Customer Reviews
A serious Battery problem... 
2008-06-20
As many others have said, this model and several other Olympus cameras have a problem that renders it unusable. I had the typical "Battery Empty" problem. I contacted Olympus service, downloaded an "update" , then the camera quit entirely. The next step is send it in. With no warranty it is not worth any repair charge. Customer service left a lot to be desired as well. With plenty of other choices this camera/brand is not recommended.
Wonderful for the money 
2008-05-09
I'm not someone who can afford a pricier camera but I love to take good pictures when I can. Mostly, I take pictures of my family, pets, vacations, and some random nature shots. I previously had Fuji cameras and were very happy with them. When it was time to move from my 4 megapixels Fuji to something with more mega pixels, I decided to go with this camera for the price and because it could use the same memory cards as the Fuji.
Without a doubt, the regular pictures that I took with this Olympus were wonderful. They were crisp and clear, even after cropping. The only thing is that some times the pictures were a little dull but I would simply darken the contrast with the software and the colors would turn truer and more vivid. I loved the clean, larger, close up videos as well (although I wished it had sound).
However, I still used my Fuji for closeups. The super macro mode on this camera gave me blurry pictures, the regular macro was too grainy. I was absolutely frustrated with the camera up to this point.
What I found out though is that if you play around with the camera long enough, you will get what you want. I finally realized with super macro mode, you had to focus first and indoors, you needed extra light. Also, use the image stabilization when using super macro. The pictures were amazing! Once I figured the camera out, I went crazy taking pictures every where I went and having so much fun with it.
Many people after seeing my pictures have asked what type of camera I used and are shocked when I tell them, they were expecting something more expensive. Obviously, if I had a couple hundred dollars to spend on a better camera, I would. But this camera definitely gave me more than enough for the price.
Get what you pay for! 
2008-04-08
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.
WooHoo 2008-04-04
My first foray into digital photography, and it's great. Takes some getting used to not having a miniscule viewfinder to squint into, but great. Looking forward to the summer, travel and lots of pics to download. Great buy.
Don't buy this camera 2008-04-02
This camera has a "battery empty" problem. It doesn't matter how many new batteries you buy, it will continue giving the same message. I bought the camera because of the brand, but this is the last Olympus camera I will ever buy.
FE-210 "Battery empty" Problem 2008-03-16
The FE-210 High-Resolution CCD delivers superior image quality for larger prints without sacrificing detail. Built-in Help, Guides, One-Touch Operation, Preset Scene Modes and a large LCD are just a few of the features that make using the FE-210 simple and fun. High ISO Sensitivity and faster shutter speeds let you capture sharp, blur-free images using Digital Image Stabilization when you or your subject is moving. The large, bright LCD provides easy shooting and sharing of your images. The in-camera album allows you to store up to 9 of your favorite images to share with friends and family anytime while using a minimal amount of memory. ISO Output Sensitivity - Auto 64-640 White Balance - Auto Recording Modes - PIM3, EXIF 2.21 and Still Images, AVI Motion JPEG Movie Mode 16 Shooting Modes - Program Auto, Scene Presets (Portrait, Landscape, Night & Portrait, Indoor, Candle, Self-Portrait, Sunset, Sport, Fireworks, Cuisine, Documents, Behind Glass, Auction), Digital Image Stabilization Mode and Movie Panorama - Up to 10 frames automatically stitchable with Olympus bran xD Picture Card Built-in Flash Modes - Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off Self-Timer - 12 Seconds 7MB Internal Memory Connectors - USB, Video Output, DC input 2x AA Batteries, 2 Ni-MH or 2 LI AA Batteries Power Supply System Requirements - Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 PRO, XP, VISTA, Mac OS 9.0-9.2x, OS X 10.1-10.4 or higher Dimensions - Width 3.5 x Height 2.5 x Depth 1.2 inch Weight - 4.3 ounces (122 grams)
Not Worth the Money 2008-03-16
This camera, while inexpensive is not worth buying, here's why. Basically, having owned several digicams before, this camera is slow. Aperture is not large enough and the flash blows out peoples faces. IF you need a camera for taking still shots outside, I guess this will be OK
Manufacturer needs better disclosure! 2008-03-16
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.
Great for the money 
2008-03-07
I bought this at a local Staples for $89.99 just after Christmas - sorry Amazon! I use it primarily for shooting photos that will end up on the web, and it has performed very well. I've owned other Olympus cameras, so I had plenty of spare xD cards and after a little familiarization, I get along great with the camera. I like it well enough that I'm going to pick another up to give as a gift. (I was in that same Staples earlier today; the camera was selling for $109.99 on closeout. Amazon wins this round...)
A bit of advice: Don't get it wet and don't take it out if it's too cold. Learn the features before you need them! And take along LOTS of spare batteries. Like all of my Olympus cameras, this eats batteries. I always carry 4 spare AA's in the camera case.
I've hauled mine around in my motorcycle's saddlebags in a soft case and used it during stops with no problem at all. I've had it out for long periods in temps down to 40 degrees with no problem and have used it outdoors well below freezing, but I carried it from inside and didn't let it cool down much before I was back inside.
Shutter is slow (note price of camera!) but long range action shots work pretty well. If you have to have speed, buy up. I bought this primarily to have a camera that would fit in my pocket and take decent pictures.
If you want a decent little camera for not much money, you simply can't beat this for bang for the buck. It's everything I expected and more.
great camera 2008-03-02
This is a very good camera with all the features you need, and easy to use and giving you a superior quality.
