Electronics & Computers Deals here!Olympus FE-115
Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc. Part number: 225730
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Olympus FE-115 is chunky, slow, and overly simple.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/03/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Olympus FE-115 price range: $0.01
- Reviewed by: Will Greenwald
- Edited by: Philip Ryan
- Reviewed on: 05/31/2006
- Released on: 02/08/2006
The good: Extremely simple; automatic white-balance control accurately neutralizes incandescent lighting indoors.
The bad: No manual controls; few image options; poor performance; overprocessed images.
The bottom line: The Olympus FE-115 is chunky, slow, and overly simple.
The Olympus FE-115's chunky plastic body is about the size of a large bar of soap. It won't win any beauty contests, but it feels reasonably solid, and it fits well in the hand. The top side of the camera holds a large shutter-release button and a recessed but accessible power button. The back panel holds a puny 1.5-inch LCD and the rest of the camera's controls. Don't expect many options here, but the few settings you can change are accessible through the camera's mode dial; four-way-plus-OK pad; and five additional control buttons for shooting, playback, trash, menu, and flash. A large indentation between the zoom buttons and the mode dial gives you a comfortable place to rest your thumb when shooting one-handed.
Olympus has taken the bare-bones feature set to new highs--or lows--with the FE-115. Even basic image settings such as ISO sensitivity and white balance are absent from this camera. Once you've selected one of the six still-image modes, the only image options are resolution, flash, macro focus, time, and exposure compensation. The image modes are extremely basic but cover most situations. Besides full auto mode, the FE-115 includes presets for portrait, landscape, night-time shooting, and even self-portraits where you hold the camera facing you. The camera also includes a separate digital image stabilizer for reducing blur. Video fans will likely be disappointed with the FE-115's movie mode, which shoots choppy 15fps, 320x240-resolution QuickTime clips.
Surprisingly, the Olympus FE-115 includes one handy feature now standard on Olympus's cameras: pixel mapping, which analyzes the camera's sensor and records any bad pixels that might come out too light or too dark. Once the FE-115 records these pixels, the camera can compensate for them when it processes pictures. It's a capability rarely seen on low-end cameras.
In a word, the Olympus FE-115 is slow. After a wake-up time of 3.7 seconds, the camera's shutter lags 1.5 seconds even in bright light and 1.9 seconds in dim light. Our lab tests displayed a whopping shot-to-shot time of 8.6 seconds, and in the field, we could fire off a shot, at best, about once every 4 seconds.
After all that waiting, the Olympus FE-115 produces uneven image quality. Its automatic white balance manages to neutralize incandescent lighting accurately, without the yellowish pall produced by many cameras. Unfortunately, heavy JPEG compression artifacts ended up obscuring fine details from many of our field-test images. Our lab shots seemed noise-free, but since we couldn't manually select the ISO, we couldn't run it through our usual gamut of noise tests.
The Olympus FE-115 is strictly for patient, forgiving photographers willing to sacrifice performance and image quality for simplicity. Unless you're truly afraid of choices, you can find much better cameras in the same price range. Canon's far more flexible, slightly lower-resolution PowerShot A430 is a fine example.
User reviews
-
-
one of the best cameras for the money.
by cobra4414 on May 27, 2006
Pros: I had a figi finpix . Not too bad. Much harder to work than the olympus fe-115
Cons: really nothing to say in this area. This camera works really well and the pic quality is great for everyday pic taking.
Summary: For the money, you can't go wrong. It's easy to use and takes great pictures.
Summary: For the money, you can't go wrong. It's easy to use and takes great pictures.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
once bokrn forget about olympus FE-115. no spare parts available on the markets
by okedi on April 5, 2007
Pros: The pictures are soo clear and real and the camera is handy.
Cons: lucks the video sound and the shooting speed is low
Summary: Its not soo bad having olympus FE-115 the only problem is its shooting speed which is soo low and the video has no sound.
Summary: Its not soo bad having olympus FE-115 the only problem is its shooting speed which is soo low and the video has no sound.
-
very good, compact camera
by traveler273 on February 9, 2007
Pros: easy to use, great and amazing quality for the money
Cons: bulky, a little to small
Summary: Am I the only one liking this little camera?
I bought it 8 months ago and was nicely surprised with the quality of pictures (including indoor ones). True, it does ...Summary: Am I the only one liking this little camera?
I bought it 8 months ago and was nicely surprised with the quality of pictures (including indoor ones). True, it does not have tons of features, but isn't that the purpose of this particular model? I have taken some super creative pictures in the "night mode" and learned how to optimize other modes as well. Perhaps patience and a bit of creativity will help to make this camera excellent. Consider money and compare to other ones in the same range. You will not find anything better. -
Dam waste for indoor photographs
by s_raghu789 on January 9, 2007
Pros: Worth for money
Cons: Not a great deal
Summary: I have brought this camera 6 months back. Fit only for outdoor sunlight photgraphs.
Night mode will never help you. Better go for some other model.Summary: I have brought this camera 6 months back. Fit only for outdoor sunlight photgraphs.
Night mode will never help you. Better go for some other model. -
Ok here's the deal
by demikey4u on November 12, 2006
Pros: Great picture, price, stabilizer
Cons: not a whole lot. No manual controls
Summary: Ok I read the review of the editor's review, which is entirely true. but one thing he didn't state... It is $99!!! For that price, what do expect. ...
