The wide-angle, 5x zoom Olympus FE-200 digital camera is announced ahead of Photokina. The FE200 is a 6 megapixel model with a 28-140mm lens. The Olympus FE200 will be available from from September 2006, priced at around £200.00.

Olympus UK Press Release 

London, 23 August 2006 – For a wider view, reach for the Olympus FE-200. This ultra-compact, metal clad camera features an impressive 5x zoom lens that stretches from wide-angle – great for landscapes – all the way to telephoto. So, no matter where the photographers are, they can zoom in on the action. And with an intuitive “one button, one function” design and an onboard Help function, the FE-200 is simplicity itself to use. Photographers using the FE-200 will be able to tackle pretty much anything using its 5x zoom lens (28-140mm equiv. on 35mm camera), from breathtaking panoramas to stunning close-ups. Photos are captured in crystal clarity by the camera’s 6.0 million pixel CCD and, with several special scene modes to choose from and no-nonsense “one button, one function” controls, great results are all but guaranteed. There’s even a handy Help function that clearly displays explanations of what camera features do on the large 6.4cm LCD screen. Today’s entry-level cameras need to be small, powerful and easy to use. The FE-200 ticks all these boxes.

Fitting a high quality 5x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 28-140mm on a 35mm camera) into such a small metal body is a remarkable technical achievement. This has resulted in the Olympus FE-200, a camera that is as equally suited to close-ups and telephoto photography, as it is wide angle shots. Being able to take landscapes, close-ups and distant telephoto shots on the same ultra-compact camera gives the photographer a level of performance and flexibility that’s simply unmatched in the entry-level camera class.
With a 6.0 million pixel CCD at its heart, this model gives users the power to take sensationally sharp photos, with enough detail to withstand printing at quite large sizes. And, to ensure that nothing is missed, either when framing shots or when viewing them later, the FE-200 has been equipped with a big 6.4cm LCD screen.

This screen also doubles up as a kind of “built-in instruction book”, as it is used to display simple explanations of what the camera functions do, courtesy of the FE-200’s onboard Help feature. Mind you, even people who have never held a digital camera in their life before should have no problem using the FE-200 due to its straight forward “one button, one function” design. A handy Mode Dial that can be conveniently turned with the thumb has also been included, to make it easy to switch quickly between the camera’s eight different programmes (including Image Stabilisation Mode with ISO 800), relieving users of the chore of having to make their way through countless menus.

To take the fuss out of various situations that photographers might find themselves in, the FE-200 has been blessed with 10 pre-defined Scene modes. These automatically choose the best settings for circumstances such as photographing sports, indoor or fireworks. And, so that nature enthusiasts and film buffs are kept happy, the camera also features a Super Macro mode for pictures from as little as 5cm away and a Movie function with sound, with the duration of the clip only limited by the memory available.
Photos and movie clips created using the FE-200 are saved to either the cameras internal memory or an optional xD-Picture Card. The camera is supplied with Olympus Master Software, which makes easy work of downloading, organising, editing and printing images using a computer.

The FE-200 offers everything expected from an entry-level camera and more – style, simplicity, imaging power, affordability, plus the amazing versatility of a 5x wide-angle zoom. Overall, it’s a tough package to beat. This versatile, ultra-compact camera will hit the shelves of all good camera shops from September 2006, priced at around £200.00.

The Olympus FE-200 – main features:
• 6.0 million pixels in a stylish metal body
• 5x optical zoom (equiv. to 28-140mm on a 35mm model), 1:3.3-4.8
• 6.4cm/2.5” LCD
• One button, one function design principle
• Help function that explains camera features directly on LCD
• 10 scene modes (e.g. Sports, Indoor, Fireworks)
• Movie recording with sound up to card capacity
• Internal memory plus xD-Picture Card slot
• Supplied with Olympus Master Software + LI-12B lithium-ion battery and charger
• Multi-language menu (with 10 languages) plus possibility to download further languages from the internet (25 European languages available)

For stockist information call 0800 0720070 or visit www.olympus.co.uk.