Compare Prices : Olympus E-500

Review summary: This review has been completed using a production-level EVOLT E-500. Product photos have been reshot where necessary and all sample photos are from the production camera.

Pros: Excellent photo quality (though see issue below) ; Great value ; Well designed, attractive body (unlike the E-300) ; doesn't feel cheap ; Dust reduction system ; All the expandability you'd expect from a D-SLR ; hot shoe for external flash ; Large LCD ...

Cons: Images a bit noisier than competition at high ISOs ; some jaggies ; Startup time is slower than other D-SLRs due to dust reduction system ; Burst mode could be better ; Only three focus points ; No battery grip available ; No LCD info display on top ...

Verdict: As is the case with all D-SLRs, Olympus does not include a memory card with the E-500, so you'll have to factor that into the total purchase price. The camera supports both xD and CompactFlash memory cards, though you'll get the most capacity out of ...

Review summary: The Olympus E-500 is a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera and I was sent it with a couple of lenses, the first a macro lens great for those close ups and the send a more general 14-45mm offering.

Verdict: Perhaps a camera those who come from a 35mm background would fall in love with, mainly because they are used to making decisions that the modern digital photographer either does not make or does not have to make. However the 'Auto' mode is there but ...

Review summary: The E-500 looks like the camera the E-300 should have been all along

Pros: Easy and pleasant to use, Surprisingly free of fringing , Good definition levels, A classy build

Cons: Sluggish manual focus, Inferior high ISO performance

Verdict: If you want to retain some shadow or highlight detail in these areas, you'll need to apply a degree of exposure compensation first. For example, to just retain detail in a bright sky, you might set the EV compensation to -0.3EV or -0.7EV before using ...

Review summary: Entry-level SLR digital camera brings 8 megapixels and a 2.5-inch LCD to the fray.

Verdict: Olympus markets the E-500 in three versions: the thriftier body only version, the body plus a 14-45mm lens (the kit I tested), and a higher end model that also adds a 40-155mm lens. The E-500's body felt sturdy, the rubber grip fit snugly in my hand, ...