DESCRIPTION

The FE-250 boasts an 8MP sensor, 3x zoom and slim metal casing. It's also the first FE model to feature the company's 'Bright Capture' technology (nice name for an old idea; pixel binning to increase ISO). What makes the FE-250 stand out for us though, is that it scales new heights in sensitivity, offering an ISO 10,000 (yes, that's ten thousand) option (at 3MP). Now we may be jumping the gun here, but we suspect there may be some sacrifice in quality involved. Either that or Olympus has - in a £200 compact - re-written the laws of physics.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

• 8.0 Megapixel CCD in a stylish metal body
• 3x optical zoom (equiv. to 35-105mm on a 35mm model), 1:2.8-4.7
• 6.4cm/2.5" LCD (with 230,000 pixels)
• BrightCapture Technology
• High ISO setting mode (up to ISO 3200 with full 8.0 Megapixels)
• ISO 6400 and 10,000 in 3MP mode
• "One button, one function" design principle
• Super Macro mode from 10cm
• TruePic TURBO
• 15 scene modes (e.g. Candle, Indoor or Sport)
• Internal memory plus xD-Picture Card slot
• Movie recording with sound up to card capacity
• Supplied with Olympus Master software + LI-42B lithium ion battery
• Multi-language menu with 25 languages

FEATURES

Format Ultra Compact

Price (street) US$265

Also known as Release Status Click for help

Max resolution 3264 x 2448 Click for help

Low resolution 2048 x 1536, 640 x 480 Click for help

Image ratio w:h 4:3 Click for help

Effective pixels 8.0 million Click for help

Sensor photo detectors 8.3 million Click for help

Sensor size 1/1.8 " (7.18 x 5.32 mm) Click for help

Sensor type CCD Click for help

Colour filter array RGB Click for help

Sensor manufacturer Unknown Click for help

ISO rating Auto (64 - 3200), up to ISO 10000 at 3 MP Click for help

Zoom wide (W) 38 mm Click for help

Zoom tele (T) 105 mm (2.8 x) Click for help

Digital zoom Yes, 4 x Click for help

Image stabilization No Click for help

Auto Focus Yes Click for help

Manual Focus No Click for help

 Auto focus type TTL Click for help

Normal focus range 60 cm Click for help

 Macro focus range 10 cm Click for help

White balance override 5 positions Click for help

Aperture range F2.8 - F4.7 Click for help

Min shutter 1/2 sec Click for help

Max shutter 1/2000 sec

Built-in Flash Yes

Flash guide no. 4.3 m (14.1 ft) 3 m

External flash No Flash modes Auto, Red-Eye, Forced, Off Click for help

Exposure compensation -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps Click for help

Metering ESP multi-pattern Click for help

Aperture priority No Click for help

Shutter priority No Click for help

Focal length multiplier

Lens thread No Click for help

Continuous Drive Yes

Movie Clips Yes, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 @ 30 fps

Remote control No

Self-timer Yes Click for help

Timelapse recording No

Orientation sensor No Click for help

Storage types xD Picture Card + Internal Click for help

Storage included 20 MB Internal Click for help

Uncompressed format No Click for help

Compressed format JPEG (EXIF 2.2) Click for help

Quality Levels Standard, High, Super High Click for help

Viewfinder No Click for help

LCD 2.5 " Click for help

LCD Pixels 230,000 Click for help Video out Yes Click for help

USB Yes Click for help

Firewire (IEEE 1394) No Click for help

Battery / Charger Yes Click for help

Battery Lithium-Ion rechargeable

Weight (inc. batteries) 155 g (5.5 oz)

Dimensions 94 x 57 x 22 mm (3.7 x 2.2 x 0.9 in)

Notes

Resolution Chart

Colour Patches