Olympus E-500 SLR Review




Click for main menu

Olympus EVOLT E-500 Digital SLR




Recording / Setup Options



Olympus EVOLT E500 Digital SLR

Camera1 menu options:

  • Card Setup - All Erase or Format xD or CF card
  • Custom Reset Setting - When powered up the camera can be reset to one of two custom settings
  • Picture Mode - Vivid, Natural, Muted, Monotone, Sepia
  • Gradation - High Key, Normal, Low Key
  • Resolution - SHQ, HQ, SQ, RAW, RAW+SHQ, RAW+HQ, RAW+SQ, TIFF
  • Exposure Compensation - Overrides metering +/-5 EV in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps
  • Noise Reduction - Long exposure noise reduction: Off, On
  • White Balance - Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent 1/2/3, One-Touch or Custom (2000-14000°K)
  • ISO - Auto (100-400), 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400 (500, 640, 800, 1000, 1250 and 1600 when ISO Boost is enabled)
  • Metering - Digital ESP, Center-weighted average (60%), Spot (2%), Spot High Light and Spot Shadow


Olympus EVOLT E500 Digital SLR

Camera2 menu options:

  • Flash Mode - Auto, Red-eye, Red-eye/Slow, Slow-sync (front curtain), Slow-sync (rear curtain), Auto Fill, Red-eye Fill
  • Flash Compensation - Adjusts flash output +/-2 in 1/3 steps
  • Drive Mode - Single, Continuous, AE Bracketing, Selftimer (12s, 2s), Remote
  • AF Mode - Single-AF, Continuous AF, Manual Focus, Single+MF
  • AF Area - Auto Multi (all 3), Left, Center or Right
  • White Balance Bracketing - Off, 3 frames 2 steps, 4 steps or 6 steps
  • AE Bracket - Off, 3 frames 0.3EV, 0.7EV or 1EV steps
  • FL Bracket - Off, 3 frames 1, 2 or 3 steps
  • MF Bracket - Off, 5 frames 1 or 2 steps, 7 frames 1 or 2 steps
  • Anti-Shock - Delay shutter after mirror up: Off, 1 to 30 sec.




Olympus EVOLT E500 Digital SLR

When you turn the Mode Dial to the SCENE position you will be shown a menu of the available modes. It starts out with a large sample picture which then shrinks down to make room for the text explanation of the mode. There are 15 Scene modes available: Portrait, Landscape, Landscape & Portrait, Night Scene, Night Scene & Portrait, Children, Sport, High Key, Low Key, Macro, Candle, Sun Set, Fireworks, Documents, Beach & Snow.



Olympus EVOLT E500 Digital SLR

Setup1 menu options:

  • ISO Step - 1/3EV or 1EV steps
  • ISO Boost - Off, On+NR or On (Boost enables ISO up to 1600)
  • ISO Limit - Limit the highest ISO when set to Auto
  • EV Step - 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV for shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation
  • ALL WB - Clear All or Set All white balance compensation
  • HQ - Set JPEG compression for HQ: 1/4, 1/8 or 1/12
  • SQ - Set JPEG compression for SQ: 1/2.7, /14, 1/8, 1/12
  • Manual Flash - Off or On
  • FL/AE Comp - Off or On
  • Sync Speed - Flash sync speed (1/60 - 1/250)
  • Auto Flash Popup - Off or On
  • Dial - Control dial function in P mode (Exp Comp or Program Shift) and M mode (shutter speed or aperture)
  • AEL/AFL - AEL button function in S-AF, C-AF and MF modes
  • AEL/AFL Memo - AEL Memory On or Off
  • AEL Metering - AEL metering mode: Auto, ESP, Center, Spot
  • Quick Erase - Off or On
  • (RAW+JPEG) Erase - JPEG / RAW / RAW+JPEG
  • Custom OTWB - OTWB / Test Shot / My Mode / Preview
  • My Mode Setup - Three user-settable custom modes
  • Focus Ring - Select direction of the focus ring action
  • AF Illuminator - Focus-assist: Off, On = use flash pulses
  • Lens Reset - Resets the focus of the lens when powered down
  • Release Priority S - Release shutter in S-AF mode before focus lock or flash ready
  • Release Priority C - Release shutter in the C-AF mode even while adjusting focus




