My FujiFilm A820 was getting a bit long in the tooth (the lens mechanism was starting to make weird noises indicating it may have a rather nasty mechanical failure in the future), so it was time to replace it. I needed another inexpensive point-and-shoot digital camera and the Olympus FE-26 fit the bill nicely.
The Olympus FE-26 is one of the most inexpensive digital cameras on the market. It is in the sub-$100 category.
Here are the pros and cons, starting with cons first:
Cons
Shutter button is not round
On cameras people expect a disc for the shutter button. The FE-26 instead has a round-edged rectangle. For some this is an instant deal-breaker.
Video has no audio
The FE-26 will shoot video but does not capture audio with it.
I have said it before and will say it again – do not buy a digital camera if your primary intention to shoot video as that its not its intended purpose. If you want to shoot video, get a camcorder or a small portable recorder like a Flip.
Picture quality is a bit "noisy"
You have to bear in mind you’re getting what you pay for here. Yes, you have a full 12 megapixels but you will see digital artifacts from time to time.
Chassis may disappoint some?
Some have noted the chassis feels cheap. I personally don’t think so. The build quality as far as I can tell is solid for what it is, and does not feel like a toy.
Pros
Light
If you haven’t used an ultra-compact digital camera in a while, this one will probably be one of the lightest you ever pick up. Even with batteries loaded it weighs next to nothing.
Runs on AA batteries yet stays slim
When you look at this thing you’ll be amazed that AA batteries can even fit inside it, but do easily. The only way this thing could have possibly been made slimmer is it if used an li-ion battery instead of the 2 AAs. And yes, it can use NiMH rechargeables.
Note: It does come provided with two AA batteries, so if giving this as a gift to someone else, you don’t have to buy batteries for it.
Super-friendly menu system
The menu system is friendly enough that you literally don’t need a manual. Just turn on and go. Olympus typically has better menus compared to other point-and-shoot cameras. (If you wanted the best/easiest menus, that honor usually belongs to Casio but Olympus is very close to that mark.)
Quiet and silent
The FE-26 is already quiet to begin with, but it has something that I truly appreciate – a "silence" mode. When enabled from the menu system, the FE-26 will not beep, blip, bloop or make any shutter noises whatsoever. It will run absolutely silent.
Yes, it’s true that other cams can do this but it usually takes a fair amount of effort to get it done. With the FE-26, it’s an up-front option right from the main menu. You can consider it a "mute" option.
Proper color representation is easy to achieve
A problem with many point-and-shoots is that the color representation simply isn’t accurate. Not so on the FE-26 as the white balance can be easily set to suit the environment. You have Auto, Sunny, Cloudy (I like this one in particular), Incandescent, Fluorescent 1, 2 and 3.
Accepts xD or miniSD cards
The FE-26 accepts xD natively, but comes with a card adapter that you can plug a miniSD right into, so you can use either.
It’s also nice that the adapter is bright yellow in color. If you have a drawer full of computer stuff (USB sticks, cables, adapters and so on), finding this won’t be a problem if you chuck it in a drawer as it will stick out in a good way.
Comes provided with USB cable
I know this doesn’t sound like a big deal, but there are many cameras today that don’t provide a cable at all. The fact the FE-26 comes with one is a nice touch. And yes, it is standard USB and not proprietary, so you can use other standard cables if you wish.
Where does it take pictures best?
Typical to almost all basic point-and-shoots, it "likes" outside daylight shots the best. On the FE-26 in particular you will most likely appreciate DIS (Digital Image Stabilization) and Sport mode the best when shooting in that environment.
The FE-26 can only shoot indoor photos easily, but you may have to modify the white balance setting for to Incandescent or Fluorescent to achieve the desired look.
Best suited for..
This camera is best suited for beginners that want something easy, ultra-light and ultra-portable. Diehard camera guys and gals won’t like this, but if you want something ridiculously easy to use that delivers decent photos under $100, the Olympus FE-26 fills this niche nicely.
Other cameras in the sub-$100 price range you may want to check out:
- Olympus FE-46
- FujiFilm A170
- FujiFilm A220
- GE A1035
- GE A1235
- Kodak EasyShare C180
- HP CB350
- HP CA350
- Polaroid i1037
- Polaroid t1031
- Samsung SL30
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