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Olympus E-500

Olympus E-500
Olympus E-500Olympus E-500Olympus E-500Olympus E-500Olympus E-500Olympus E-500Olympus E-500Olympus E-500Olympus E-500Olympus E-500
alaScore 89

789 reviews

May, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 789 reviews of Olympus E-500. The average rating for this product is 4.4/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. Reviewers really like the image quality and portability. The performance and price also get good feedback. There are some mixed comments about the low light performance, while some have doubts about the storage and control panel.

usability, price, performance, portability, image quality

viewfinder, focus, stabilizer , control panel, storage

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Olympus E-500 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 89/100 = Very good quality.

See all Olympus Digital Cameras

Review analysis

(Based on 789 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (54% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (34% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (6% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (2% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (4% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

usability
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
price
  Show positive (82%)Show negative (18%)(Show all)
performance
  Show positive (73%)Show negative (27%)(Show all)
portability
  Show positive (81%)Show negative (19%)(Show all)
image quality
  Show positive (82%)Show negative (18%)(Show all)
lens
  Show positive (81%)Show negative (19%)(Show all)
screen
  Show positive (70%)Show negative (30%)(Show all)
size
  Show positive (60%)Show negative (40%)(Show all)
design
  Show positive (91%)Show negative (9%)(Show all)
durability
  Show positive (84%)Show negative (16%)(Show all)
flash
  Show positive (63%)Show negative (38%)(Show all)
battery
  Show positive (67%)Show negative (33%)(Show all)
reliability
  Show positive (73%)Show negative (27%)(Show all)
viewfinder
  Show positive (16%)Show negative (84%)(Show all)
color
  Show positive (66%)Show negative (34%)(Show all)
focus
  Show positive (38%)Show negative (63%)(Show all)
low-light
  Show positive (50%)Show negative (50%)(Show all)
sensor
  Show positive (96%)Show negative (4%)(Show all)
zoom
  Show positive (87%)Show negative (13%)(Show all)
software
  Show positive (69%)Show negative (31%)(Show all)
exposure
  Show positive (92%)Show negative (8%)(Show all)
shutter
  Show positive (83%)Show negative (17%)(Show all)
glare
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
stabilizer
  Show positive (33%)Show negative (67%)(Show all)
control panel
  Show positive (33%)Show negative (67%)(Show all)
memory
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
storage
  None yetShow negative (100%)(Show all)
video
  None yetShow negative (100%)(Show all)
More features

Showing 358 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

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Showing 1 - 237 of 358 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (431)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Olympus E-500

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 6 user reviews of Olympus E-500 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.5/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. People really like the performance and screen. The price and portability are also mentioned favorably, but the viewfinder and durability get negative opinions. There are some mixed opinions about the size.

usability, portability, price, screen, performance

battery, durability, viewfinder

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

May, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Olympus E-500

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 221 user reviews of Olympus E-500 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com. People really like the image quality and portability. The performance and price are also appreciated. Views are divided on the image stabilizer, while the video and viewfinder get critical views.

usability, price, performance, portability, image quality

viewfinder, video

87% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

May, 2024

Expert review by : Ryan Block (engadget.com)

Olympus E-500 DSLR reviewed

 

What do you get when you mix one part old school Japanese optics manufacturing, one part ugs 80s-lookin' body design, and one part high-end lowish-priced DSLR? The Olympus E-500, of course, which DC Views took a good look at and decided they really...

Jan, 2006
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Expert review by : Lisa Gidley (cnet.com)

Olympus Evolt E-500 review

 

Review summary A well-designed compact 8-megapixel digital SLR camera, the Olympus Evolt E-500 offers a notably broad set of features for its class, including Olympus's signature dust-reduction system. Every time you turn on the E-500, its supersonic...

Compact design; strong autofocus performance even in low-light situations; intuitive and easy-to-navigate menu system; wide range of automated and manual features to appeal to both serious hobbyists and curious SLR newcomers.

Unreliable automatic white balance in some conditions; slow start-up time when dust reduction is enabled; compatible Zuiko lenses don't indicate focal distance.

The Olympus Evolt E-500 is a compact, easy-to-use digital SLR camera with a broad feature set for its class and very nice photo quality overall.

Feb, 2006
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Expert review by : Terry Sullivan (pcmag.com)

Olympus Evolt E-500

 

The Olympus Evolt E-500 is a very good entry-level D-SLR that falls just shy of greatness.

