Olympus E-500
Encyclopedia
The Olympus E-500 is an 8 megapixel digital SLR camera
manufactured by Olympus
of Japan
and based on the Four Thirds System
. It was announced on 26 September 2005. Like the E-300
launched the previous year, it uses a Full Frame Transfer Kodak KAF-8300CE CCD imaging chip.
, the E-500 retains the traditional SLR appearance, with a humped pentamirror box instead of the E-300's unique Porro mirror arrangement. The mirror box also bears the onboard flash, in similar manner to most recent consumer-level SLR cameras. The viewfinder hump means the E-500 is taller than the E-300, but in other dimensions it is smaller.
The E-500 uses Olympus' patented Supersonic Wave Filter
dust reduction system
to shake dust from the sensor during startup and when requested by the user; this largely eliminates the problem of dust accumulation on the surface of the image sensor. Image processing is done with Olympus' TruePic Turbo system.
Improvements over the E-300 include a 2.5 inch rear LCD screen, 49 zone metering (the E-300's total is undocumented, but believed to be 3), spot metering, an RGB histogram to identify clipping across the three color channels in post-shot review, optional improved noise filtering for low-light photography, and the ability to apply software color filters in black-and-white shooting.
In a buyers guide distributed by the UK Digital SLR magazine (December 06, 2nd edition), the Olympus E-500 camera was identified as an intermediate digital SLR camera — capable of functioning as a professional tool in most situations, well above what the average street price of £379 (at time of article) reflects.
The E-500 was available in five different packages in the United States; these were:
The successor to the E-500 is the E-510
. Released in 2007, the E-510 provides several feature improvements including a new 10 megapixel Live MOS Sensor with claimed lower image noise at high ISO compared to the E-500, LiveView and in-body Image Stabilization
in approximately the same body size as the E-500.
Digital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
manufactured by Olympus
Olympus Corporation
is a Japan-based manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscope and thermometer businesses. Its global headquarters are in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, while its USA operations are based in Center Valley, Pennsylvania,...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and based on the Four Thirds System
Four Thirds System
The Four Thirds system is a standard created by Olympus and Kodak for digital single-lens reflex camera design and development.The system provides a standard that, with digital cameras and lenses available from multiple manufacturers, allows for the interchange of lenses and bodies from different...
. It was announced on 26 September 2005. Like the E-300
Olympus E-300
The Olympus E-300 is an 8 megapixel digital SLR manufactured by Olympus of Japan and based on the Four Thirds System. Announced at Photokina 2004, it became available at the end of 2004...
launched the previous year, it uses a Full Frame Transfer Kodak KAF-8300CE CCD imaging chip.
Features
Unlike the E-300 and the E-300's successor, the Olympus E-330Olympus E-330
The Olympus E-330 is a DSLR launched on 30 January 2006, using the Four Thirds System lens mount standard. Its main feature is its live image preview functionality, permitting an image to be previewed on the LCD screen. While live image preview is not new in compact digital cameras, the E-330 is...
, the E-500 retains the traditional SLR appearance, with a humped pentamirror box instead of the E-300's unique Porro mirror arrangement. The mirror box also bears the onboard flash, in similar manner to most recent consumer-level SLR cameras. The viewfinder hump means the E-500 is taller than the E-300, but in other dimensions it is smaller.
The E-500 uses Olympus' patented Supersonic Wave Filter
Supersonic Wave Filter
The Supersonic Wave Filter is a dust reduction system developed by Olympus to overcome the negative effect of dust particles landing on the image sensor of digital SLRs. DSLRs are particularly vulnerable to this issue, since the interior of the camera is exposed during lens changes unlike other...
dust reduction system
Dust reduction system
A dust reduction system, or dust removal system, is a technology employed by several manufacturers of digital system cameras to solve the problem of dust particles adhering to the image sensor. Some systems remove or clean the sensor by vibrating at a very high frequency—between 100hertz and...
to shake dust from the sensor during startup and when requested by the user; this largely eliminates the problem of dust accumulation on the surface of the image sensor. Image processing is done with Olympus' TruePic Turbo system.
In a buyers guide distributed by the UK Digital SLR magazine (December 06, 2nd edition), the Olympus E-500 camera was identified as an intermediate digital SLR camera — capable of functioning as a professional tool in most situations, well above what the average street price of £379 (at time of article) reflects.
The E-500 was available in five different packages in the United States; these were:
- Body only (no lens)
- Body plus 14–45 mm Zuiko Digital lens
- Body plus 17.5–45 mm Zuiko Digital lens
- Body plus 14–45 mm and 40–150 mm Zuiko Digital lenses
- Body plus 17.5–45 mm and 40–150 mm Zuiko Digital lenses (Costco in-store package)
The successor to the E-500 is the E-510
Olympus E-510
The Olympus E-510 is a 10 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera oriented to the "prosumer" or "hobbyist" market. Announced in March 2007 to succeed the E-500, it represents the first use of the new Panasonic MOS sensors instead of the Kodak CCD sensors that Olympus had used previously...
. Released in 2007, the E-510 provides several feature improvements including a new 10 megapixel Live MOS Sensor with claimed lower image noise at high ISO compared to the E-500, LiveView and in-body Image Stabilization
Image stabilization
Image stabilization is a family of techniques used to reduce blurring associated with the motion of a camera during exposure. Specifically, it compensates for pan and tilt of a camera or other imaging device. It is used in image-stabilized binoculars, still and video cameras, and astronomical...
in approximately the same body size as the E-500.
External links
- E-500 at Olympus America.
- Full review at DPreview.com.
- SLR Today's E-500 Review
- Olympus E-500 Sample Photos and Tests