Olympus FE-290 — 12MP budget digital compact with 3x zoom and image stabilisation, 2009
The FE-290 was part of Olympus's budget FE range of compact cameras, introduced in 2009 to give casual buyers straightforward digital photography at a low price point. It sat within a large family of similarly specified FE-series models from the same year.
It uses a 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor paired with a 3x optical zoom lens equivalent to roughly 36-108mm, at f/3.1-5.9. A 2.7-inch LCD handles framing and review, Digital Image Stabilisation reduces blur, and it stores to xD-Picture Card or microSD via an included adaptor.
Its automatic-first design, with scene modes replacing manual controls, made it approachable for anyone moving on from a film compact. Image quality is representative of small-sensor CCD compacts of its generation, softer in low light than the megapixel count might suggest.
Used units are widely available and inexpensive; check the dual card slot mechanism operates cleanly, the zoom lens extends without grinding noises, and the LCD is free of dead pixels before buying.