Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)PP= Post Processing (Photoshop and other image apps)
PQ= Picture Quality
My older brother, who by no means is a professional but has been an enthusiast since my father gave him his old Canon F series 35mm SLR in the 80s, has been my mentor.
He currently uses a 20D with a 420EX flash and some ungodly multi thousand dollar L series lenses. I recently purchased the E-500 dual lens kit for a fraction of the cost and must say that my brother and I both agree it is by FAR the best bang for the buck.
At the level 98% of us are at it is all user error and not camera error when our pictures don't come out as we would like (most professionals even say its mostly user error or lack of knowledge). I still have a friend who uses a small 2001-Canon S230 and takes pictures that are far better then most of mine.
In low light I have noticed that my E500 does not focus as fast as my brothers 20D (but it definitely still focuses) but from reading online with firmware upgrades they remedied this problem in the E300.
We both also agreed that it felt better in our hands (grip and general ergonomics) and was quite a bit lighter then the 20D as well.
He ,just as myself, LOVED the rear LCD controls for everything from ISO to flash speed and exposure, far more easier and quicker then the 20D for a newbie such as myself. But he commented saying it would have been nice if it had the small simple LCD up top that the canons do as a supplement to the detailed and informative one of the back.
PQ was amazing requiring very little PP, and with the vivid setting we both agreed that the colors did feel better and more vibrant (of course with a small PP Tweak the 20D was right there but for the casual photographer as myself I shy away from PP).
Bottom line we were both floored at what a phenomenal deal this kit is for the price.
---------- UPDATED 3/29/2006 ------------
Everything said above still holds true, and I must say this is one of the few purchases that almost 6 months later Im still VERY happy with and use it frequently. Through no advertising or sales pitch I have created 3 new customers for Olympus's E500 kit up to date.
My brother has over $4000 now invested in his camera and he still finds it amusing that my little old $700 kit gets as much attention from all our friends as it does. He recently upgraded to the 580EX flash and a new Wide angel L series lens, and I must admit VERY VERY amazing hardware bursting 3 or 4 pictures WITH flash is very cool.
But we recently went to India to tour Agra, see the Taj Mahal, Sikhanders tomb, and other such sites on the way. At the end of the trip without PP during the day my pictures looked better (we both agreed) and thats all I cared about (mainly talking about color saturation and not detail, just over all presentation). I will admit though in a couple action shots from our speeding bus his camera did perform better, and in the evening some of mine didnt focus properly while his did on the same subject, but Im not a pro, I just enjoy the hobby.
One of my better purchases in recent years.
His camera IS better, mine is just a better deal, it's all about peace of mind..
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Olympus Evolt E500 8MP Digital SLR with 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 & 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 Zuiko LensesPremium picture quality and superb performance come easy with this comfortable to handle digital SLR. At a time when we want complex things to become simple, the EVOLT E-500 succeeds in doing so with a sleek, lightweight design for impressive portability and advanced controls and options that can be accessed with minimal effort. Bursting with speed and producing spotless pictures with exceptional color and detail, the EVOLT E-500 is tailor-made for anyone to use while capturing the imagination in the process. Features: 8 megapixel full frame transfer CCD Patented Dust Reduction System uses the Supersonic Wave Filter (SWF) to loosen and remove any and all dust and debris from the image sensor. Large, high-resolution 2.5LCD 25 shooting modes All digital lenses Dual media slots Automatic pop-up flash 7 available flash modes Stable and lightweight body with ergonomic styling and an advanced grip PictBridge-compatible Select from left, center, or right Auto Focus points either automatically or manually AF Illuminator to focus in dim light or darkness Shoot using any of five focus modes Exclusive one-touch White Balance button Eliminate unwanted image noise with Noise Reduction Five popular Monochrome modes Choose from sRGB or Adobe RGB color spaces Contrast, Sharpness and Tone Controls. Select the format that best suits your needs: JPEG, RAW, JPEG+RAW, TIFF Package Includes: EVOLT E-500 body 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 lens 40-150mm f/3.5 - 4.5 lens USB Cable Video Cable Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLM-1) Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCM-2) Shoulder Strap OLYMPUS Master Editing Software CD-ROM Manuals Warranty Card
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