A noncollinearly phase-matched optical parametric amplifier pumped by a commercial 2 MHz fiber laser is presented and discussed. The pump system allows the direct generation of a seed continuum from a sapphire plate. Clean pulses with up to 860 nJ energy and down to 14 fs pulse length can be obtained over a fundamental tuning range from 620 to 970 nm. Conversion by second- and third-harmonic generation as well as sum frequency mixing results in an extended tuning range down to well below 300 nm.