Olympus FE-180
Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc. Part number: 225820
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- This inexpensive shooter won't wow you with features, but its price and pictures are nice.
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Where to buy
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| eCOST.com |  | | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/01/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Olympus FE-180 price range: $164.99
- Reviewed by: Will Greenwald
- Edited by: Philip Ryan
- Reviewed on: 10/12/2006
The good: Great white balance; comes with batteries and charger.
The bad: Softens details; awkward tripod mount; no manual controls.
The bottom line: This inexpensive shooter won't wow you with features, but its price and pictures are nice.
The FE-180's small, curved plastic body is a microcosm of the camera itself; comfortable and simple, but unimpressive and not intimidating. The right half of the camera is fatter than the left half to make room for two included rechargeable AA batteries. The batteries come with a separate charger and even come precharged so that you can start shooting as soon as you take the camera out of the box.
The FE-180 has almost no manual controls. Besides macro, flash, and EV compensation, the only way to change the camera's settings is through its various scene presets. It automatically controls aperture, shutter, focus, and even ISO and white balance. Basically, the camera runs almost completely on autopilot.
The FE-180 automatically sets its sensitivity from ISO 64 to ISO 1,000. Unfortunately, you can't change ISO manually, and since the ISO isn't recorded in the EXIF data, there's no way of knowing what ISO setting the camera is using. It features a digital image stabilization mode to help reduce blur, but it still isn't very good for low-light shooting, especially if you can't use the flash. Unfortunately, tripod use is extremely awkward, with the camera's tripod mount on the very far left edge of the body.
The FE-180's automatic white balance was generally very accurate. We noticed some slight yellowing in other lab tests, but our basic scene produced an impressively neutral image. Shots tended to be slightly warm under tungsten lights, but far more neutral and balanced than many cameras. The camera's 38mm-to-114mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens produced mild distortion at the far wide and telephoto positions but didn't really hurt the pictures. The camera's biggest weakness is a marked softening of details. While the FE-180 handles color and exposure beautifully, it doesn't do a very good job at reproducing fine details such as text.
Performance is far better than that of previous FE-series cameras. With only a 1.7-second wait between power-on and first shot and a 1.6-second wait between shots thereafter, you can snap photos at a relatively rapid clip. With the onboard flash enabled, the wait increases to a modest 3.8 seconds. The camera's shutter is nice and responsive, with just a 0.6-second lag between button press and shot.
Olympus has several 6-megapixel FE-series cameras, and they're all nearly identical. The FE-170 is almost the same as the FE-180, only it doesn't come with rechargeable batteries, and it doesn't have an autofocus lamp. The FE-190 is smaller and slightly more stylish than the FE-170 and FE-180 but includes the same lens, sensor, and basic features as the other two. All three cameras are available for $200 or less.
The Olympus FE-180 is a fine, inexpensive snapshot camera. It doesn't have any manual settings to play with, but it quickly and easily produces attractive images for a low price. With an included set of rechargeable batteries and a charger, this sub-$200 shooter is a great deal for anyone who wants pretty pictures without a lot of trouble or cost.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
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Typical shot-to-shot time | |
Time to first shot | |
Shutter lag (typical) |
User reviews
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Awesome Camera for Cheap Price
by mafranklin on October 12, 2006
Pros: Very reasonable price, longer battery life, Fun to Use
Cons: complicated features
Summary: I bought this camera at the famous Fry's electronic, based on a recommendation by a salesperson for 149.99. I was going to buy Canon PowerShot but he pointed ...
Summary: I bought this camera at the famous Fry's electronic, based on a recommendation by a salesperson for 149.99. I was going to buy Canon PowerShot but he pointed out that it has longer battery life and better package value. I bought the whole package for only 226 dollars and immediately fell in love with it. The only downfall is that I have to learn how to use the complex features. But it came with Olympus Advanced Manual CD which made it easier for me to use. I recommend you to buy it over Canon PowerShot because you'll be so pleased with longer battery life and reasonable package values!
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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being returned as I type
by ummduh on December 17, 2006
Pros: the shots that turn out are pretty good
Cons: slow, horrible with low light., easily confused indoors
Summary: I do a lot of shooting indoors.. Weddings, family functions, kids in the house. This thing can't take a indoor picture without absolutely perfect lighting. It also seems to ...
