Olympus FE-280 Review

The Olympus FE-280 combines an eight megapixel CCD imager, an Olympus-branded 3x optical zoom lens, and a 2.5-inch LCD display in a pocket-friendly body. The FE280 aims to keep things simple, with a whopping seventeen scene modes that make it easy to get the shot without understanding the subtleties of shutter speeds, apertures and the suchlike. As well as 48MB of built-in memory, images can be stored on xD-Picture cards.

The FE-280 offers a maximum ISO sensitivity of 1600, and has a VGA movie mode with sound. Other features include face detection autofocus and auto exposure; a Perfect Shot Preview mode, which enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot, and Digital Image Stabilization (DIS), which freezes action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds to help prevent blurry images caused by a moving subject. The FE-280 also features Digital Image Stabilization Edit, which uses a built-in gyro sensor to track camera movement and enables users to fix blurry images right in the camera.

Power for the FE-280 comes from a proprietary Lithium-ion rechargeable battery. There's also USB 2.0 High-Speed computer connectivity, and NTSC / PAL video out to let you see your photos on a television. The FE280 product bundle includes a LI-42B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery and Charger, USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, Wrist Strap, Manual, CD-ROM with OLYMPUS Master 2 Software and Warranty Card.

The Olympus FE-280 ships from August 2007 with a price of about US$200, and is available in four colors (red, blue, black and silver).