Olympus FE-230
The Olympus FE-230 is the lightest model of the FE-series, made up of stainless metal with a clean design. Along with the card and battery, it weighs 4.3 ounces. Since it is slim, it easily fits into pockets and is comfortable to hold. It has got large and clear controls which include the mode dial and control pad. It is a 7.1 megapixel model with a 3x zoom lens and a 2.5-inch LCD screen which consumes the back face of the camera. It not only features an automatic mode, but also 18 shooting modes. You also get a built-in memory of 20MB for taking a handful of shots sans an xD memory card. Images can be adjusted with the help of flash and macro shooting, exposure compensation, and preset scene modes. Even under incandescent lighting, the automatic white balance reproduces accurate colours.
It is a simply designed point-and-shoot camera. Other features include a simplified navigated menu, a built-in help guide and Bright Capture technology. On the bottom left side of the camera, there is an in-camera speaker; while on the right side, there is an eyelet for a wrist-strap. The camera suits perfect for a user who is new to digital photography. The image quality is better than that of the F-210 because of its appealing colour reproduction. Images are characterized by sharp details and the default exposure performs well. The power button, shutter speed and zoom control are located at the top; while the front face consists not only of the lens, microphone and flash but also the self-timer lamp. The lens has an automatic cover that opens and shuts as and when the power is switched on or off respectively.
The mode dial located at the back helps in better control and easy adjustment. At the back are two buttons which help move between the Shooting and Playback modes. The shutter button at the top of the model is well-placed and sized. The tripod mount, which is made of plastic, allows easy access to the battery and memory slots. The camera is more suitable for taking shots indoors, but nevertheless, sun glare is handled well. This user-friendly model is only 0.65 inches thick.
Budding photographers would like to know that the maximum size of an image is 3072×2304 pixels. Exposure compensation is the only thing that can be changed while capturing an image. It should be considered that it is more portable and attractive than its competitors. However, the metering method cannot be changed by the user. It has an ISO range of 64 to 640 which adjusts automatically.
640×480 movies can be captured with audio at 30 frames per second. Scene mode options include Landscape, Portrait, Underwater Macro, Night mode, Indoor, Self-Portrait, Fireworks, Sport, Cuisine, Documents, etc. also included in the box is a quick guide, rechargeable lithium ion battery, a battery charger, USB and AV cables, a wrist strap, basic manual and an advanced manual on a CD-ROM. Images can be stored as JPEG only. The camera promises a stylish look, with a quick speed in operating and a good resolution performance.
In spite of its light weight, it is solidly made with strong stainless metal. It is simple to use and has an excellent white balance. The model suffers from drawbacks such as soft images and sluggish performance. The softness obscures minute details and makes the text difficult to read. It lacks manual settings, but the automatic mode can be relied upon. If saving on budget is your priority, then the FE 230 is a decent choice. It offers pocket sized convenience at an affordable price, which is well made and easy to use.
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Filed Under: Olympus Digital Camera
