Customer Reviews

Olympus Stylus 500 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I've had good experiences with Olympus in the past, so I picked up this camera when I wanted to get into the 5 MP range. This is an outstanding value. The LCD screen is like none other I have ever seen. It is huge. I loved it when I first saw it, and I didn't realize until after I got the camera home that it doesn't have a normal viewfinder at all. The only way to take a picture is with the LCD screen on. That alarmed me because I worred about battery life, but the battery life has turned out to be very long. I've used the camera on many occasions without having the charge the battery. It's long lasting and reliable.

I like that I can charge the battery outside the camera, so I bought an extra battery and always keep my spare one charged up. Some other camera have to be charged with the battery inside, which makes keeping a spare harder.

This is super-light and small. It can be tucked into my purse and it takes up hardly any space at all. I adore the size.

One good test of a camera is how easily people unfamiliar with it can take pictures. I know that I never read the manual. It was immediately obvious how to take pictures or movies or review the old pictures, and other people have picked up on the use of this camera instantly, too. The on screen menus are informative and easy to follow without a manual. There are no obscure codes or symbols to decipher.

In the higher-end camera segment, this 5 MP with a sleek design is an exceptional buy. Highly recommended.

This 5.0 MP digital camera is so advanced, it's simple. That's usually a contradiction in the camera market, but Olympus has come up with a definite winner with this offering. Read the reviews and you'll come up with the conclusion that this camera offers a lot for the money, even though you'll probably not use 80 percent of the features. No problem, because the user friendliness of this camera makes it difficult to take bad photos/moving pictures in the "auto" modes. I purchased this camera to replace my Olympus C-5050 (internal battery died and memory feature lost). Because I had several xD cards already invested, my choice was basically limited to Fuji and Olympus. I was also looking for a smaller/lighter camera that is easier to use and has minimal shutter lag (this camera is super quick in all that it does, including shutter lag).

I'm very satisfied with this camera and although I have not used the Canon's, Sony's, Fuji's, HP's, etc., comparative reviews have stated that the picture quality (accuracy and natural tone/colors) of this specific Olympus digital camera is very good. Study for yourself via the internet and you should not be too disappointed with the findings and its value for the money (or your purchase).

I first bought the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 and was very unhappy with it. The pictures were dark and the red eye was terrible. I exchanged it for the Stylus 500 and after using it for a couple of weeks I am thrilled with this camera. It takes great pictures, it's pretty quick and is very easy to use. Also, compared to the Sony the 2.5 LCD is MUCH clearer. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that wants high quality images and an easy to use camera.

I did a lot of research before purchasing this camera. I was looking for a 5MP, compact size, with a large LCD screen, and lots of built in settings. This camera checked off on all with flying colors. The 20 preset modes are easy to navigate thru and give good descriptions of what each one is used for. As with many digital cameras, the indoor shooting can be a bit tricky to get just right. The flash on the auto setting is a bit strong (still not sure if I can adjust that yet). Outdoor shots are incredible! My favorite feature is the 2.5 LCD screen. There is no view finder, but the screen is more than adequate even in bright sunlight. The Stylus 500 is also weather proof which puts your mind at ease if there is a light drizzle coming down or you want to take it with you skiing (which I have done). If you are like me and love all the bells and whistles, this camera has plenty to offer. If you need an easy point and shoot, it can do that too. Overall this camera is fantastic. I hightly recommend it.

This is my first Olympus digital and I absolutely love it. My aunt has it and she is very picky about her cameras so I knew I could trust her recomendation. I figured everything out very quickly and every shot has been perfect. We have a 512mb card and it will allow you to take up to 25 minutes of video. We did a short 20 second clip and emailed it using the Olympus software. It was so easy and easily viewed by family on the other end. And the screen is awesome. Its nice not to not look so close at the screen anymore. I love being able to hit the quick view button to flip and delete through pictures while keeping it in photo mode and then hitting it again to resume taking pictures. So much easier then turning the dial everytime (although that is still an option). The only thing that I have learned my lesson on with this camera, is when when you have the USB cable connecting it to your computer, Disconnect it as soon as your transfer is done. I did my transfer and then left it connected all afternoon. When I went to turn it on the battery was dead. Even though the screen was not on it still drained. So as long as you don't leave it hooked up to your computer then everything is great. You won't regret this camera.

P.S. the cuisine mode is awesome

The old point-and-shoot camera I'd had for years finally stopped working (got some sand in it at the beach), and I took the plunge into digital with this Olympus camera. I bought it specifically to take on a cycling trip through Tuscany, and I was not disappointed. The camera is small enough to tuck in the back of a biking jersey, takes GREAT pictures, is very easy to use, and is durable as anything. I took it cycling, to the beach, used it in the mountains, and it has given me nothing but terrific photos, and no user problems whatsoever.

The one suggestion I would make if you buy this camera, to forego the suggested leather case accessory. I bought a padded nylon camera case at my local Ritz camera (about $12) which worked much better, as it had pockets for extra memory and a spare battery as well as a sturdy shoulder strap. (I agree with the previous reviewer that, even though the battery life is exceptional, an extra battery is a good idea to have if you don't want any "down time" with your camera at all.)

