Olympus Stylus FE-290 7MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom (Black)

by Olympus

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 7.4 x 5.5 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000UW3D5C
• Item model number: FE-290 Black
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,091 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 24, 2007

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

Digital photography made easy! A 4x wide-angle zoom lens, one-touch operations, preset scene modes, and an extra-large, 3-inch LCD are just a few of the features that make using the 7-megapixel FE-290 simple and fun. Prevent and correct blurry images without a computer! Digital Image Stabilization Mode freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and faster shutter speed to capture sharp images even if you or your subject is moving.

Stylus FE-290 Highlights

High-resolution 3-inch LCD screen The FE-290 features an extra large 3-inch LCD screen, so composing shots and sharing images with friends and family is easier than ever thanks to the FE-Series large, high-resolution LCD screens. Additionally, the backlight boost button increases the LCD from bright to a super-bright setting, making it easier to capture and view images in challenging environments such as direct sunlight or low-light situations.

Face Detection Technology Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects' faces without having to press the shutter button.

Expanded control and easy operation In some situations, consumers may want more creative control when composing images. The three new FE cameras offer Program Auto Mode. Located on the cameras’ mode dial, this option enables consumers to easily adjust ISO and white balance. Additionally, the FE-290 features an in-camera Help Guide, making digital photography simple and fun for users of all ages and skill levels. A tutorial "shooting guide" educates users on tips for achieving specific effects, such as "shooting into backlight" and brightening subjects. The shooting guide not only provides detailed descriptions for various situations and environments, but also sets the camera with the touch of a button, making the transition from learning to taking great pictures instantaneous.

17 pre-set shooting modes make it easy to capture great images The inclusion of preset shooting modes, accessed via a rotating dial and menu button on the back of the cameras, makes it easy to capture great images in a variety of lighting situations, such as Sports, Fireworks and Night Scene with Portrait.

Olympus Master 2 software Olympus Master 2 software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. And with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or emailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.

Product Description

Digital photography made easy! A 4x wide-angle zoom lens, one-touch operations, preset scene modes, and an extra-large, 3-inch LCD are just a few of the features that make using the FE-290 simple and fun. Prevent and correct blurry images without a computer! Digital Image Stabilization Mode freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and faster shutter speed to capture sharp images even if you or your subject is moving.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wide angle wonder, January 7, 2008

By 

Paul Claxton (Riverside CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Olympus Stylus FE-290 7MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom (Black) (Electronics)

I've been shooting pictures as an avid photographer for more than 30 years. My first digital camera was an Apple 150 ... and that was a long time ago. This little offering from Olympus is used as a snap shot camera to supplement my Nikon DSLR so I use it within it's limits.

Pros:
The 3" screen is bight, clear, and plenty big enough.
The wide angle lens produces sharp pictures and has a very useful close focus.
The flash is effective within its limits.
The camera is simple to operate.
The guide mode is very nice to use.
Each mode on the function wheel has a large icon that displays on the rear screen to make selection easy.

Cons:
The function wheel feels a bit cheap as it's made out of plastic - the rest of the camera feels solid in comparison.
The battery life is a bit shorter than I'd like - extra batteries are available here for $14.

All around a wonderful little camera which is just so easy to use. An excellent camera.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple with a Lot of Features, March 6, 2008

By 

Annie Belle (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Olympus Stylus FE-290 7MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom (Black) (Electronics)

I love this camera. I was in the market for a digital camera for a while. I've been searching and testing for a long time. While, I'm not a professional photographer, I'm very picky about the things that I purchase. One of the important things that I was looking for in a camera was slimness, yet most of the cameras that were slim had very few features. This one is great, it's slim with a lot of high tech features, yet still easy to use.

One of the biggest plus is moving shots and shots behind glass still come out crystal clear! This camera is great and at a reasonable price.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A lot more camera for a lot less money!, April 4, 2008

By 

A. Ramos (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Olympus Stylus FE-290 7MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom (Black) (Electronics)

After 26 years of being in the hobby of photography, I have already outgrown the stage where I thought that the best cameras were simply the ones with the most number of bells and whistles. There was a time when I wouldn't even consider something inexpensive, thinking that surely it's features weren't the latest. Maturity has given me the wisdom of realizing that as far as my point and shoots were concerned (and I've had so many of these through the years), I have never really availed of much of these whatchamacallit features! The point of having a point and shoot, after all, is to be able to just point and shoot (and leave all the adjustings with your SLRs)! A few days ago, I ordered the affordable (inexpensive, not cheap) Olympus FE-340 and FE-290. Yes, I ordered both of them! I was attracted by the 5x optical zoom of the FE-340 and the 4x (with wide-angle) optical zoom of the FE-290, and I couldn't decide which one I wanted more. Well, it turns out that the combined price of both units were still less than the price of one comparable unit of another brand. More importantly, I simply trust the lens of the Olympus since I know that it is a long-time optical company that created an optical product, not just an electronics company that decided to dabble in cameras.