Olympus has a hit on its hands!!!!
Pros:
Great photos, super clear LCD, well built
Cons:
Wish it used standard AA sized batteries, but you can't have everything.
The Bottom Line:
This may be my first positive review of an Olympus camera. I really like the quality of the photos and large LCD. Plus, it's simple enough for anyone to use
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
If you've read any of my digital camera reviews, you'll know that I haven't been that kind to Olympus cameras. Well, I've had a change to try out the FE-290 digital camera and I must admit that I actually liked it! I really liked it!
The photos from the FE-290 are very much improved over the other Olympus models I've tested (at the same price or lower.) That may be due to the wide aperture lens or just better optics. Whatever Olympus did, I hope they keep doing it with future models.
The LCD is very large and crystal clear. You can really know exactly what your printed (or displayed) photo will look like. Exactly! I must admit that the large size makes me somewhat concerned that it might be easy to break, but then you should treat every digital camera with care! No LCD is immune from breaking from careless use.
The camera has a good "feel" to it - it is a good size and weight to fit easily in the hand. This camera doesn't have the plastic feel of some other Olympus cameras I've tested.
The camera is very easy to use but flexible enough with loads of options for those who want a little more from their camera. With the FE-290, you can simply put it in auto and keep it there forever to get really good shots, or you can let the camera "grow" as your knowledge of photography grows. There is something there for everybody.
If I had to change one thing, I would design this camera to use standard-sized AA batteries for more flexibility (readers of my reviews know this is always one of my demands from a camera.) However, the included Lithium Ion battery lasts for a good number of shots before needing recharging. So, since I like the camera, I'm willing to overlook the "special" battery pack built into this one.
Overall, I would recommend the FE-290 for anyone from the home photographer to the advancing amateur. It would even be great as a spare camera for the more serious photographer!
