Olympus E-500

Reviewed February 2006

Characteristics

The Olympus E-500 is the latest digital SLR using a Four Thirds CCD produced by Olympus, and to date, although Kodak was a participant in the creation of the Four Thirds system and Fujifilm accepted the standard, Olympus is the only manufacturer producing Four Thirds cameras.

The Olympus E-500 is equipped with a 17.3 x 13 mm, 8.88-megapixel CCD, of which 8.0 megapixels are effective to capture a maximum image size of 3264 x 2448 pixels, and which doubles the focal length of any lens whose focal lengths are labelled using the 35mm standard.

The Four Thirds CCD sensitivity range starts at 100 but can be pushed to 125, 160, 200 250, 320, or 400 ISO. In addition, if the ISO Boost option is enabled in the Custom menu, the sensitivity of the E-500 can be set even higher, as values of 500, 640, 800, 1000, 1250 and 1600 ISO become available.

The Olympus E-500 is able to receive any Four Thirds compatible lens, and in North America is currently sold in a kit that includes both the Olympus 14 to 45 mm f3.5-5.6 Zuiko zoom, and the Olympus 40 to 150 mm f3.5-4.5 telephoto.

Both lenses in the kit are supplied with lens hoods, a "perfect" flower-shaped lens hood for the 14-45 mm, and a more standard hood for the 40-150 mm.

In addition, thanks to its Zuiko Digital lens mount, the E-500 is compatible with a number of lenses produced by Olympus for their Four Thirds cameras:

• 7-14 mm f4.0 ED
• 11-22 mm f2.8-3.5
• 14-54 mm f2.8-3.5
• 50-200 mm f2.8-3.5 ED
• 50 mm f2.0 Macro
• 150 mm f2.0 ED
• 300 mm f2.8 ED

The E-500 provides a shutter speed range that runs from 60 seconds to 1/4000 second with most shooting modes. Moreover, when set to the Manual mode, the range gets extended with a Bulb mode that is intended for use with the RM-1 optional remote control, and which offers a maximum exposure time of 8 minutes.

Either selected in the menu or directly through the settings information display shown on the monitor with the OK button, the E-500 is able to record images at any one of 7 image sizes:

• 3264 x 2448 pixels
• 3200 x 2400 pixels
• 2560 x 1920 pixels
• 1600 x 1200 pixels
• 1280 x 960 pixels
• 1024 x 768 pixels
• 640 x 480 pixels

Up to 5 image formats are offered, a commendable flexibility that should be the rule for all cameras, and not the exception that it is:

• RAW: saves the unprocessed data originating from the CCD into a 13.6 MB file that must be interpreted with the software supplied with the camera, or with third-party software such as the RAW Plug-in devised for Adobe Photoshop.
• TIFF: records an uncompressed format that produces a image file size of 23.5 MB.
• SHQ: is the least compressed JPEG format, applying a compression ratio in the 3:1 range.
• HQ: uses a greater compression, but can be selected to be either 4:1 or 8:1.
• SQ: is the setting for all image sizes from 3200 x 2400 down to 640 x 480. With this format, the compression can be set to be in the 3:1, or 4:1, or 8:1 range.

The image quality and size settings are but one of a number of selections that are made in the 5-part menu of the E-500, in this case in the first part of the menu:

• Card Setup: serves to delete images, or format the memory card.
• Custom Reset Setting: Reset, Reset 1, Reset 2.
• Picture Mode: Vivid, Natural, and Muted, which can each be adjusted for sharpness, contrast, and saturation; or Monotone and Sepia, which can be adjusted for Contrast, Sharpness, B&W filter or Picture Tone.
• Gradation: High Key, Normal, Low Key.
• Resolution: HQ, SQ, RAW+SHQ, RAW+HQ, RAW+SQ, RAW, TIFF, SHQ.

