Customer Reviews

Olympus Stylus FE-210 7MP Digital Camera with Digital Image Stabilized 3x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

and if you want image quality, don't buy this camera. I have a six year old Olympus C-2100 ultra zoom 2.1 MP camera, and the reason I have never upgraded is because the image quality is simply sensational on that camera. So I bought another Olympus thinking that the state of the art would have improved even more. However, my six year old camera simply blows away this one when it comes to image quality. Yes, it's big and clunky compared to this one, and this camera is easier to use, but at the end of the day what difference does that make if the pictures aren't as good?

Specifically, the edges are too "soft", particularly indoors with the relatively weak flash. Also very grainy in low-light situations.

I was simply astounded when I compared the 400KB jpeg files from my old camera to the 2.5MB pictures from this one. There is really no comparison. Everything from color correction, color fidelity, sharpness, graininess: simply EVERYTHING is better on the old images.

So next time I'm looking for a compact camera, I'll do more homework first. I think it's back to the store with this one, which I have dubbed the "disc camera" (remember those?) of digital cameras.

I purchased this camera as a backup to my Olympus Ultra zoom (which I Love) for a vacation in Disney. I read the reviews but never noticed anyone complain about the lag time between focusing and actually taking the picture. It is SLOW! If you have a toddler and need to snap a quick picture, keep looking at other cameras. I missed more fantastic shots because of this lag time. I did further investigating when I got home thinking maybe it was my choice in batteries and found that out of 87 cameras reviewed it was the 2nd slowest.

The picture quality is fine. It is easy to use and extremely small but it eats batteries. I can go a full day in Disney with my ultra zoon and I had to change my FE-210 batteries twice to keep up with my other camera.

My recommendation is to save your money and get a better Olympus!

I've owned a 3MP Olympus for years and really like it so I went with Olympus again. These 7MP pictures aren't as clear as my older camera, especially indoors. I did want a smaller, lighter camera and I did get that. I do like the size and I definitely wanted one that took AA batteries so it will work for me since I just am a very amateur photographer but for those who take it more seriously I would go with something else.

I gave this camera as a gift this past Christmas. I had a chance to use it and I give it a big thumbs up. Now, keep in mind this is a point and shoot style camera and if you're looking for 'pro' features and quality, go look at a Canon or Nikon SLR. I do reccomend this for a first time buyer on a budget and wants easy straight forward controls. It has high resolution for the price range, enough optical zoom to work with and a unique help screen that gives you tips and hints on how to take better photos in different situations.

This little camera is tough to beat since not many other manufacturers offer simlar features in this price range. The next closest one I would consider would be the Nikon L15 simply for it's size. I own Canon cameras myself but they don't offer one quite this small unless you spend $250 or more.

It does offer many automatic settings which will adjust settings to most typical shooting situations. I did notice that the flash can either overpower and washout photos if you're too close or be underpowered if you try to zoom on a subject in low light settings. There isn't much you can do but I suggest that you try to use the flast on subjects atleast 5-6 feet from the camera and no more than 8-10 feet. There's not much you can do to compensate for the lighting other than to have actual light on your subject. But for just over 100 some odd bucks, this is a camera worth looking at.

Even with lights turned on in the house AND flash..the photos come out dark and very "noisy" or pixelated...even while shooting on the highest quality. I thought I could trust a brand like Olympus but I'm sooo unhappy with this camera. I hate it; I suggest you save your money and get something else.

This past week I've gone through two brand new Sony cameras and returned them within days, very disappointed. I am FINALLY pleased with this camera! The only drawback so far is no sound for the movie - which is just ridiculous. Why would anyone want to shoot a silent movie, Olympus? However, the picture quality is very good, and the automated settings seem to be wonderful.

Buyer beware - this camera requires an OLYMPUS xd card for special features such as Panorama and Art Work. Any other kind of card will certainly work, but just not for the said features. And although this camera is awesome, I too wonder why the picture quality isn't AS good as my old, chunky 3.2mp Sony. They lost quality for megapixels - BIG BUMMER!