Summary: I do a lot of shooting indoors.. Weddings, family functions, kids in the house. This thing can't take a indoor picture without absolutely perfect lighting. It also seems to produce a lot of blurred images. In high-zoom/low-light conditions it would take an abnormally long time to focus, check, refocus, then finally take the picture. Using the shutter lock or not.
The wife is attempting to return it right now in exchange for a canon sd700 IS. More than we wanted to spend but if it'll do what we need, it is what we have to do.2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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a very good product
by tazadsldevil on April 20, 2008
Pros: Digital Image Stabilizer, 6MP, large lcd, high battery time
Cons: no viewfinder, no manual iso setting only panoramic mode with xd cards of olympus
Summary: I don't know what some people are complaining about fuzzy shots, there is a special mode (the shaking hand on the jog dial) try that , because with me it ...
Summary: I don't know what some people are complaining about fuzzy shots, there is a special mode (the shaking hand on the jog dial) try that , because with me it works good (and i shake with my hands). the camera is stylish and looks nice and feels solid i do not complain. the pictuers i took sofar where sharp so if it had manual iso it would have got a 10 / 10 the missing viewfinder doesn't border me much instead it has a kind of life view ..
about resolution : it has 6mp, don't get fooled by people who say that 6mp are not enough it is enough and you can get large prints out of 6mp
the speed is slow with a standard xd card (no letter) good with a type M xd card and fast with a type h xd card.
olympus says it may not work witha 2gb xd card now mine works pefectly with a 2gb xd card form olympus self. it is a bit weird that only olympus xd cards offer the panoramic mode and not those of fuij (the only other brand that uses xd)
otherwhise it is a good product1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Cnet should have included image samples!!
by andy_haiting on December 3, 2006
Pros: Small, sleek looking
Cons: pictures come out blurry, cheaper cameras have better quality
Summary: I ordered the FE-180 to replace a 2 yr old fuji A345(4MP)that i had dropped.The " softens details " at the top of the review should have been highlighted ...
Summary: I ordered the FE-180 to replace a 2 yr old fuji A345(4MP)that i had dropped.The " softens details " at the top of the review should have been highlighted since its not mentioned anywhere else in the review.When i first saw the camera I was impressed at how sleek and small it was.This soon turned to disappointment when I started taking pics with it.ALL of the pics came out blurry,even if they were taken on a stable surface.The pictures look ok on screen but if u zoom in any amount( even at the SHQ setting) they were in a mess.My old 4MP fuji gave me WAY sharper photos than this.I quickly sent it back to the retailer and shelled out an extra $50 for the fuji F30, another 6MP camera and the pics are super sharp.If you're budget is really pressed and your ok with the slightly blurry images, this camera will be ok for you.
Updated
Cnet does mention the softens details part lower in their review, but this thing still deserves a much lower rating.Updated
Cnet does mention the softening of details lower in their review, but should be emphasised more.This thing deserves a lower rating.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Buy Another Model, or Another Brand
by J.E.Davis on December 24, 2006
Pros: It has 6MPs. Suggested retail price is $179.00 but easily found for less. If is easy for a novice to use. It comes with a battery rechargeable unit & batteries, has a built in flash.
Cons: Ureliable quality of photos, fringes added to edges of objects.
Summary: This camera is not a serious camera. It sounds good, because it has Digital Image Stabilization but the photos tend to be blurry except for the center portion of the ...
Summary: This camera is not a serious camera. It sounds good, because it has Digital Image Stabilization but the photos tend to be blurry except for the center portion of the photo. I have now had two of these and both perform poorly although the first one was worse than the exchanged camera. The center of the photo can be quite sharp, but then the quality deteriorates. The camera cannot be focused manually and no matter the mode, it adds a fringe to an object. For example, blue fringes to tree limbs, pink to flower objects. I believe this is why some users think their photo is blurry. This fringe appears even at the best quality setting the camera has.
