Overview
The Olympus FE-45 is a cheaper digital camera. It has a 10 megapixel digital camera and a 3x optical zoom lens. Power is supplied by two AA batteries. The FE-45 is very easy to use.
Why Buy The Olympus FE-45
If you are looking for a simple snapshot camera at a low price then the FE-45 is worth considering.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
10
3x
2.5 inches
93.8 x 61.5 x 26.7mm
112g
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
This is a decent photo for a camera in this price bracket. Sun glare is handled well and the level of detail in the shot is good. As you would expect the FE-45 loses a bit of sharpness as you move away from the centre of the photo, but this will only become obvious if you make very large prints.
I am not so impressed with this photo though. The FE-45 struggles with the lightest and darkest areas of the shot. The boats and trees look a little blobby as the camera finds it difficult to bring out any real definition.
With the zoom fully extended this is a better photo. The boats and trees appear larger and this helps the camera to pick out more detail. Even so greater definition could be shown in the picture.
As with the other outdoor photos I am left disappointed with how crisp the shot is. It is difficult to pick out the individual bricks when the photo is blown up to full size. The overall impression is that the photo lacks sharpness.
Portraits
Out of my test shots I think this one is the best. There is warmth in the colours and with the subject closer, focusing is much sharper. With much less contrast in the colours there is far more detail in the shot too.
This shot is surprisingly dark. I think this is likely to be more of a problem with the camera assessing the amount of light required than a really weak flash light.
Without flash I am able to produce a much brighter photo. In fact the FE-45 does well with the conditions and manages to bring out a good level of detail.
Macro, Colours and Noise
The macro shot is one of the better efforts. It compares well against other cameras and you should be able to take close up snapshots without a problem.
Although one or two of the photos are a little dark I have no problem with the colours. Olympus digital cameras tend to give vivid colours without overpowering the shots.
I found noise levels to be on the high side once you start to increase the ISO settings. This unlikely to be of great importance to you unless you are planning to take a lot of low light shots or you are looking to freeze motion.
Summary
Even taking the price of this camera into account I am a little disappointed with the results.
Style
The FE-45 is on the large side for slipping into a pocket. It does not have the elegance of some digital cameras, but many people may find its larger size and small grip on the front easier to get a good hold of. Black, blue and silver versions are available.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
1.93 seconds
19.63 seconds
1.93 seconds
20.23 seconds
3.92 seconds
Ease of Use
To be honest most of the ease of use comes from the fact the FE-45 has fewer features than more advanced digital cameras. Even so the end result is a digital camera that is very easy to use.
Points I Like
Ease of use - price
Where it Could Improve
Photos could be sharper - slow to take a photo - slow turn on time
Verdict
The Olympus FE-45 is one of the more basic digital cameras. It is a simple snapshot camera, but there are better cameras for a similar price tag.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Olympus FE-45 Review Olympus FE-45 Specification Olympus FE-45 Sample Images Olympus FE-45 Features
Review Date
April 2009