Olympus EVOLT E500 Digital SLR

Setup2 menu options:

  • Time and Date - Set the camera's clock
  • File Name - If Auto it will continuously increment, Reset will reset the numbers
  • Rename File - ????????????
  • LCD Brightness - Adjust LCD backlight
  • Language - Menu language
  • Video Out - NTSC or PAL format
  • Beep Sounds - Button sounds Off, On
  • Rec View - View on LCD after capture: Off, Auto, 5s, 20s
  • Sleep - Auto off time: Off, 1m, 3m, 5m, 10m
  • Auto PW Off - Off, 4H
  • Button Hold Time - 3s, 5s, Hold
  • Screen - Off, On
  • Color - Control Panel Color Scheme: 1 or 2
  • Erase Setting - Yes or No
  • USB - Auto, Storage, Control, Easy Print, Custom Print
  • Color Space - sRGB or Adobe RGB
  • Shading Compensation - Compensate for dark areas at the edge of image caused by wide angle lenses: Off, On
  • Pixel Mapping - Map out bad CCD imager pixels
  • Cleaning Mode - Manually initiate ultrasonic CCD filter cleaner, raise mirror and opens shutter curtain
  • Firmware - Display firmware revision number




Continue on to
Playback Features










Return To Our
Reviews Menu












Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.

Olympus 11-22 mm F2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
SellerPriceIn StockSeller Rating
Adorama$799.00
Yes
727 reviews
B&H Photo-Video$799.00
Yes
1688 reviews
USB Phone world$
Yes
1246 reviews
USB Phone World$
Yes
332 reviews
Buy.com Marketplace$799.00
Yes
3054 reviews
eBay$799.95
YesAcceptable
4 reviews
Buy related cameras and accessories from Amazon.com
Related Product Description Price
Nikon D2Xs Digital SLR Camera Nikon D2Xs Digital SLR Camera $5,100.00
Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens & Canon 55-250IS Lens + 58mm 2x Telephoto lens + 58mm Wide Angle Lens (4 Lens Kit!!!!!!) W/32GB SDHC Memory+ Battery Grip + 2 Extra Batteries + Charger + 3 Piece Filter Kit + UV Filter + Full Size Tripod + Case +Accessory Kit Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens & Canon 55-250IS Lens + 58mm 2x Telephoto lens + 58mm Wide Angle Lens (4 Lens Kit!!!!!!) W/32GB SDHC Memory+ Battery Grip + 2 Extra Batteries + Charger + 3 Piece Filter Kit + UV Filter + Full Size Tripod + Case +Accessory Kit $2,799.99
Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens Nikon EN-EL14 Battery + 16GB Deluxe 3 Lens Accessory Kit Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens Nikon EN-EL14 Battery + 16GB Deluxe 3 Lens Accessory Kit $1,199.99
Nikon 1 V1 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 10-30mm Lens (Black) + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit Nikon 1 V1 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 10-30mm Lens (Black) + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit $1,039.00
Sony a55 DSLR Camera with 18-55mm zoom lens + Lowepro Fastpack 250 (Black), 3 Extra Lens, 16gb Sdhc Memory Card, 57 Inch Aluminum Tripod and More - (16gb Pro-shooter Kit) Sony a55 DSLR Camera with 18-55mm zoom lens + Lowepro Fastpack 250 (Black), 3 Extra Lens, 16gb Sdhc Memory Card, 57 Inch Aluminum Tripod and More - (16gb Pro-shooter Kit) $1,039.00
Opteka High Definition 500mm f/8 Preset Telephoto Lens for Olympus E-1, E-3, E-5, E-30, E-300, E-330, E-410, E-420, E-450, E-500, E-510, E-520, E-600, & E-620 Digital SLR Cameras Opteka High Definition 500mm f/8 Preset Telephoto Lens for Olympus E-1, E-3, E-5, E-30, E-300, E-330, E-410, E-420, E-450, E-500, E-510, E-520, E-600, & E-620 Digital SLR Cameras $179.99
Olympus HLD-5 Battery grip for Olympus E620 Digital SLR Camera (Retail Packaging) Olympus HLD-5 Battery grip for Olympus E620 Digital SLR Camera (Retail Packaging) $165.99