Customer Reviews

Olympus Evolt E500 8MP Digital SLR (Body Only)

5 star:		(97)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

PP= Post Processing (Photoshop and other image apps)
PQ= Picture Quality

My older brother, who by no means is a professional but has been an enthusiast since my father gave him his old Canon F series 35mm SLR in the 80s, has been my mentor.

He currently uses a 20D with a 420EX flash and some ungodly multi thousand dollar L series lenses. I recently purchased the E-500 dual lens kit for a fraction of the cost and must say that my brother and I both agree it is by FAR the best bang for the buck.

At the level 98% of us are at it is all user error and not camera error when our pictures don't come out as we would like (most professionals even say its mostly user error or lack of knowledge). I still have a friend who uses a small 2001-Canon S230 and takes pictures that are far better then most of mine.

In low light I have noticed that my E500 does not focus as fast as my brothers 20D (but it definitely still focuses) but from reading online with firmware upgrades they remedied this problem in the E300.

We both also agreed that it felt better in our hands (grip and general ergonomics) and was quite a bit lighter then the 20D as well.

He ,just as myself, LOVED the rear LCD controls for everything from ISO to flash speed and exposure, far more easier and quicker then the 20D for a newbie such as myself. But he commented saying it would have been nice if it had the small simple LCD up top that the canons do as a supplement to the detailed and informative one of the back.

PQ was amazing requiring very little PP, and with the vivid setting we both agreed that the colors did feel better and more vibrant (of course with a small PP Tweak the 20D was right there but for the casual photographer as myself I shy away from PP).

Bottom line we were both floored at what a phenomenal deal this kit is for the price.

---------- UPDATED 3/29/2006 ------------

Everything said above still holds true, and I must say this is one of the few purchases that almost 6 months later Im still VERY happy with and use it frequently. Through no advertising or sales pitch I have created 3 new customers for Olympus's E500 kit up to date.

My brother has over $4000 now invested in his camera and he still finds it amusing that my little old $700 kit gets as much attention from all our friends as it does. He recently upgraded to the 580EX flash and a new Wide angel L series lens, and I must admit VERY VERY amazing hardware bursting 3 or 4 pictures WITH flash is very cool.

But we recently went to India to tour Agra, see the Taj Mahal, Sikhanders tomb, and other such sites on the way. At the end of the trip without PP during the day my pictures looked better (we both agreed) and thats all I cared about (mainly talking about color saturation and not detail, just over all presentation). I will admit though in a couple action shots from our speeding bus his camera did perform better, and in the evening some of mine didnt focus properly while his did on the same subject, but Im not a pro, I just enjoy the hobby.

One of my better purchases in recent years.

His camera IS better, mine is just a better deal, it's all about peace of mind..

There has already been a lot said on this camera so far so I'll only add a few things. I have never owned an SLR type camera so this was a new experience for me - in fact, after owning the camera now for a month, I am finally just figuring out how to use it to its full potential - and its potential is very high.

First, let me say that this camera is an excellent value - 8 megapixels and packed with features, including the wonderful super sonic wave filter (which removes dust from the digital sensor). The Olympus line of Digital Zuiko lenses are fantastic, including one of the kit lenses (40-150).

A word to those folks like me (new to the SLR world) to clear up some confusion: a few of the reviewers have mentioned "bad low light performance." This is not a camera issue, it is more a function of the lens that is attached (or, the speed of the "film" (AKA sensor) that you have the camera set too). Without getting into too much detail, kit lenses included with all of these entry-level DSLR's are not exactly the best in low light situations - they are referred to in the photographic world as "slow" lenses - meaning that the aperture values they have at the low end are really only good in sunny conditions - at least without setting the camera to a much faster ISO (or film speed setting). So, in other words, the guy that said he is returning his Olympus to go get the canon kit is going to be just as unhappy with the performance of that camera in these situations as he was with the Olympus (from what I've read on the professional reviews of the canon, the kit lens is possibly the worst of all the major manufacturers). Blurry pictures are NOT the camera's fault - they are the user - set the ISO higher to get a higher shutter speed or buy a lens with a "faster" aperture. This is the same with all cameras.

