Olympus's entry 10MP FE compact of 2009 — 3x 36-108mm f/3.1-5.9 zoom, 2.7in LCD, xD storage
The Olympus FE-3000 was an entry-level digital compact announced at the start of 2009 alongside the FE-3010, sold in Japan as the X-890. The FE series was Olympus's simplest line, aimed at buyers who wanted automatic operation with as few decisions as possible, and the FE-3000 was one of its slimmer, tidier designs.
Specifications centre on a 10-megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD and a 3x zoom covering 36-108mm equivalent at f/3.1-5.9, with a 2.7-inch 230,000-dot LCD featuring a backlight boost. Intelligent Auto recognises common scenes and face detection handles focus and exposure on people. Movies record at VGA with sound, storage is 19MB internal plus xD-Picture Card, and power is a rechargeable LI-42B lithium-ion cell.
This is a camera for straightforward daylight snapshots and for collectors of late-2000s CCD compacts; the metal-fronted slim body travels well. There is no optical stabilisation and the modest zoom and slow tele end restrict it in dim light, so it rewards simple, well-lit use.
The xD-Picture Card format is discontinued, so a bundled card adds real value; some FE models also accept microSD via an Olympus adapter, which is worth confirming for the specific example. LI-42B batteries and chargers remain cheap and plentiful. Check the LCD for wear and that the retracting lens deploys without grinding.