Personally, I need it but very rarely, maybe now it more?
Another experience: The flash is sometimes in certain close-ups (eg persons under 2 meters) much too strong and must be reduced manually, which indeed is quite simple, but may require 2 shots. Luckily you need the flash "as" quite rare, but at family gatherings can easily happen something. Who can record simultaneously in RAW but correct up to 3 stops in PC, great!
Conclusion: I have been buying up to now no regrets and can the EX1 still recommend at the current price levels.
