The Olympus FE digital camera continues “fun, easy-fun, easy” FE-370 shooter.
The FE-370 looks slim, but still delivers on the Olympus FE’s features such as the 8 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, manual “on-the-spot” photography and plenty of technology. Olympus automatic face detection (Face Detection) for 16 portraits; Dual Image Stabilization; “Traditional” image processor TruePic III; Simultaneous support for xD and microSD memory cards; Filmed with sound, 30fps.
The Olympus PE-370 features a large 2.7-inch LCD with an anti-glare layer, effectively compensating for the exposure compensation button. The control buttons are arranged neatly on the right, in the manipulation of the thumb, interface very user-friendly.
The top side is simple with the zoom button around the shutter button, the power button.
FE-370 rechargeable lithium LI-60B 3.7v 680mAh battery, good response for about more than 100 photos, filming.
Olympus FE370 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver): Buy it now
Design and build
Small — 94.7 x 56.1 x 25.3mm, about 128g without battery or card — the kind of camera you forget is in your pocket. Comes in black, silver, blue, or pink if color matters to you.
The plastic body doesn’t feel cheap for something this light. Buttons give real feedback, nothing mushy, and it takes daily handling fine. No weather sealing, no rugged shell — not what this camera was built for anyway.
Key features
Sensor’s a 1/2.33-inch CCD, 8 megapixels. Modest even a few years after this came out, but fine for an 8×10 print. The 5x zoom (6.3-31.5mm, 36-180mm equivalent) is really the headline feature — wide enough for a landscape, long enough for a decent portrait crop.
Stabilization is digital, not optical, so it helps a little at slow shutter speeds or full zoom but it’s not a real substitute for the mechanical kind. The 2.7-inch LCD (230,000 dots) looks fine indoors and washes out in the sun like every screen from this generation. Shooting modes cover Auto, Program Auto, a handful of scene presets, and a Smile Shot mode that fires when it spots a grin — nothing here requires reading a manual. Video tops out at VGA, 30fps: usable for a quick clip, that’s about it.
Image quality
Color’s the strong point — Olympus earned its reputation here, and this camera backs it up. Saturated but not cartoonish. Detail holds up in good light and softens once things get dim or contrasty. Low light is where it struggles, same as basically every compact with a sensor this size: noise shows up fast, and without much noise reduction to lean on, grain becomes noticeable. Flash helps expose the shot but brings harsh shadows along with it. Dynamic range is limited too — expect blown highlights or lost shadow detail in anything high-contrast. None of this matters much in ordinary daylight.
Using it
Menus are simple, auto mode does the thinking, and a beginner won’t get lost. Startup’s quick, autofocus is solid in good light and slower once it dims or a subject starts moving. The LI-42B battery gets 150-200 shots — fine for a day out, bring a spare for anything longer. Storage is xD-Picture Cards, a format that was already on its way out when this camera shipped; still findable, just not as common as SD.
Connections
USB 2.0 and AV out, nothing wireless — standard for its time. The bundled software covers the basics; anyone wanting more will end up using something else regardless.
Holding up over time
Solid build for daily use, but it’s not going anywhere near water or a drop test. Longevity comes down to care, same as any electronics this age — the battery especially will eventually need swapping.
Against the competition
Canon’s PowerShot A590 IS is close on paper — 8MP, similar stabilization, a bit less zoom at 4x, but more manual control for anyone who wants it. Nikon’s Coolpix L18 skips digital stabilization and only reaches 3x zoom, but it’s simple enough to hand to a total beginner. Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-W120 sits at 7.2MP with 4x zoom and face detection — well-built, compact, though its stabilization doesn’t quite match what the FE-370 does.
Bottom line
It does what it’s supposed to: easy to use, a genuinely useful zoom, decent daylight shots without asking much of whoever’s holding it. It won’t touch anything modern on resolution or low light, but if simple and reliable is what you’re after, it delivers that.
Good: light, well-built for its size, flexible zoom, an interface anyone can pick up cold, solid daylight color, plenty of shooting modes.
Not so good: noisy in low light, average battery life, a storage format that’s basically extinct now, nothing wireless, and both dynamic range and fine detail take a hit outside good conditions.
No surprises here — just a camera that does the basic job and does it reliably.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.