I have owned 6 digital cameras; this is the most disappointing camera I've ever purchased. I needed one in a hurry, paid full retail price, and the photos are useless for my purposes. Olympus offered to look at it for repair, but I don't believe it is a repair problem but a problem with the design and components used to capture digital images. I wasted good money on this camera and other than giving it to a grandchild; I?d be embarrassed to give it to anyone. My suggestion is to avoid this camera and buy another brand. I bought the camera because it was an Olympus. It is an embarrassment to their reputation to offer such a poor piece of equipment.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great for the occasional photographer, perfect for snapshots, no manual settings required
by technomange on June 3, 2007
Pros: Great pictures, portable, very long battery life, internal memory when you forget a XD card,
Cons: For general use, no bells and whistles photography, this camera has no cons attached!
Summary: For the rest of us who are not into ISO settings, aperature control, white balance, etc., and just want to take a snapshot, this camera is a great choice. The ...
Summary: For the rest of us who are not into ISO settings, aperature control, white balance, etc., and just want to take a snapshot, this camera is a great choice. The pictures are good, and image stabilization is great if you (unknowingly) shake the camera while shooting pictures. I have not experienced the "softening of details" that other reviewers have mentioned, and have found the night setting very effective with little or no light--producing very nice pictures with minimal effort. I've used many film and digital cameras in the past, and quite a lot of SLR's (digital and film). Quite frankly, this little camera makes taking pictures a "no-brainer" endeavor. Point, shoot, enjoy. Color quality on the LCD can sometimes vary, but the printed pictures are fantastic. If you want a true "point and shoot and forget it" camera, this is it. If you really want all the manual settings and can set them without thinking, this won't work for you. Personally, I find that having to read the manual every time you want to take a picture in order to set the camera correctly a big distraction... This camera eliminates that preoccupation with settings and allows you to simply, quickly take the picture. It is virtually goof-proof.
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Great Little Point and Shoot Camera
by sptster1200 on May 24, 2007
Pros: Compact - Excellent Battery Life
Cons: For a Point and Shoot none that I've Seen
Summary: In reading the reviews on this camera, I was hesitant about buying it. I'm glad that I ignored them. This is an excellent point and shoot digital camera with ...
Summary: In reading the reviews on this camera, I was hesitant about buying it. I'm glad that I ignored them. This is an excellent point and shoot digital camera with remarkable battery life. The controls are easy and quick to use and the pictures are very good for such a little camera.
I have other digital cameras that are a bit more complex. I was looking for a snap shot camera that I could grab and compose my shot without thinking about control settings. This camera fits that bill very nicely. -
Worst camera I've ever used
by larry8837 on March 16, 2007
Pros: large lcd screen, compact
Cons: quality of pictures is blurry and dull
Summary: I hate to write a bad review but I must say this is the worst camera I've ever used. I had a Fuji 3.2 meg and an old ...
Summary: I hate to write a bad review but I must say this is the worst camera I've ever used. I had a Fuji 3.2 meg and an old Kodak camera before that took better quality pictures than this. I bought this camera while on holidays thinking it would be better but didn't realize how bad the quality was until I got home and downloaded to my computer. I was unable to return to the retailer as they were out of country so I contacted Olympus direct. I emailed them some of the downloaded pics and they agreed the quality was poor and to send the camera in. After they received it they said everything was in spec and they returned the camera to me saying there was nothing they could do. I wish I could attach some sample pics for you to see and you could judge for yourself. Many of the images were also warped, as if looking through a fishbowl. Basically Olympus even admitted the camera was a poor performer. Following is an actual emai from Olympus. Unfortunately, the retailer would not give me my money back and Olympus won't help so I'm stuck with a lemon. I would have rated it a 1, but it does make an attractive paperweight. Anyone want to buy a camera cheap?
CustomerSupport@olympus.com wrote:Hi Larry,
We looked at these latest images you sent us and while there was some improvement we could still detect slight camera shake occurring. Our recommendation at this point is to return the camera back to the retailer and get your money back as I think there are no suggestions we can make that will allow you to achieve the same image quality as on your Fuji.
Regards, -
Good value for the price
by Ozarkette on January 19, 2007
Pros: 6 MP, standard batteries, flexibility, huge screen!
Cons: Not a DSLR, but a decent workhorse
Summary: I write for newspapers where I need a 500K 300dpi image for illustrations for stories, but not extremely high quality. Up to this point, I've been hauling a film ...