So where does this leave one who is interested in purchasing this camera, well there are two options (at least in my opinion):

1. Buy the 14-45 and 40-150 kit. This really is an excellent value, and while the 14-45 lens isn't bad (it's very good outdoors), the 40-150 lens is fantastic. Search any major review - especially those folks that are enthusiasts about olympus and they'll tell you the same - this lens is remarkable for the price. However, if you do buy this kit (like I did), and you're planning on taking a lot of pics indoors or in low light situations, do yourself a favor and upgrade to the 14-54 f/2.8-3.5 Digital zuiko lens. This is the kit lens for the professional Olympus DSLR - the E-1. I purchased this recently and the difference is night and day compared to the kit 14-45 f3.5-5.6. The camera has no issues in low light situations, and the "speed" of the lens is fantastic. (BTW, I bought this off of ebay for $400 - I think amazon has it for about $430 with free shipping - so it's probably a toss up. (this price BTW is much cheaper than upgrading to comparable lenses of competitors like canon and Nikon - remember, you're going to have to do it no matter which camera you buy if you want good indoor/low light performance).


2. If I had to do it over again, I may have just bought the body. Save yourself $200 and just buy the e-500 body. Then take that $200 and apply it to the price of the 14-54 f2.8-3.5 lens - this would put the total purchase around $1000 and you'll have a fantastic lens to really learn how the camera works in all situations. So how do you get the great 40-150 lens? I noticed that there are probably 10 on sale on ebay at any given time (from people that are upgrading to the absolutely wonderful 50-200 digial zuiko zoom) for around $100-125.

Whichever option you choose, you really can't go wrong - this is a wonderful camera for a beginner or serious amateur in SLR photography.

Good luck and welcome to the olympus family!

I should preface this review by saying I'm a bit of a Luddite: I hang on to the traditional tools in my primary fields of interest--music (both listening and performing) and photography. To me the Nikon F2 (well, OK, I'll stretch my endorsement to something as technically advanced as the aperture-priority F3) are the quintessential cameras: rugged, natural in the hand, and immune to the demons that possess electronic devices.

Then four years ago, my father gave me my first digital camera, a Minolta. I was initially skeptical, but I quickly came to enjoy the convenience of the camera. Then, when I paired with it the right printer (an Epson Photo R-800), I became a confirmed user, if not yet a fan. Based on that camera-printer combination (with the addition of a scanner for the conversion of my B&W negatives), I packed up my darkroom and offered it to the local public schools.

But even though I was happy with the print quality of the digital setup, I still missed the heft and the old SLRs, and I lamented the loss of control they offered me.

Then, based on fairly extensive reading of advance reviews, I decided to buy the Olympus E-500.

This camera is a revelation to me. I can't compare it to its competitors (none of which I've used extensively), but I can say that this camera fully reconciles me to digital photography. It gives me that reassuring "whump" when I press the shutter (rather than that puny "snick"), offers me total control in manual mode, allows the flexibilty of interchangable lenses, and--most importantly--seems to be to have as its paradigm (sorry for the word choice) the ways of a photographer trained on manual film cameras (rather than catering the "point and shoot" audience).

The menus are easily mastered, the features (including filters in B&W mode!) are remarkable, the battery lasts for hours of heavy shooting, and the images--even with the equivalent of a 300MM focal length--are stunning.

This is a remarkable camera at a very reasonable price.

I have previously owned several different long zoom compact consumer cameras. I wanted to upgrade to higher quality images though, and the E500 with the two lens kit came in at the perfect price and weight point for me. I don't want anything so heavy that it is a burden to haul around, and the two lens kit gives me 35mm equivalent range of 28mm to 300mm. I immediatly fell in love with this camera, and can hardly put it down. It is simple enought for a beginner, but has advanced features that will make a pro happy. (I used to be a pro)-

The most important thing when buying a camera is how it "fits you", but the E-500 has great ergonomics and speed, is easy to learn and provides outstanding quality. You can see some photos that I took on my very first day out with this camera, at
http://www.pbase.com/brdavid/olympus_e500_day_1

If there is any knock at all, it is that the kit zoom lenses perform better at least one F-stop down from wide open. But that isn't really a knock, as that is true of most lenses, especially the lower prices ones.

First of all, let's get it clear, this camera is not perfect. But it IS very good, and at the prices Olympus has been selling it for. It is a downright remarkable value.

