Appearance (Olympus wins) - Neither camera is built to look sexy. They have modest plastic housings that are about the same size at about an inch thick. The Nikon L19 is about a half-ounce heavier than the featherweight Olympus FE-25. They fit in a pocket with their compact dimensions, but I liked stashing mine in a purse better. The trouble with that mode of transportation is that the plastic bodies are easily scratched and after just a few days of use, the cameras – especially the Nikon – had little nicks on them. The Nikon Coolpix L19 comes in “smooth silver” and has black labels on the body that mark the buttons. Unfortunately these marks started to scratch off after a few days in a backpack.
 
The Olympus FE-25 comes in black and doesn’t show its scratched-up surface as much. Of note is the USB port, which is covered on the Nikon by a little rubber door but left completely open and exposed to the elements on the Olympus FE-25.
 
Durability (Olympus wins) - The durability of these two digital cameras is questionable. But so is every other camera in this price range. Both models come with a one-year warranty on manufacturing defects and such, but you won’t be covered if you drop the flimsy camera on the pavement. Since the Nikon shows its wear and tear a little more on the smooth silver body, the prize for durability goes to the black Olympus FE-25.