Olympus's late entry FE compact of 2010 — 14MP, 5x 24-120mm wide zoom, Magic Filters, SD storage
The Olympus FE-5035 was announced in August 2010, one of the very last models in the entry-level FE series before Olympus retired the line. It offered a wide-angle 5x zoom and full automation in a slim body at a bargain price, arriving just as smartphones began erasing the market for cameras of this type.
It uses a 14-megapixel CCD with a 5x wide optical zoom covering 24-120mm equivalent — an unusually wide starting point for a budget compact — and a 2.7-inch LCD. AF tracking follows moving subjects, i-Auto selects scene modes automatically, Magic Filters provide in-camera creative effects, and an in-camera guide plus advanced face detection round out the automation. Storage is on standard SD cards with digital image stabilisation on board.
The 24mm wide end is the main draw, taking in interiors, group shots and landscapes that 36mm-start compacts miss. With only digital stabilisation and no manual control it remains a snapshot tool, best in good light, and a cheap way into the late CCD compact look.
SD card storage keeps running costs trivial compared with xD-era Olympus models. Confirm the rechargeable lithium-ion battery holds charge and a charger is present, check the lens extends cleanly to full telephoto, and look for screen scratches — these were inexpensive cameras that often led hard lives.