Olympus FE-290

7.10 Megapixels   4.00X optical zoom lens   3.0 inch LCD

It is an conventional fact that technical gadgets such as computers, music players plus of course cameras obtain smaller, cheaper and more feature-packed as occasion goes by. This year's cameras determination have additional powerful sensors, better lenses, faster presentation and additional features, while estimate less to buy than last year's model. So why then at what time I seem at the the Olympus FE-290 do I get the feeling that it's somehow slipped from side to side a time distort from about three years ago? Actually, that's a bit unjust. There were abundance of cameras around in 2005 that were far improved than this.

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At smallest amount numerically, the FE-290 is next from top of Olympus' FE range of customer compact cameras. In terms of requirement and presentation however it is distant closer to the dismal FE-230, and a extended way below the actually quite good FE-250. The FE-290 is a 7.1-megapixel dense camera featuring a 4x zoom lens by means of a central length range equal to 28-112mm. It also has a large 3-inch LCD check with 234k resolution, and is currently obtainable for around £130, though some places have it scheduled for as a great deal as £150. When look for other cameras feature wide-angle 4x zoom lenses with which to contrast it there are a few clear choices, such as the outstanding Panasonic FX-33 (£160), or the even nicer Canon IXUS 860IS (£203), however together of those cameras have 8-megapixel sensors and optical image stabilization. A better contrast would be by means of discontinue models such as the FX-30 and IXUS 850 IS.

It has to be supposed that on first impressions unaccompanied the FE-290 scores healthy. It is an pleasingly designed camera, obtainable in black or silver, with abundance of shiny chrome trim. It has an all-metal corpse and the build excellence is up to Olympus' customary high standard. It's not a chiefly small camera though, measure 97.7 x 55.7 x 26.5 mm, and not too glow either at 142g minus battery or reminiscence card. The size of the monitor on the back board doesn't leave a group of room for the wheel, and the D-pad and two buttons are crowded into the base right corner, with another two even lesser buttons on the pinnacle right. I'm not frightened by the plan and feel of this wheel, particularly the two lower buttons. They feel soggy and unfeeling, and the whole explain is fiddly for anybody with larger finger. Main shooting mode assortment is via a thumb wheel dial by means of eight positions, and the zoom manage is via a rotating bezel approximately the close button.

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