Olympus’s FE range has always represented ease of use and good value, with each model becoming progressively more stylish. The FE-250 currently heads the range, incorporating an 8MP sensor and 3x optical zoom into its diminutive body.

An ISO-based Digital Image Stabilisation mode compensates for the effects of camera shake, with the ISO range itself stretching to 3200 on a full-resolution setting and 10,000 in a reduced mode, making the latter only suitable for smaller print sizes.

The camera’s explanatory nature whenever a different function has been selected is a nice touch, which is in addition to the ‘Guide’ feature, displaying 11 common techniques and taking you straight to the appropriate mode on which to shoot them. Not only that, but 15 scene modes are also offered making the manual seem almost redundant.

If one criticism is to be levelled at the camera, it should probably be with regards to its optical zoom. With its predecessor boasting a 5x optical zoom in only a marginally bigger body, its inclusion here would have seemed to be a worthy compromise.

Images at ISO 64 and 100 are sharp, with good colour and little noise and even at ISO 200, noise is well controlled. There is a touch of fringing present but highlights are well controlled and retain good detail through their gradation.