Jump to a part
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Introduction
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01.Testing / Performance
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02.Physical Tour
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03.Components
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04.Design / Layout
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05.Modes
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06.Control Options
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07.Image Parameters
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08.Connectivity / Extras
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09.Overall Impressions
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10.Conclusion
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11.Comments
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Olympus FE-200
First Impressions Review
Previous: Page 7
Image ParametersNext: Page 9
Overall ImpressionsConnectivity
Software
The Olympus Master Software package that comes with the Olympus FE-200 installed quickly and easily without problems. Once open, the initial screen will provide users with the following options: transfer images, print images, browse images, backup images, create and share, upgrade, update software and update camera. When using the browser display, users can select between viewing all images, images by year, images by month and images by day. Additionally, it is possible to organize images in a variety of preset and customizable collection bins. On the right side of the screen are links to support, shop @ emporium, online lessons, Olympus Ofoto, software downloads, photo printers and photo school. A basic and easy interface makes moving through the browser a breeze and reviewing images and selection for printing or editing a simple and logical process.
Options listed along the top of the browser window will allow for altering the image view, checking properties, rotation, find, edit, raw, print menu, email, art, 3d, transfer and help. The great inclusion with this software is the image properties option listed in this toolbar. This will allow users to examine individual images for their file name, camera model number, color space, format, image size, color depth, file size, file location, date updated shooting date and comments. In addition, a histogram of the captured image is displayed above these options on the right side of the screen.
It’s possible to create automatic panoramas when in Olympus’ software setup, although it will have been necessary for the user to have shot the images originally in the camera as a "panorama" image and with an Olympus xD-Picture card. The automatic panorama feature was easy to use and just required the user to drag and drop the appropriate images into their appropriate location. Once that step was completed the user only had to click the stitch button to complete the process.
Image editing processes include a RGB color balance, auto tone, instant fix filter, crop, rotate, print, save, and redeye. There are also art effects which aren’t available to users without the upgrade to Olympus Master Plus software. This upgrade isn’t cheap; it sells on Olympus’ website for $39.99 and while the art effects and 3D option are amusing for a short term this reviewer can’t quite honestly say that this upgrade is necessary or essential. The necessary image alteration features like brightness and contrast, color balance, tone curve, gamma, instant fix, auto tone correction, hue, saturation, monochrome, sepia, sharpness, blur and distortion are all available within the filter menu located in editing mode and at no additional cost. If cheesy "art" effects are needed, find an alternate shareware program with similar features, but save the forty clams for the upgrade and use the money to buy an xD card to enable the far more interesting panorama option.
Jacks, ports, plugsThere are two ports located beneath a plastic port cover on the right side of the Olympus FE-200. This port cover is well constructed and is connected via a rather sturdy hinge system to the body of the camera. The ports located beneath this cover allow for connection to optional DC-in power and to connect the camera via either USB or RCA cables to television, personal computer, printer or other viewing devices. The cover lacks a catching mechanism that would firmly lock it into the body of the camera when not opened purposely and it did come open accidentally once or twice during handling. Another port cover is located on the bottom of the camera. This cover can be opened by pressing lightly on the cover and sliding it to the right away from the body of the camera. The cover reveals the slots for both the lithium-ion rechargeable battery and the xD-Picture memory card slot.
Direct Print Options
Direct printing can be engaged by connecting the Olympus FE-200 to PictBridge printers and by pressing the up-arrow on the four-way controller once the appropriate image has been selected in playback mode. This is as easy as it can get for printing and allows users to print and share images without having to transfer images to PC and then to a printer. In addition to this printing process, it is also possible to select multiple images in playback mode and the number of prints wanted for each image prior to printing in order to streamline the process and make this process more efficient.
Battery
The battery for the Olympus FE-200 is a rechargeable lithium-ion unit and users will find that this is both a lighter weight and less expensive alternative to having to continuously purchase and carry extra AA batteries or other powering options. This battery comes with a charger. The problem with the charger is that users will have to attach a cable between it and the wall jack. From personal experience this reviewer can state that the chances of leaving that cable at home or in studio or wherever is far more likely than actually remember to haul it along. Having an adapter with the plug built in is a small design change but one that can really help out when traveling and packing. Users may want to purchase an extra battery (about $40), as the Li-12B battery only gets about 175 shots per charge.
Memory
The Olympus FE-200 comes with 24 MB of internal memory that will store five images at the highest quality level of 2816 x 2112 pixels. Obviously this memory isn’t going to provide enough space when shooting more than a frame or two but it can come in handy if caught shooting for a day and out of space on an optional xD-Picture memory card and in need of just a couple more shots. In situations like this the 24 MB of internal memory can be a lifesaver. The optional memory card is the xD-Picture format, which is not as commonly used as the SD/MMC format. Users will need to buy an Olympus branded xD-Picture card if they want to use the panorama scene mode on the FE-200.
Other Features
Panorama Mode – The panorama mode can only be used when the optional xD-Picture memory card is in place. Photographers will find the LCD image framed so that as photographs are captured they can be sure that a continuous image is being photographed for later re-construction. Using the automatic panoramic feature in the Olympus Master software will allow users to drag and drop images onto a "time-line" of sorts in the appropriate order of appearance. Once this has been accomplished the user merely presses the "stitch" button and the computer outputs a completed panoramic image. This software cannot be used to stitch together images not captured in the Panorama mode.
Digital Image Stabilization Mode – This camera does come with digital image stabilization. It definitely showed an improvement over images captured without it turned on. Unfortunately, there are two problems with this feature when compared to cameras being manufactured by companies like Panasonic and Canon. The main problem is that Olympus’ stabilization isn’t optically achieved and when compared to a Panasonic Lumix digital camera, the results will pale in comparison and the image compromise that comes with digital stabilization will become apparent. The other problem is that this isn’t a setting that can be turned on and off while shooting in a variety of modes. Instead, this feature is an actual mode that can be found on the mode dial of the camera. It can’t be used in conjunction with other modes (like the Sport scene mode) and users hoping to shoot in night portrait with digital image stabilization will find their intentions thwarted by this odd decision by Olympus. That said, with 5x of possible optical zoom, the inclusion of at least some sort of stabilization system is still better than none at all.
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