Overview
The Olympus FE-360 is a simple, 8 megapixel digital camera. It has a 3x optical zoom lens. This is a basic, point and shoot model.
Why Buy The Olympus FE-360
Digital cameras do not come any simpler than the FE-360. If ease of use and a low price tag are what you are looking for this camera is worth considering. In fact it is one of the cheapest pocket sized cameras around.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
3x
2.5 inches
93.9 x 55.6 x 20.3 mm
104g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
xD Micro SD
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
My outdoor test shot gets us off to a creditable start. The colours may not be as powerful as you get with some digital cameras, but they manage to retain a more natural look. Sharpness slides as you move out towards the edges, but overall focusing is better than many cameras manage. There is some detail lost to sun glare, but taking the time of year into account this is understandable.
With no zoom used this is the toughest test for most digital cameras. The FE-360 is not perfect, but it does handle the scene quite well. As with the first test shot the photo is softer towards the edges, but unless you are planning to make very large prints this should not be a problem.
For a camera at this price level and with only a 3x zoom lens this is a good effort. Again focusing slips as you move out, but otherwise it is above average compared to similar cameras in the same price bracket.
This makes a pleasant photograph. The FE-360 uses the light well and produces a bright shot. The brickwork does not stand out as pin sharp as some cameras manage.
Portraits
My outdoor portrait test suggests the FE-360 is well up to the job of producing decent portrait shots from close in. I'm happy with the sharpness levels and the colours have a natural look to them
With this type of camera the flash unit is not likely to be all that powerful. As you can see, as long as you are not too far from your subject there is no problem with lighting. I am very pleased with this photo. It is sharp and the light is distributed evenly enough.
I tested a number of much more expensive cameras at the same time as the FE-360. I have to say that the FE-360 outperforms many of those cameras in this test. It manages to focus more sharply and shows less noise too.
Macro, Colours and Noise
If you are really serious about macro photography then it is fair to you are likely to be looking at a far more expensive camera than this one. If you are looking to take the occasional macro shot and you are prepared to accept a good quality shot rather than something approaching perfection then the FE-360 will do that for you.
The colours throughout my test shots are unobtrusive. They look subtler than many other brands offer, but they are not washed out in any way.
Noise shows up quite early and the colours start to break down as well. Luckily it is rare, if ever, that you will look to work with higher ISO settings.
Summary
Fantastic? No probably not, but I have been impressed with the FE-360. It has stood up well to my tests and I can't tell the difference between this camera and some much more expensive ones.
Style
The FE-360 has a simple, unfussy look. It is a fairly typical rectangular shape. It is available in black, blue, pink and silver.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
2.39 seconds
22.26 seconds
2.56 seconds
25.49 seconds
6.62 seconds
Ease of Use
With so few features and a straightforward menu system this is one of the most easy cameras you will find.
Points I Like
General picture quality when compared against other cheaper cameras
Where it Could Improve
Shutter lag and start up times are very poor
Verdict
As you would expect there are drawbacks to the Olympus FE-360 such as its shutter delay and start up times. If these factors are not so important to you then based on picture quality alone the FE-360 offers very good value for money.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Olympus FE-360 Review Olympus FE-360 Specification Olympus FE-360 Sample Images Olympus FE-360 Features
Review Date
October 2008
