Olympus FE-320

By Leonard Goh
Jul 29, 2008

Entry-level point-and-shoots are usually characterized by their lack of features or less-than-desirable styling. But for the 8-megapixel Olympus FE-320, its budget price tag doesn't mean the company scrimped on the shooter's design and features. The slim profile and respectable specifications make this snapper suitable for those who want a no-frills digicam to start exploring digital photography. However, the firm should really consider abolishing the use of its proprietary storage media, or at the very least, take a leaf out of Fujifilm's book with a dual slot for SD cards.

Design

The FE-320 had us fixated the moment we unboxed the set. The slim styling and faux metal body are a good combination, and it should sit well in ladies' bags.

On the right side of the point-and-shoot are a ledge and a miniscule lip that allows your finger to hook on for better grip. But what impressed us most was the dedicated shooting and playback mode button on the rear. Most budget shooters typically map these two functions into one button and that can be confusing for the novice.

The mode dial's ridged edges could be accessed only from the top, and although we thought it would be clumsy or awkward to operate, it didn't take us long to get used to this design, and soon we were sifting through the menu with ease even with one hand.

A nice touch that Olympus delivered was to include a small pouch for the camera. Although it may not have any padding, it still provides adequate protection against scratches.

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