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Olympus Evolt E500 8MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-180mm f3.5-f6.3 Zuiko Digital Ultra Zoom Lens (Silver)
 
Manufacturer: Olympus
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,099.99
Sale Price: $598.95
Availibility: Usually ships in 2-3 business days
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Product Description
Premium picture quality and superb performance come easy with this comfortable to handle digital SLR. At a time when we want complex things to become simple, the EVOLT E-500 succeeds in doing so with a sleek, lightweight design for impressive portability and advanced controls and options that can be accessed with minimal effort. Bursting with speed and producing spotless pictures with exceptional color and detail, the EVOLT E-500 is tailor-made for anyone to use while capturing the imagination in the process.The EVOLT E-500 makes it so simple to capture great pictures with 15 easily selectable scene modes and 10 exposure modes that all you need to do is point it in the right direction. Each pristine Zuiko digital-specific lens is perfectly matched to the camera's image sensor and features an internal CPU for direct communication with the camera to produce super sharp, bright, colorful pictures from edge-to-edge. Shoot, store or backup pictures on your preferred choice of an xD-Picture Card, CompactFlash or both with the convenience of two media card slots. The exclusive TruePic TURBO Image Processor delivers a camera that responds with impressive speed from the moment it's turned on and smooth, colorful images every time. Supersonic Wave Filter vibrates 35,000 times per second to eliminate dust from the image sensor and any concern you'll ever have about changing lenses. The full-frame transfer CCD is designed to capture more information from each individual pixel to help you receive brilliant results from edge-to-edge with a full range of color, contrast and detail.The included Zuiko Digital 15-180mm lens delivers superb image quality from edge-to-edge. It covers a broad range, with close-ups coming out crisp and clear. Multi-coating minimizes ghosting and flaring that can occur while the sturdy metal lens mount ensures rugged durability. +PLUS+ 2GB DELUXE ACCESSORY KIT:

Product Details
  • 8-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 16 x 22-inch prints
  • 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD display; 5 metering modes and built-in filters, including nine filters for black-and-white photography
  • Exclusive dust-free technology for spot-free photos
  • Silver body; lightweight ergonomic design; kit includes Zuiko 18-180mm f3.5-6.3 digital SLR lens
  • Powered by one lithium-ion battery; stores images on CF, Micro Drive, or xD Picture Cards

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Customer Reviews
Many blame the hardware but its almost ALWAYS the user. DSLR market just got competitive.
 
Review Date: November 7, 2005
Reviewer: Jamshed J. Khan, Herndon, VA United States
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..
Excellent Value and Wonderful Features
 
Review Date: January 21, 2006
Reviewer: AJS, Denver, CO
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!
A digital camera for the traditional photographer
 
Review Date: November 5, 2005
Reviewer: David Bradford, Cary, NC USA
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.
Olympus E500 the perfect DSLR entry level.
 
Review Date: October 27, 2005
Reviewer: D. W. Robinson, Denver, CO
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.
What's not to love?
 
Review Date: February 17, 2006
Reviewer: R. A Gibson, San Antonio, TX USA
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?