Olympus's slim 8MP budget compact of 2007 — 36-108mm 3x zoom, TruePic III, xD storage, also sold as X-820/C-520
The Olympus FE-280 was a slim entry-level compact announced in August 2007 in the budget-friendly FE line, positioned as an easy point-and-shoot in a stainless metal shell. The same camera was sold in other regions as the Olympus X-820 and C-520, and it reached UK shops in September 2007 at around £140.
It paired an 8-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD with a 36-108mm-equivalent 3x zoom and Olympus's then-new TruePic III processor. A 6.4cm (2.5-inch) LCD handled framing, and face detection plus around 20 scene modes covered most situations. Video recorded at 640x480 at 30fps, images saved to internal memory or xD-Picture Card, and power came from a rechargeable LI-42B lithium-ion battery in a body of about 125g.
This is a simple snapshot camera for casual shooters rather than enthusiasts: there are no manual exposure controls, and the modest 3x zoom and small CCD limit it to good light. Its appeal today is the slim metal body, straightforward menus and the mild colour character typical of mid-2000s CCD compacts, which suits student and beginner buyers experimenting with digicams.
Used examples depend on the LI-42B battery, which is still cheap and widely cloned, but check a charger or USB charging solution is included. The xD-Picture Card format is discontinued and cards now cost disproportionate money, so factor in card availability. Inspect the LCD for bright spots or bleed and confirm the lens extends and retracts without error messages.