Olympus FE-300

Viewfinder (0.0)
Like the rest of the current FE-series product line, the Olympus FE-300 lacks an optical viewfinder, assumingly to cut down on production costs for this entry-level camera. Most beginner shooters won’t mind the missing viewfinder too much, since point-and-shooters are likely to use the LCD to frame photos. Having an optical viewfinder conserves battery life, however, which should be a consideration for travelers. Instead, FE-300 users will be resigned to using the monitor.

LCD Screen (7.5)
The Olympus FE-300 is fitted with a modest 2.5-inch TFT color LCD screen with 230,000-pixel resolution. The monitor size and resolution specifications are typical nowadays, borrowed from the earlier the FE-250 model introduced in January 2007. One would hope the screen specifications would have been upgraded, like the overall (imager) resolution, but instead the same specs apply to the newer model.

The LCD does not have the HyperCrystal label like some Olympus Stylus and EVOLT SLR cameras, meaning the FE-300 does not possess the anti-glare coating for wide viewing on the LCD, as found on the higher-end Olympus products.

For outdoor shooting, the camera includes an interesting Backlit Boost button that adjusts the brightness of the monitor to compensate for extremely bright or dark situations. While other manufacturers typically bury monitor brightness settings in the menu system, Olympus elected to assign a specific external button for adjusting the LCD for easy access. The Backlit Boost button, which doubles as the trash button is located toward the bottom of the back of the camera. Users needn’t be concerned about accidentally erasing pictures when increasing monitor brightness, though. In Playback, the button acts as a trash button; in Record mode, the button functions as the Backlit Boost button. Users can then adjust screen brightness in two steps.

The FE-300 includes a multi-frame live preview called Perfect Shot Preview. Users can set the mode dial to Guide, "Shoot w/ effects preview," to display a four-frame window, allowing users to view zoom, exposure, color, and movie smoothness before applying the effect to the image. For instance, if users want to adjust EV exposure, the LCD displays four real-time thumbnails with 0.0, +0.3 +0.7, and +1.0 on the first page for selection. On one hand, advanced point-and-shooters will appreciate the Perfect Shot Preview. On the other hand, novice users might be overwhelmed with the multiple choice questions and multiple steps it takes to execute the Perfect Shot Preview.

Instead of gearing this camera toward traditionalists who shoot through an eye cup, the Olympus FE-300 is without viewfinder, leaving framing to the LCD. With the live multi-frame preview (Perfect Shot Preview) and dedicated Backlit Boost button, Olympus leverages the design with a selection of innovative features. We give them credit for experimentation, but the screen lacks the versatility of competing models.  

Flash (6.25)
Olympus places the moderately-sized built-in flash to the left of the lens on the FE-300. The flash is located too close to where the right hand fingers rest, and may cause index fingers to block the flash or assist lamp. Poor flash placement can result in spotty flash coverage.

The flash reaches 0.98 to 20.0 feet in wide shooting and 1.6 to 11.8 feet in telephoto shooting at ISO 800. Photos produced at such close range are terribly illuminated with uneven coverage. Images tend to have a bright spot where other spots are dark.

Users can switch between four flash modes: Auto, which decides for the user which mode will be enabled; Red-Eye, for portraiture; Fill In, for outdoor photography; and Flash Off, which suppresses extra light. The camera lacks a Soft Flash mode or a flash output setting, which other manufacturers include to allow users to control how much light is emitted. Otherwise, as in the case of the FE-300, photos of persons are often cast with harsh shadows and overexposed in different regions of the frame.

Flash cannot be enabled during movies, which limits how videos can be shot in evening weddings or nightclubs. Flash is allowed in most expected preset modes, but is purposely disabled during low light presets such as Candlelight.

Zoom Lens (6.5)
The Olympus FE-300 is fitted with a 3x optical zoom lens, constructed of 6 lenses in 4 groups, including 4 aspherical lenses. Unlike its big siblings, like the 4x optical zoom FE-290 or 5x optical zoom FE-240, the FE-300 doesn’t carry the longer zoom abilities. The 3x optical zoom is basic for point-and-shoots. With a focal length of 7.4 - 22.2 mm, the Olympus FE-300 has an equivalent focal range of 35 - 105mm in film terms. That range allows enough flexibility for wide group shots, but close-up shooting will be limited in terms of other longer-zoomed cameras in the same price range.

Users can adjust zoom by toggling the zoom lever surrounding the shutter button. Zooming is relatively smooth and easy to use. The zoom lever’s position, however, is pushed toward the center of the camera, which makes blocking the flash with the index and middle fingers a problem. If the shutter and zoom lever were moved over just a centimeter, users could save more flashed photos from deletion.

The lens has an aperture range at a wide f/2.8 when zoomed out and f/4.7 when zoomed in, with a minimum f-stop of f/13.

Like most point-and-shoots, users can enable the 4x digital zoom for up to a 12x magnification. Users should beware of this option, though; digital zoom degrades the image quality by decreasing resolution. Instead of using digital zoom, users can get closer to a subject using the Fine Zoom function, which combines optical zoom with cropping. Fine Zoom allows users to magnify up to 19x at full resolution so as to not degrade image quality. Fine Zoom is a good idea, but it’s a cheap way of not including longer zoom capabilities on the lens.

Overall, the zoom lens is average (at best!). The positioning of the flash and zoom lever interfere with the zoom capabilities, but the lens offers a standard focal length and aperture range. The lens also lacks optical image stabilization, which can be found on other cameras for the same price.