Size/Weight - As I write this, it is the lightest DSLR on the market. A major selling point IMO, after a couple of hours 3 or 4 extra ounces can feel like a ton. Size is about average though.

Comfort/Ergonomics - OUTSTANDING The best and most comfortable fit of any DSLR I tried. It FEELS like a quality camera (unlike the Canon DRebelXT/300D-outside North America), and my hand didn't feel cramped like with the Canon. While the Nikon D70 was almost as good in this category, I'd give the Oly E500 a slight edge. Menus and manual controls are well placed and made sense to me. Learning to use the camera was quick and easy.

Viewfinder - A weak point for some, but not me. It is a smallish viewfinder compared to the Canon or Nikon. But as compensation, I felt it worked the best with my eyeglasses. The exposure and other info is not very bright in the viewfinder and difficult to see, especially in bright light.

Image quality with Kit lenses - Very good with lenses stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8 or so. A little soft with the lenses wide open, but better than the Canon lenses. Olympus has always had a reputation as one of the best of the Japanese lensmakers and these kit lenses continue to promote that reputation, I think.

Image Noise - definitely has noise issues starting at iso 800. However it is manageable with software like NoiseNinja and such. Also how many people shoot at iso higher than 400 anyway? but If you intend to do something where noise is an issue like concert photography or astronomical phototography, this is not the camera for you. for everyone else, 'fugedaboutit!'.

Autofocus - about average IMO. There is no such thing as a GOOD autofocus IMO. Manual focus is pretty good, but the ground glass optical viewscreen really needs a split image for good focus.

Exposure seems dead on accurate no complaints whatsoever. I shoot raw mostly and the only exposure correction I've been doing is for effect only, not to correct any deficiency in exposure. All the detail is there.

Things I wish it had - better remote control or a cable release socket. A bigger viewfinder, the one it has is perfectly acceptable, BUT. . . bigger IS better. Ability to use standard photoflash connectors without a hotshoe connector (for manual and studio flash). That's pretty much it. Nothing really major.

I'd buy it again. Especailly at these prices!

Update: 2/9/2008 A little guidance for those who wonder if they should still buy the E500 when the E510 is out and the competition has released cameras with 'better' specs. In my opinion, it is still a viable option for a beginner especially at the close-out prices we are starting to see.

The practical difference between 8 and 10 megapixels is pretty small. And while the E510 has addressed the image noise issue pretty well, many people feel that the E500 still has a slightly better Dynamic Range (the ability to differentiate various shades of gray without being too contrasty or too dull). This can be compensated for by manual adjustements in the E510, but for those who want full auto and are super picky about their photos, that may be more hassle than they want to deal with.

The E500 lacks the Image stabilization and live view capabilities of the E510, and while these are nice features to have, I would remind you that people have been taking great photos without them for 200 some odd years. This isn't nearly the handicap that a lack of talent would be!

It still takes great photos and it's cheaper than the rest. It may not be for everyone, but I think it's still worth considering.

Olympus got this camera right. Great 4/3rds sensor takes crisp, beautiful shots edge to edge. You have beginner options in the umpteen shooting modes available (check out high key and low key, they're wonderful). You can save to Compactflash AND/OR XD picture card (you're not going to run out of room on a shoot provided the cards are large enough). You have advanced options like using the Adobe RGB color space. Menus are intuitive and smart. Options you'll reference often either have their own button or are at the top of the menu stack. Autofocus works very well in all but the poorest lighting conditions. I've taken portraits, landscapes, sports photos, macros, indoor and outdoor and been satisfied with them all. Olympus's decision to bundle the body with the two lenses (admittedly Zuiko's lower end stuff... the 14-45mm & the 40-150) gets you a setup you can use for nearly every situation from the get go (Note: an affordable 18-180mm has been released, demand is high and everyone has this lens backordered). You can shoot at varying qualities, but I've grown accustomed to Camera Raw which this camera supports. RAW gives you so much more flexibility in correcting your shots after the fact. Battery life is better than point and shoots because the LCD is NOT used to compose the shot. You use the viewfinder, as is the case with all dSLRs except for the soon to be released E-330 (April 1, 2006). Bottom line, I've taken 4000 photos with this camera since late November and I don't have a single complaint. I use the camera 3-4 times a week and I'll confess if something happened to it now, I'd need therapy. So if you're sitting on the fence about purchasing this camera, you need not be. Go ahead, spend the rent money (just a joke Moms, no letters please) and have a blast with a great camera. After all, what's not to love?