I love this little digital camera. The Stylus 500 has everything I was looking for: small size, 5 mega-pixel resolution, ease of use, 3X zoom, and a LCD viewing screen that I can actually see. The beauty of this camera is what it offers beyond the basics. The body is waterproof (though not for underwater pictures), so getting caught in a downpour is not cause for panic; it also keeps sand out, making it great for beach use. The lens cover is built in, and it automatically covers the lens when the power is shut off, uncovers it when you turn the camera on. The rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery keeps its charge for a surprisingly large number of uses. Although you can start taking snapshots without reading the manual and navigating the menu, the camera offers a selection of scene options such as color enhancement for still life, shoot and select for moving objects, landscape and portrait shots for crispness in both foreground and background, a sport setting to capture action without blurring, beach and snow setting for to minimize glare, a selection for taking pictures of objects behind glass, and many other options. These scene features work well, and they deliver exactly what they are supposed to. This palm-size camera also records digital home movies, with audio, that you can play back either on your television screen or through your PC software such as iMovies.

The camera comes with a high-speed USB cable to transfer photos directly to the computer without intermediate hardware, an audio/video cables to hook up for film clip viewing, a semi-rigid black case, CD-ROMs for the software and user manual, and a 32 MB picture card. The photo transfer works on both Macs and PCs. The included software, Olympus Master, is adequate for photo management, although I prefer iPhoto. Adobe Photoshop would be even better for those who like to manipulate photos, though this kind of high-tech software is hardly necessary. You can also print directly off the camera if you choose to bypass your PC. The 32 MB XD picture card that comes with the camera is woefully inadequate for even average use, so plan on buying a 256 card at the same time. Those planning to take a large number of pictures or movies within a short period of time should consider getting a spare battery as well; because the battery charges outside of the camera, you can pocket a fully charged spare to take with you, or you can be charging one battery while the other is in use.

Especially for those buying their first digital camera, shooting photos with this camera can be slightly disconcerting at first since the user must depress the shutter button halfway to lock in to focus, then the rest of the way to shoot. The impulse is to press down harder to take the photo, which can result in a blurry picture. Taking pictures with a digital camera simply is not as instantaneous as with a 35 mm camera. Once the transition is made, however, the quality is superb. Red-eye is a huge problem with the flash, so users should remind themselves to switch to that mode when taking photos of people inside.

The Olympus Stylus 500 is a compact, versatile camera designed for people who shoot primarily snapshots. Its size and weather-proof case make it perfect for vacations as well as for everyday use.

I've used this camera for over a month now. In general, I like it and recommend it. It's all-weather, so you don't have to worry about taking shots in the rain. It has a handy, built-in lens cover that pops open lightning fast when you turn the camera on; start-up time is very short compared to every other camera I've used, so you miss fewer shots when you suddenly need to take a picture. The camera is also smaller than it looks in the online photos I saw of it (I bought it sight-unseen from Amazon), yet comfortable to hold. The large LCD is also nice, though I would prefer a viewfinder alternative. It doesn't have full manual settings, but I am fine with that. I've never used the full manual settings on any camera.

My complaints are few: it doesn't to well in low-light-level situations, such as museums, or in the evening. People look very yellow and orangish compared to a larger-aperture digital camera such as the Olympus C740 (which I also own and love). It also has the drawback that you need to remove the battery and put it in the charger instead of using the camera as a charger. The battery does last a long time, however, and the charger accepts worldwide power 100-240V, 50-60 cycles (though you need a small adaptor plug wherever you go, just not a voltage converter).

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Here I edit my original review to remove my complaint that the camera never remembers any settings. That issue can be overcome by changing the "All Reset" setting to Off in the camera's mode settings menu. Thanks to the Amazon customer who sent me that message!
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My wife and I have taken some great photos with it, and I recommend the camera, but be aware of the above flaws before you decide.

It comes with a 32MB xD card, but you will need a larger one. Expect close to 1MB per photo. Therefore, a 512MB xD card will hold about 500 photos.

I researched a long time, was set to buy another camera, then went in to test it out and found out the shutter speed was excruciatingly slow. This camera, however, is great. I bought it mostly because of the shutter speed (and the 3x X 4x zoom), but everything about it is great. The menus take a little bit of getting used to--I keep hitting the "menu" button to select options, which isn't necessary--but it's hardly a complaint to say the options are more streamlined than usual.

The only real problem I've had is that the hinged cover for the battery and memory card is right where my thumb usually is, so more than once I've accidentally opened it (it opens quite easily). But this isn't really a big enough problem to be a big purchase decision breaker.

I've only had the camera two weeks, so I haven't made any prints yet, but the color is great and the pictures look wonderful online. I highly, highly recommend this camera.

After trying the Fuji FinePix, which was a nightmare, I am loving this camera. I owned an Olympus before (35mm) and it lasted almost 20 years. I hope to see the same return on this camera. Good battery life and large display screen are the biggest pluses for me and my needs. I basically take pictures of my kids. The only complaint I have is that the manual that comes with the camers is very basic and to get the more detailed manual, you have to download and print it. I wish it came with the camera.