p7100 not bad
your brother made a fine choice, depends what he wanted. maybe low light performance and sharper lens wasn't something he was after and flexible lcd and longer lens range is more important.
As long as XZ-1 and X10 are concerned, following is my observations:
Advantages of X10:
- extremely fast performance in every category, AF, shutter lag, disk write speeds, everything (XZ-1 is not bad either, you wont feel any problem.. but X10 is lightning fast)
- beautiful tough black body, (though XZ-1 has its own charm, I like the white shell, though X10 is at X100 standard that means over the top).
- Better DR flexibility on EXR mode and generally due to slightly bigger sensor.
- Less noise (CMOS sensor)
- very good control layout, everything you want is right there under your hand. lets say you want to change focusing to MF, just switch the button from front of the body, on oly drill down the long menu. For ISO set the Fn button. To set Exposure there is a complete dial just for setting Exposure (well its too much for me, but still). Nice zoom ring next to the lens itself that turn the camera on too. very little clever things.
- OVF ( I don't care, never used it while I had X10 ), though X10 OVF is much better than competitors and still useable.
Advantages of XZ-1:
- slightly brighter and sharper lens (you can't beat oly on lenses)
- much cheaper (specially with rebates, here in UK) 40-45% cheaper
- complements oly m4/3 exchange accessories
- white orbs are very rare and very small comparatively
- smaller and lighter body, thanks to "No OVF policy"
- I like oly metering and AF accuracy
- Overall menu system is less confusing (thanks to straightforward and simple operations of sensor technology)
- at base ISO expect better IQ (thanks to 10MP CCD) from Oly XZ1 (but at higher than 200 ISO fuji X10 gives better results and specially if you are not using RAW on Oly XZ1)
- Oly XZ-1 raw is well supported in PS and LR etc, Fuji X10 will take its time.
Now both cameras share some features (reminds me of G12 and P7100 similarities):
- similar DOF (X10 slightly bigger sensor so higher native focal-lengths and XZ1 slightly bigger apperture)
- same focal length range
- good detailed LCD, both fixed
- easier to get greater DOF for landscapes as comparatively bigger apperture (less time)
- silent shutter release
It boils down to individual's taste, I returned my x10 and going to keep xz1