I am new to digital SLR photography, but I have a long experience with 35 mm SLRs (Nikon N80, Nikon 6006 most recently). I decided to go with the Olympus Evolt 500 about 1 month ago based partly on price (I bought the kit with the additional zoom) and on the EVOLT's extensive feature list (I particularly like the ability to shoot blue/purple/green/sepia) and the unique dust reduction system for the sensor. I was also impressed at the 8 mega-pixels compared to the 6 for the Nikon D50 and D70s, as well as the compact size and light-weight. I was also disturbed to hear about certain color problems importing Nikon RAW files into Adobe (giving them a slightly bluish hue) because of Nikon's attempt to force people into their software package. So far the EVOLT has performed very well (at least comparable to my old film N80). I love the freedom to shoot limitless pictures without concern for running out of film. Now I am much more selective about printing (which will save me in the long run).

Criticisms:
--some difficulty shooting in low-light
--takes some manipulation of the sub-menus to select film speeds more than 400
--the pop-up flash is a poor performer unless you are very close to the subject--it does do a nice job on red-eye reduction
--the packaged software is very limited in function
--running in manual is possible, but much more complex than it needs to be (why can't camera makers go back to the old simple match needle system?)
--view finder a bit cramped
--I think it tends to under-expose by a 1/2 stop for my taste

Strengths:
--lots of features very suitable for advanced amatures like myself
--fairly fast writing--allows you to shoot multiple frames quickly in JPEG without having a delay to stop to write
--intelligent design of small details (for instance, in the two lens kit the lens hoods reverse for storage on the lens itself! Also, the filter size of the two lenses is identicle, reducing cost on filters that can be otherwise pricey)
--lacks top LCD panel (this I think is great as it cuts down the size and weight of the camera--with the large LCD on the back who needs the top LCD anyway)
--intelligent layout of the controls--they are also not to small like the Canon digital rebel
--superior feel to the Canon digital rebel product which is flimsy by comparison, but not the tank like weight and feel of the Nikon D70s
--easy ability to shoot high and low-key shots--this is a very nice little program to add and makes formerly tricky exposures much easier
--can remember your designated preferences for program mode (for instance I have my program setting for Sepia/children/film speed 400/fill flash) This allows me to shoot simply in the Auto setting (for point-shoot simplicity), but if I want to quickly switch to my favorite preference I simply switch to program and away I go shooting Sepia
--hand-holds extremely well in low-light situations

Cameras to compare to include the Canon Digital Rebel and 20D, Nikon D50 and D70. I am not familiar with the Pentax and Konica-Minolta offerings to comment. I think this camera offers superior design and lenses to the Canon Rebel without the excessive cost of the 20D. It offers more creative control and higher Megapixels (and I think better kit lenses) than the Nikon D50 at comparable cost. The D70s probably has comparable features but at much higher cost/weight and lacks the self-dusting sensor. I would buy this camera again, it has put my Nikon N80 on the shelf perhaps for good.

Greetings,

Welcome to Professional Digital Photography at a reasonable entry level price. The Olympus E-500 combined with the FL-50 flash has all the features that anyone, pro or amateur, would want per a high quality digital SLR. The only feature missing is a Titanium housing, but at this price, you could buy six E-500s before getting into the Titanium market per Digital SLRs.

Olympus has done their homework and provided fast setups for most picture situations one would come across. So point and shoot, and the camera will do the rest. It is really hard to take a bad picture with this setup! But they didn't stop there. Olympus also allows you to modify the quick setups manually per your creative desires per the moment. So use the quick setups to get on target, then modify it per your special needs.

The camera comes with the lower end Zuikor 14-45mm and 40-150mm lenses. Not as good as the high-end Zuikor ED lenses, but much better than any point-n-shoot camera. I keep an Olympus SP-350 in the car, which comes in handy when you rub fenders with another car! It is also an 8 MegaPixel camera, but take the same pic with the SP-350 and the E-500, and the quality is definitely noticeable.

The good news. The E-500 is a quality professional camera at a great price.

The bad news. The accessories cost more than the camera! You can spend $6,000 if you want to goto a 300mm Zuikor ED lens (600mm equivalent per a 35mm film camera). Even the basics are overpriced per Flash Brackets and Sync Cords.