Summary: I write for newspapers where I need a 500K 300dpi image for illustrations for stories, but not extremely high quality. Up to this point, I've been hauling a film Pentax WR90, and an Olympus D-535 3.2 MP to interviews. The D-535 took a spill onto a concrete floor, split open the case, but kept on ticking after I snapped it back together, so I was pro-Olympus to begin with.
Got the FE-180 for Christmas by request. Already had NiMH batteries and charger, xD memory cards for the other camera. Was highly impressed and surprised by the size of the screen, thinness of the camera (didn't know that)and more batteries. This lens is slightly slower than the D-535, which did not have the flexibility of the scene settings. It will be a while before I figure out how to convert the little pictures to conventional photo settings, however, using the 'sport' setting to stop action of a squirrel worked quite well, as well as the 'behind glass' setting for a display case. It seems to need more light than other digitals I have used--they could have improved the camera much by using a more powerful flash and slightly more sensitive lens/imaging combo. The camera on SHQ generates a 17 MB final photo file-- suitable for a 3.5 x 4.5 600 dpi image or an approximately 300 dpi 8x10.
This isn't a substitute for a DSLR, and could have used a manual white balance adjustment, as well as the ability to set the ISO speeds in a more conventional manner, but for the reasonable price ($150) it seems to be a good moderately advanced point and shoot. -
Small enough to fit in your pocket with great pics and price!
by Gypsybvw on January 2, 2007
Pros: Small camera with a big screen
Cons: Because it uses AA batteries, it is a little bulkier thatn models that need spacialized batteries
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc.
- Part number: 225820
- Description: Take an astonishing 500 shots on a single battery charge. Combine that with Digital Image Stabilization and a Built-in Help Guide and you'll enjoy the FE-180 for a long, long time. Enjoy a long vacation filled with many photos all taken on one battery charge. Save money with the long-life Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery, which allows 500 shots per charge. The Built-in Help Guide provides tips and easy access to a variety of camera settings so you capture quality images in any situation. Snap crisp, clear pictures even when your subject is moving with fast shutter speed and high ISO sensitivity.
General
- Product Type Digital camera
- Width 3.5 in
- Depth 1.1 in
- Height 2.4 in
- Weight 4.2 oz
- Enclosure Color Silver
Main Features
- Resolution 6 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 6,200,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 6,000,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/2.5 in
- Light Sensitivity ISO auto (64-1000)
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Candle, Indoor, Sunset, Auction, Cuisine, Document, Fireworks, Landscape, Anti shake, Sports mode, Behind glass, Portrait mode, Self-portrait, Night portrait, Panorama assist
- Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 4 sec
- 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
- Continuous Shooting Speed 30 frames per second
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture QuickTime - 320 x 240, QuickTime - 640 x 480
Memory / Storage
- Integrated Memory 22 MB
- Floppy Drive None
- Image Storage JPEG 2816 x 2112, JPEG 2048 x 1536, JPEG 640 x 480
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
- Effective Flash Range 8 in - 9 ft
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 6.3 mm - 18.9 mm - F/3.1-5.9
- Focal Length 6.3 mm - 18.9 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 38 - 114 mm
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Min Focus Range 3.9 in
- Macro Focus Range 5cm
- Lens Aperture F/3.1-5.9
- Optical Zoom 3 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 5 group(s) / 6 element(s)
- Features Aspherical lens
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 12 sec
- Additional Features DPOF support, Direct print, Audio recording, Resizing an image, 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 - 2.5 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
- Display Format 110,000 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video/audio output
- 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 9.0 or later
- Peripheral Devices USB port, CD-ROM drive
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Wrist strap
- Cables Included USB cable, A/V cable
Power
- Power Device Battery charger - External
Battery
- Supported Battery AA
- Supported Battery 2 x AA NiMH rechargeable battery ( 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 3.8
- CNET Labs Shot to shot time typical 1.6
- CNET Labs Shutter lag bright 0.6
- CNET Labs Shutter lag dim 1.7
- CNET Labs Wake up time 1.7
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Olympus America Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Olympus America Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.olympusamerica.com/
- Address:
Two Corporate Center Dr., Melville, NY 11747 - Phone: 631-844-5000