• Exposure Compensation: over a range of ±5 EV in selectable increments of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV.
• Noise Reduction: On or Off. Note that when Noise Reduction is set to On, the Continuous shooting mode is not available.
• White Balance: Auto, Sun (5300K), Cloudy (6000K), Shade (7500K), Incandescent (3000K), Fluorescent 1 (4000K), Fluorescent 2 (4500K), Fluorescent 3 (6600K), One Touch, Custom (2000K through 14000K).
• ISO: Auto, 100, 125, 160, 200 250, 320, or 400 ISO; and with ISO Boost enabled, 500, 640, 800, 1000, 1250 and 1600 ISO.
• Metering:
  • Digital ESP metering:
    • ESP + AF: metering takes focus point into consideration.
    • ESP: metering does not take the focus point into consideration.
  • Centre-weighted average metering.
  • Spot metering.
  • Spot Hi: Spot metering with Highlight control.
  • Spot Sh: Spot metering with Shadow control.

• Flash Mode: Auto, Red-eye Reduction Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, Slow Synch with Red-eye Reduction, Slow Synch, Slow Synch Rear Curtain, Full, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64.
• Flash Exposure Compensation: to adjust the power of the internal pop-up flash or an externally mounted flash over a range of ±2 EV in 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV or 1 EV increments.

• Drive offers 4 settings:
  • Single Frame Shooting: captures one image every time the shutter release is pressed.
  • Sequential Shooting: captures 4 images at 2.5 frames per second using SHQ, HQ or SQ image formats. Exposure and focus are set at the first frame.
  • Self-timer: provides a selectable delay of either 12 or 2 seconds.
  • Remote control: activates the infrared receiver for the optional remote control (RM-1), and provides a 2-second delay or none.

• AF Mode: Single AF, Continuous AF, Manual AF, Single AF+ Manual Focus, Continuous AF + Manual Focus.
• AF Frame Selection: Auto, Focus point Left, Focus point Centre, Focus point Right.
• White Balance Bracketing: captures three images with a variation in white balance, and with a selectable variation over Red and Blue and Green and Magenta.
• Auto Exposure bracketing: Provides a bracketing range of ± 1 EV in 1/3 EV increments over 3 frames.
• Flash Bracketing: As with the standard AE bracketing, the flash bracketing offers a bracketing range of ± 1 EV in 1/3 EV increments over 3 frames.
• Manual Focus Bracketing: The camera shoots multiple frames, changing the focal point slightly for each frame. Up to 7 frames can be captured.
• Anti-Shock: Intended for use during long exposures, the system eliminates camera shake caused by vibrations when the mirror flips up. The time interval from the time the mirror is raised until the shutter is released can be set in 1 second increments from 1 to 30 seconds, or to Off.

The third section of the menu concerns Playback mode options:

• Slide Show: provides options to play back images one at a time with a 5-second on-screen time, or show images by groups of 4, 9, 16 or 25 thumbnails.

• Rotation: allows rotating an image in 90° increments using the button.
• Edit: to edit an image stored on the memory card and re-save it as a new image. RAW images can be processed for white balance, sharpness, etc. and then the copy saved as JPEG or TIFF, which allows them to be printed directly. Photos captured using TIFF or JPEG formats can be processed for automatic red-eye fix, or converted to sepia or black and white images, or have their saturation altered, or be resized to 1280 x 960, 640 x 480, or 320 x 240 pixels.

• DPOF (Print Order): allows selecting images that will be printed later, either one at a time or all at once, and decide if the date and/or the capture time will be superimposed on the print. The E-500 is compatible with PictBridge and the camera can be connected directly to a similarly compatible printer via USB to print photos, bypassing the need for a computer
• Copy: makes it possible to copy one frame at a time between memory cards, or copy all selected frames, or copy all images.

The next section of the menu is the Custom menu, and it is the most extensive:

• ISO Step: decides whether ISO increases are done in 1/3 EV increments or 1 EV increments.
• ISO Boost offers 3 settings: Off, On + NF (reduces noise at higher ISO values), and On (no noise reduction).
• ISO Limit serves to set the highest ISO that will be used to reduce image blur: Off, 100, 200, 400 or 800 ISO.
• EV Step: sets the EV increment to be used during Exposure Compensation (1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV).
• All White Balance Compensation has two settings: All Set, and All Reset. The option makes it possible to apply the same compensation value to all white balance modes at once.