But if you are looking to find a camera to match your creative talent, it is well worth considering the Olympus E-500.

Who am I? I was a wedding photographer for years using Nikons, Hasselblads, and Mamiyas. I also worked with Rocky Gunn in California, considered at the time to be one of the top ten wedding photographers in the USA. Time and decades have passed, and I've moved on to other more profitable endeavors. Still my heart was in still photography. And for all my years of experience, I'm hard pressed to find a major flaw with the E-500. So check it out and decide for yourself.

Best Regards,
George

I purchased the EVolt E-500 late August and so far it has been an excellent choice. Below is a summary of likes and dislikes:

- 2.5" LCD, clear, bright (even in sunlight, just got back from Hawaii so I know)
- Relatively fast camera for continuous shots.
- Built in modes and scenes provide easy setup for the common situations you might run into (sunsets, candlelight, beach, etc)
- Anti dust system works flawlessly
- Feels like a SLR Film camera (good when you have big hands)
- Good weight
- Great battery life
- Two lens kit with camera is an excellent value!

What I don't like:
- Auto-focusing during shots of low light landscapes (e.g. sunsets) using the 40-150mm zoom lens can cause the focusing to become confused
- Manual mode adjustments could be a little more straight forward
- Lack of USB 2.0 support (get a card reader)
- Manual focusing just doesn't feel natural
- Position of some controls can cause accidental activation while holding the camera during a shot.
- For Olympus: Include the Eyecup Magnifier as a standard feature!
- Limited lens selection and vendors (can you say "EXPENSIVE")

I really like this camera and I feel it was a good choice for me at the time. However, like technology often does, it changes after you made your purchase!

Several vendors released 10-Megapixel camera about three weeks after I made my Olympus purchase all with the Anti-dust system and 2.5" LCD displays. I probably would have looked more seriously at the Canon Digital Rebel XT or XTi had the camera not felt so small in my hand (both versions have been rated very high). Sony and Nikon have some very impressive DSLRs that are reasonably priced.

Canon, Sony, and Nikon all have a larger selection of lenses and those lenses are more reasonably priced than Olympus. The Olympus lens selection is very high quality and pure "digital" but the lack of third party lens manufacturing is keeping the price "too high" for most people (unfortunately that includes me) due to (my personal belief) the "Four Thirds" lens technology.

Still; a nice DSLR camera, great to hold, easy to use, fast, shooting 250+ pictures a day with little to no affect on the battery, and a great out of the box price with two very nice lens selections. Hard to beat!

I bought myself the two-lens kit for Christmas, having previously owned a handful of point-and-shoot digitals from Kodak, HP and Fujifilm, and I felt I was reaching the point where I needed an SLR to keep improving. I decided to go with the E-500 for several reasons, including but not limited to:
--Good LCD screen, with a wide viewing angle and YRGB histograms available
--Excellent tonal response, with the rich colours that Oly are justly famous
--Dust filter that, in six months of heavy shooting has worked flawlessly. I've never seen a speck of dust in a shot, and I laugh at Canon / Nikon users when I see them swabbing off ther sensors
--Kit lenses about as good as you can expect kit lenses to be
--Good power-on and shot-to-shot times
--Excellent menu system that (despite some reviews to the contrary) put every setting you could ever expect to change during a shoot at your fingertips
--Very good ergonomics - it won't slip out of your hand, and is comfortable to hold (unlike, say, the Rebel XT), has a good weight, and has all the buttons exactly where your fingers expect them to be

Of course, it's not perfect, and for less than $1000 (including two lenses!) you can't expect to get a pro-level camera, but I think it hit the balance of features and cost very nicely. The autofocus can be a little sluggish in low light, especially if you've turned off the AF illuminator (which has a tendency to annoy people). The buffer could be bigger - shooting in RAW, you can take about 4 pictures before you need to release the shutter and start again. Noise gets pretty high above ISO 1000, but not many people use such fast speeds too often, and it's no worse than the grain on a decent ISO 400 film, and it's not so bad that Noise Ninja can't make it go away, so it's not an issue.

I think I've taken about 20,000 pictures with this camera, and I've never had a problem with it. Certainly there have been badly-exposed, out-of-focus shots, but they're my fault and not the camera's.