Unless you have brand new Duracell or Energizer batteries in there, it will likely say "Empty Battery" and shut down. Since rechargeable batteries have slightly lower voltage, you will not get very far with it, or be continually charging batteries. Testing out the batteries with a tester and have the dial rate them Good and/or green is not good enough for this little pest. It may be a defective sensor, but I have a feeling this new camera will be in a landfill before the week is out.

Back to 35mm. It have served me well for 25 years.

I have gone thru several digital cameras in the past few years. I had a $400 Nikon camera which decided to break on me 1 month after the 1 yr warranty. I had a Sony Cybershot (forgot which one) which lasted at least 2 yrs. But the new ones are not even close to the quality of the old ones. A Canon Powershot A530 - which got great reviews... but has a CONSTANT battery low blinking.. That only lasted 5 months. Lastly, a DXG (Kyocera) CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP $50 dig camera. Waste of money, stay away from it!! That thing is a joke! Anyhow, none of them lasted long for what I paid. I bought the Olympus this time, because regardless of the quality of the pictures, I wanted something that will LAST longer than 1 or 2 yrs this time. So far, so good. It's been 6-8 mos since I purchased it.

The quality of the pictures are not exceptional. But they take good enough pictures. I used to have to have a great camera for when I sold on ebay, but these are just general pictures I take now. Thank God for Jasc Paint Shop Pro.. at least with that, I can fix a lot of them. I will say though, it is a better quality camera for motion pictures. Most others I had before I would have to take numerous pictures if I didn't have a steady hand or whatever. (Edited: NOTE!! This camera is TERRIBLE for taking evening pictures. No matter WHAT way you take them!!!!!)

One thing I especially don't like about this camera. I've had a bunch of cheap AA batteries laying around that I wanted to use up. They don't even work. If you want this camera to last longer than one use, I highly suggest getting the Engergizer Lithium batteries. I miss the fact with my old cameras, you could just pop out the big battery and put it in the charger. They always had a much stronger charge time.

Overall, this camera is easy to use. Point and shoot, you can get done easily without any knowledge. Even if you want to use the other options, it's set up very easy to change the way it takes pictures. Overall, it's about a 3 out of 5 due for the fact it has only so-so quality pictures. Btw people.. those you not knowledgeable about megapixels.. You really don't even need a 7mp camera! You really only need a 3 or 4 sized one. 7mp will allow you to print a poster. and I'm sure most of you won't be doing that.

Bottom line. Do a lot of research prior to spending your money on a digital camera! As you can see, I have gone thru A LOT of them, and spent A LOT of money. And I'm getting no where fast. My most reliable camera for the past 5 yrs is a regular film camera I bought USED on ebay for $100 - Minolta QTsi. What a GREAT camera and absolute best quality pictures you can ever get!!

I got this as a part of a rewards program, so I didn't know exactly what I was getting before it came, but I was hoping to have a cute birthday present for my almost 14 year old. When I read the reviews, I got nervous. So I popped it out and took it around with me a couple days, including an evening at a Sonics game that the hubby won tix for.

I didn't run out of battery power, so I am thinking consumption is on the high average of most digital equipment. The lag time is what it is for most dig cameras, you can't spend a hundred bucks and think you will get something that speedy. It was as slow as my 3 year old 5mp that I love, and yep I have to anticipate the shot for it.

Really the critical thing is the prints, and yes they are soft. That is because a 1gb card can hold 500 somthing on "normal" on a 7mp camera!!! The compression rate is extreme!!! I set it to fine, and when looking at the photos, print size is about 8x10, give or take, but looking at pixel size it is incredibly artifacted.

So if you want something that gives you phenomenal enlargements, well nope, but even tho my daughter shows signs of wanting to follow in my photographic footsteps, this is the camera she can take all around with her, goof around with her friends, and come to me if she wants something more artistic.

People who are severely disappointed with it, well the best quality and features cost more than a hundred bucks.

This camera was brought to replace a Sony 3.1 mega-pixel. This camera is horrible and has the nerve to display a "movie recorder" as one of it's "features" but has NO SOUND! What a waste of money. Get something better.