Overview
The Olympus FE-280 is a small, snapshot camera. It has 8 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom lens. At a shade under 20mm wide it fits easily into a pocket. The FE-280 is also one of the most lightweight cameras around. Its body is made of stainless steel and it is available in four different colours.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
3x
2.5 inches
91.8 x 55.7 x 19.1 m
108g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
xD
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Looking at the test shots there are common themes that run through a number of the photos taken with the FE-280.
Starting with the first outdoor scenic photo, this is a bright shot and I like the balance the colours have. Sharpness is roughly inline with other similarly priced digital cameras, although there is a tendency for the focusing to drift towards the edges.
Sun glare is not handled especially well. This leads to a loss of detail on the boats in the shot. Some of the blue lines also have a purple tinge to them. This is something common to many Olympus cameras.
Moving on to my test where the lens is completely zoomed out I can see the loss of sharpness towards the edges as in the first outdoor shot. This problem is more of an issue with this camera than with many others. In fairness some allowances need to be made when taking the price of the camera into account.
Once again the loss of sharpness as you move towards the edge of the photo is noticeable. The balance of the colours is a plus point in this photo.
Portraits
If this photo had been a shade brighter then I would have been delighted with it. As it is I really like the colours. The skin tones in particular are spot on. Using face detection helps the photo and with the subject being closer focusing is much better.
This is another photo where the FE-280 does well. The flash level the camera uses is right for the conditions. This helps to retain colour in the shot. As with the outdoor portrait focusing is sharper than in my more distant outdoor tests. No red eye showed up in my test.
Here the FE-280 manages to outperform many other cameras. Darker areas cause a slight problem, but this is a brighter effort than many cameras manage and detail levels are impressive.
Macro, Colours and Noise
The FE-280 produced a bright and clear macro shot. The camera should be able to take acceptable macro shots in most situations.
I have been pleased by the colours in all my test shots. No colour stands out and overpowers others. The balance between the colours has always been good and there is a natural feel to the photos.
Inevitably noise creeps into the shot as you increase the ISO setting. Even so I think this camera handles the lighting better than many others. This helps it to retain extra detail that other cameras lose.
Even at ISO 1600 the FE-280 performs better than other cameras have managed. Not surprisingly there is a loss of detail at this setting, but colours remain relatively true.
Summary
My tests place the FE-280 somewhere in the middle rank. It is not really a camera for producing stunning scenes at distance, but it should cope well with general snapshots and portraiture.
Style
Very slim and lightweight. In many respects the FE-280 is a typically rectangular model, although it does have rounded edges. It is available in silver, blue, black and red.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.47 seconds
9.56 seconds
1.08 seconds
13.36 seconds
Ease of Use
A simple set of features make this a straightforward, snapshot camera. The menu system could be better designed in my opinion, but the key controls are at your fingertips.
Points I Like
Simple design - lightweight
Where it Could Improve
Photos could be sharper
Verdict
Without being anything extra special the Olympus FE-280 does the job it sets out to do. It is more at home with closer photo opportunities rather than sweeping, scenic shots. You should have little problem getting to know the camera.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Olympus FE-280 Review Olympus FE-280 Specification Olympus FE-280 Sample Images Olympus FE-280 Features
Review Date
January 2008