• HQ: decides the image size for the HQ mode and its compression rate (1/4, 1/8, 1/12).
• SQ: decides the image size for the SQ mode and its compression rate (1/2.7, 1/4, 1/8, 1/12).
• Manual Flash allows selecting a fixed light output for the built-in flash: Full power, 1/4, 1/16 or 1/64.
• Flash Intensity Control serves to adjust the amount of light emitted by the flash.
• Flash Speed Synchronization: allows selecting a flash synchronization speed for an external flash unit. The speed can be set from 1/60 to 1/180 second in 1/3 EV increments.

• Auto Flash Pop-up: On or Off. Decides whether or not the flash opens automatically when the camera is set to the Auto, Portrait, Macro, or Night Portrait mode.
• Dial: allows modifying the Control Dial's function when the camera is set to P, so that rotating the control dial starts Program Shift, or with the M mode when the Control dial by itself can be set to change either the aperture or the shutter speed.
• AEL/AFL Mode decides the function assigned to the AEL/AFL button: AF Start, AF Lock, AE Lock.
• AEL/AFL Memo: the AEL button acts as a toggle switch, pressed once = On, pressed again = Off.
• AEL Metering: selects a specific metering mode for the AEL function (see the metering modes available above).
• Quick Erase: On or Off. When set to Off, a confirmation screen is displayed when an image is erased.
• RAW + JPEG Erase determines which type of file is erased when erasing a single image on a card: JPEG, RAW, or RAW + JPEG.
• One-Touch White Balance Button [] Function:
  • Test Picture: allows checking a just captured image prior to saving it.
  • My Mode: while holding down the button, photos can be captured using the My Mode (1 and 2) settings that have been registered in the My Mode Setup.
  • Preview: the button acts as a depth of field preview, stopping down the lens to the currently selected aperture.
• My Mode Setup: allows saving 2 different camera configurations, which can be recalled using the button.
• Focus Ring: makes it possible to select the rotational direction of the Focus ring (to the left, or to the right).
• AF Illuminator: On or Off. When On the flash can be raised to provide assistance to the AF system in a dark environment.
• Reset Lens: On or Off. When On, the lens gets reset to infinity when the power is turned off.
• Release Priority S: normally the camera does not allow the shutter to be released while the Auto focusing is in progress, or when the flash is charging. This option makes it possible for the shutter to be released anyway in Single AF mode, or in Continuous AF mode.
• Release Priority C: as above, this option makes it possible for the shutter to be released in Continuous AF mode.

The fifth and final section of the E-500's menu is the Setup menu and it addresses basic settings for the camera. The contents of this menu are covered in the Interface and Software section of the review.

The E-500 is compatible with CompactFlash type I and II memory cards, including Microdrives (compatible with FAT 32), and with xD Picture cards. Both memory card slots are located on the right side of the camera and covered by a solid door. A red LED, below the Arrow pad on the back of the camera, lights up when either card is being used, indicating that it should not be ejected while it is in use. The xD card is ejected by pressing on its edge, and the CF card is ejected with a lever directly below the card slot.

The E-500 is retailed without any memory card, but the chart below provides an idea of the number of photos that can be stored using a 512MB CompactFlash card, and a 256 xD card:

The E-500 is powered by a proprietary Lithium-ion battery (BLM-1) which is housed in the camera's grip and locks into place and is covered by a solid door with a latch.

In North America the battery and charger (BCM-2) are part of the camera kit, and recharging the battery can take between 5 and 10 hours.

The connection serves two functions. First, it is used for USB (High Speed, compatible with USB 2.0) can be configured to any of four settings in the Setup section of the menu (see the Interface and Software section of the review for further information). Second, it can be used to connect the E-500 to a television (Video Out) and can be configured in the Setup section of the menu to operate with either NTSC or PAL televisions.