Summary: Ok I read the review of the editor's review, which is entirely true. but one thing he didn't state... It is $99!!! For that price, what do expect. I don't think you will find another camera for the price with equal features and quality. Sure you could spend $300+ for a better camera or even $150, but for under $100. IT is a steal!! also the digital stabilizer helps out a lot. I like my buy!!
-
Great Camera , but for only taking pics during daylight ,gives worse results for pics indoors
by imran_1980 on September 16, 2006
Pros: great for daylight shooting
Cons: worst choice for clicking photos indoors
Summary: very good camera for daylight shooting, but lets you down while taking pics indoors. Do'nt know whats the problem
Summary: very good camera for daylight shooting, but lets you down while taking pics indoors. Do'nt know whats the problem
-
Better than some great Nikons
by pagetraeger on July 17, 2008
Pros: This camera has great quality pictures, and it takes great macros. good color quality of the photos.
Cons: It's a little chunky, and you can't really change the shutter speed.
Summary: This was my first camera, and it works REALLY well for being what it is. I have a ton of pictures i took with it on my flickr account. flickr....
Summary: This was my first camera, and it works REALLY well for being what it is. I have a ton of pictures i took with it on my flickr account. flickr.com/photos/pagetraeger It has the ability to take better pictures then my Nikon D40. I strongly recommend it for beginners. It may not be the most stylish, but its affordable and it takes great pictures!
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc.
- Part number: 225730
- Description: Boasting 5.0 million pixels, the FE-115 takes sharp photographs and features a 2.8x optical zoom for added versatility. Even beginners can get used to the camera's functions in no time thanks to conveniently positioned controls and buttons with a single dedicated function.
General
- Product Type Digital camera
- Point-and-shoot highlights A panoramic assist function is provided in this camera, making it ideal for vacation pictures. Having video capture capability adds convenience for the user.
- Width 3.5 in
- Depth 1.5 in
- Height 2.5 in
- Weight 4.9 oz
- Enclosure Color Silver
Main Features
- Resolution 5 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 5,300,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 5,000,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/2.5 in
- Light Sensitivity ISO auto (64-320)
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Landscape, Night scene, Portrait mode, Self-portrait, Panorama assist
- Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 2 sec
- Exposure Metering Center-weighted
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- White Balance Automatic
- Digital Video Format QuickTime
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Remote Control None
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture QuickTime - 320 x 240 - 85 sec - With 28MB built-in memory
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory 28 MB
- Integrated Memory 28 MB
- Floppy Drive None
- Image Storage Super-fine JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 7 - With 28MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 22 - With 28MB built-in memory, JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 34 - With 28MB built-in memory, JPEG 640 x 480 : 160 - With 28MB built-in memory
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Guide Number (m / ISO 100) 7
- Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
- Effective Flash Range 8 in - 12.5 ft
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 6.2 mm - 17.4 mm - F/3.0-5.0
- Focal Length 6.2 mm - 17.4 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 38 - 106 mm
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 2-50cm
- Lens Aperture F/3.0-5.0
- Optical Zoom 2.8 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 6 group(s) / 7 element(s)
- Features Aspherical lens
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 12 sec
- Additional Features DPOF support, Date/time stamp, PictBridge support, PRINT Image Matching, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital image rotation, Digital noise reduction, RGB primary color filter, Digital image stabilization, Automatic Pixel Mapping (APM)
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 1.5 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
- Display Format 130,000 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video output, 1 x DC power input
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x xD-Picture Card
Software
- Software Olympus Master, Drivers & Utilities
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows ME, MS Windows XP, MS Windows 2000, MS Windows 98 SE, Apple Mac OS X 10.2 or later
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Wrist strap
- Cables Included 1, 1 x USB cable, Video cable
Power
- Power Device None
Battery
- Supported Battery AA
- Supported Battery 2 x AA ( Included )
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
CNET Labs' Benchmarks
- Labs information All values are expressed in seconds. Please visit our labs information page for information on how digital cameras are tested.
- CNET Labs Flash shot to shot time 8.6
- CNET Labs Shot to shot time typical 8.6
- CNET Labs Shutter lag bright 1.5
- CNET Labs Shutter lag dim 1.9
- CNET Labs Wake up time 3.7
Accessories
- Olympus E-7AU AC Adapter
- Olympus B 90SU - battery charger - AA - NiMH x 4
- HP Photosmart 8750 Professional
- Olympus M1GB - flash memory card - 1 GB - xD
- HP Photosmart 475
- Olympus flash memory card - 512 MB - xD
- Olympus flash memory card - 256 MB - xD
- Olympus E-7AU AC Adapter
- Olympus B 90SU - battery charger - AA - NiMH x 4
- HP Photosmart 8750 Professional
- Olympus M1GB - flash memory card - 1 GB - xD
- HP Photosmart 475
- Olympus flash memory card - 512 MB - xD
- Olympus flash memory card - 256 MB - xD
Manufacturer info
- Olympus America Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Olympus America Inc. products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.olympusamerica.com/
- Address:
Two Corporate Center Dr., Melville, NY 11747 - Phone: 631-844-5000
