The best compromise for a semi-pro compact digital camera

After I separated from my Canon PowerShot G7, I wanted something new, especially Smaller, faster and easier, what you may have always where a DSLR is too big, too heavy and too flashy.

Belonged to my shortlist:
Canon PowerShot S110
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LC1
Olympus XZ-10

Finally, there is the Olympus XZ-10 become, which represents the best compromise for me.

Among the reasons of my decision:
The Panasonic LF 1 has in my opinion the worst price / performance ratio, which is justified neither on the image quality, even on the equipment (except maybe from the viewfinder). That's why I had you not even ordered. The other two candidates, I had about two weeks in Ambergris Caye test.

I will not want to go into all the good properties of the two cameras, because they were not written already sufficiently in other reviews and tests, but only explain my key findings here.

The Canon S110 has a super picture quality, especially in noise performance in dunkelen environments is lighter and smaller than the Olympus XZ-10 and under artificial light in auto white balance more accurate than the XZ-10th What bothered me is purely subjective operation, even though I already knew the concept of the G7 ago, but I never could get used with it. But much more bothered me that the camera flashes all dead - even with slow-sync at 1st or 2nd curtain set. Although you can adjust the flash intensity, but even this was not after many attempts the desired effect. Added to this was that the S110's was in continuous shooting with only 1.9 frames / not fast enough for me. In high-speed scene mode While 10 frames / s are recorded, but unfortunately only 10 frames in a row and you can not freely select the ISO sensitivity, aperture and shutter speed.

Although the Olympus XZ-10 can keep up with the image quality and the noise performance of the S110 not quite, already due to the smaller sensor, but what Olympus is obtained from the small sensor in combination with the bright lens out more than worth seeing. The continuous shooting are at 5.1 frames / s fast enough for me. What I'm excited, unlike the S110, is the Dartstellung images in low light, like candlelight, where the atmosphere is given very good again. Of course, the pictures are not as detailed as that of the S110, but at least it is true the atmosphere. What I'm excited, is to operate the camera. This is among other things, because I know the basic operating concept of my Olympus E-620. But the service concept from Canon I knew well and had micht "run" still regularly. I think it's just great to be able to have direct and quick access to almost all settings. And what you do not need, you can deselect yes.
Allen, the stop at the many known DONE complexity of Olympus menus, I recommend it just for trying. After a relatively short training you feel comfortable.

I can understand the Olympus XZ-10 to now only recommend five weeks longer use!