Olympus E-500 -Any opinions?

[CPM]

Looking for a new DC for upcoming Alaska trip.
I have an Olympus c-755 and have been fairly happy with it. I was looking for more zoom and more MP's, better setting too.
I thought I'd stick to Olympus because it will be easier to learn. I also was looking at the Cannon Rebel XTi.

Any opinions?

 

[pyrxtc]

I love mine. i know a lot of photographers who use it as a proffessional camera. The two lens kit is the best deal you can get.

 

[ktulu]

A buddy of mine was using it for a while until he got his Nikon D-200, he was happy with it. I just got the XTi, so far I'm happy with it. I'll get to do some serious shooting over the next week or so.

 

[donaldduck1967]

I've had it for a year and am very happy with it.

 

[ukcatfan]

It sounds like you use the telephoto end more than wide angle. Olympus is a good choice for that due to the 2x crop factor compared to 1.5-1.6x on most other brands. If you do not know what that is all about, here is an example. A 200mm on a 1.5x (Nikon & Pentax) becomes a 300mm. On the 2x Olympus, a 200mm becomes a 400mm. If you ever want to go wider than the 14mm Olympus kit, it is tougher and I believe pretty expensive.

Kevin

 

[CPM]

Thanks for the opinions so far.

Thank Kevin for explaining that. It does sound like taht is what I need for Alaska too.

pyrxtc, the two lense kit seems like a great deal!

So far it looks like this is the one I'm getting but any other opinions are welcomed, especially any negatives about the camera.

Thanks!!

 

[ndelaware]

Here is a review on it from an excellent, unbiased source:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse500

If you don't want to go through all of the pages just skip to the conclusion page:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse500/page26.asp

 

[CPM]

Steve,
Thanks for that review. It seems mostly positive. I'll have to take a trip to Best Buy and look to see what they mean about the viewfinder. Other than that, it doesn't seem like the rest of the negatives will bother me.

 

[ndelaware]

Your welcome Cheryl. I thought the review was really very positive. "Highly Recommended" is thier best rating. And these guys have regularly see and use $5000 or $6000 cameras. While I doubt the viewfinder will bother you at all (my camera got a similar "con"), I think you are rght to go see it for yourself and get a chance to handle it.

 

[CPM]

Thanks again Steve.
BTW, we always stop at Newark DE on our way up north when we visit family. LOL We love the Embassy Suites there

 

[ndelaware]

LOL, the Embassy suites are not far. But nothing here really is.

BTW, you need to buy your camera here, we do not have a sales tax nDelaware.

 

[CPM]

LOL, the Embassy suites are not far. But nothing here really is.

BTW, you need to buy your camera here, we do not have a sales tax nDelaware.

LOL I'll be right on that

 

[donaldduck1967]

The viewfinder is a little small but it doesnt bother me. They also make an eye cup for it which magnafies it some. I havenet tried it so I can't tell you wether its good or not.

 

[ukcatfan]

I have heard that Olympus is a little noisier than other DSLRs, but any DSLR is going to be an improvement over a P&S. I really did not even look into the Olympus because I shoot wide most of the time. Compare the noise in some test shots between different cameras if it concerns you.

Kevin

 

[CPM]

Thanks Kevin & DD. I doubt the noise will be of concern for me.

 

[donaldduck1967]

In march of this year Popular Photography compared 5 dSLR's. Here are the noise results for the E-500

E-500

Noise: Very low at ISO 100, Low at ISO 200, Moderately Low at ISO 400-ISO 800, Moderate at ISO 1600.


and The Canon Rebel XT

Rebel XT

Noise: Very Low at ISO 100, Low at ISO 200, Moderately Low at ISO 400, Moderate at ISO 800, Unacceptable at ISO 1600.


I don't really notice noise in my pics. The whole article can be found here


http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/1924/hotshot-shoot-out.html

 

[ukcatfan]

The most I looked into the Olympus was reading the review. I just could not get over the 2x crop because I concentrate on wide. The kits on almost all brands are effectively around 28mm, but the opportunity to go wider is hurt on the Olympus. I analyzed my pics before I went looking and I historically shot about 90% in the widest(38mm) to around 3x, even though I had 10x available to me on my S1 IS. I also felt like I was missing some shots with not being able to go wide enough.

I believe that it was DCResource that said its noise was higher when you get to the high ISOs, but it could have been Steve's. Every reviewer has a different opinion though.

Kevin

 

[donaldduck1967]

If you're going to shoot wide then the 2x is definately going to kill you. On the other hand the 2x is what drew me to this camera. I liked the idea of not having to carry a heavy lens with me. I don't read to many reviews I read more user opinion 1st then read reviews.