Large, clear 2.5-inch LCD. Supports a variety of shooting formats, even multiple formats simultaneously.

Controls could be better organized. Image quality could be better. Weak burst mode.

More digital camera reviews: • Ricoh Theta SC• Sony a9• SeaLife DC2000• Nikon Coolpix W100• Canon EOS M6• more

Dec, 2005
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Expert review by : Eric Butterfield (pcworld.com)

Olympus Evolt E-500 SLR Digital Camera Camera

 

This well-equipped and reasonably priced entry-level digital SLR produces high-quality images. The 8-megapixel camera comes with a wide array of features that establish it as a legitimate challenger to Canon's popular, similarly priced Digital Rebel...

The price and quality of the E-500's kits are hard to beat. But old-school photographers who like shooting in manual mode might find this camera a bit too slow to respond, and if you expect to shoot using high ISO settings, the Digital Rebel XT may be...

Nov, 2005
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Expert review by : Eric Butterfield (pcworld.com)

Olympus Evolt E-500

 

Photograph: Marc Simon

Extensive menus ; Large LCD

Response to control wheel is sluggish ; Manual focus isn't precise

A large LCD, extensive menus, and a nice price make this camera compelling, but it has a few usability issues.

Nov, 2005
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Expert review by : Phil Askey (dpreview.com)

olympus E-500

 

The E-500 EVOLT was announced on 26th September 2005, almost exactly a year after the E-300 which was the first affordable Four Thirds System digital SLR. The E-500 features an eight megapixel Kodak 4/3 Type CCD sensor, a Four Thirds System lens mount...

Good resolution, very little difference to the EOS 350D (although not as 'crisp'), Good color, contrasty images with out-of-the-camera appeal (selectable Picture Modes), Low noise levels up to ISO 400, usable ISO 800 (image much softer at ISO 1600),...

Very small viewfinder view (difficult to see fine detail, difficult to check focus), Recommended sensitivity ISO 100 - 400, images at ISO 800 usable, ISO 1600 not really, Not instant startup (1.7 sec) even longer in its out-of-the-box configuration,...

When the E-500 was announced in September this year the reception was noticeably more positive than for the E-300.

Oct, 2005
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Expert review by : Steve's Digicams (steves-digicams.com)

Olympus E-500 SLR

 

Physical Views Olympus Evolt E-500 and E-300 for comparison Olympus Evolt E-500 and the E-1 for comparison Compare Digital SLR Specifications Click to see side by side comparisons of Evolt E-500 and Canon Rebel XT, Konica Minolta 5D, Nikon D50, D70 and...

Sep, 2005
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Expert review by (letsgodigital.org)

Olympus E500 review

 

At this moment Olympus is the sole manufacturer to utilize the FourThirds system. A welcome addition will be Panasonic's model, which is said to follow this year. At the PMA 2006, both Panasonic and Olympic will reveal a great share of details and...

When the Olympus E-300 first appeared in the market, many raised an eyebrow. Was this the camera that would truly make a mark for the FourThirds system? It wasn't. With the E-500 digital reflex Olympus gives it another shot, one that in my opinion is...

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Expert review by (imaging-resource.com)

Olympus EVOLT E-500 Digital Camera Review: Intro and Highlights

 

Free Photo Lessons Learn how to really use full-functioned cameras like this one - Visit our free Photo Lessons area! The Olympus EVOLT E-500 is the latest entry in a line of digital SLRs based on the "Four Thirds" standard developed jointly...

Exceptional array of features for an entry-level SLR, 2-lens kit is an unusually good value, provides an excellent focal length range at a real bargain price, Very accurate optical viewfinder, Metering system is much improved over previous E-300 model,...

Image noise at high ISO is considerably higher than that of some competing models, and noise has strong chroma (color) component, making it more apparent/objectionable, In-camera sharpening is a little heavy-handed, can never be totally disabled (but...

Sep, 2005
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Expert review by : Jeff Keller (dcresource.com)

Olympus EVOLT E-500

 

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

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...

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 of...

Overall there's much to like about the E-500. While it's not the best digital SLR in its class, it may be the best value. It offers a lot of features, good performance and photo quality, and a nicely designed body that costs less than you'd expect. If...

Apr, 2008
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