Olympus's mid-range Four Thirds DSLR — the E-500, 8MP CCD, pentamirror, 2005.
The Olympus E-500 was launched in 2005 as a mid-consumer Four Thirds DSLR and was sold in North America as the EVOLT E-500. It returned to a conventional SLR shape after the flat-bodied E-300 and was aimed at enthusiasts and students wanting a lightweight system.
The E-500 is a Four Thirds digital SLR with an 8-megapixel Kodak CCD sensor in the four-thirds format and a Four Thirds lens mount. It has an optical pentamirror viewfinder, a large rear screen for its day, and the Supersonic Wave Filter dust-reduction system. It is a stills-only body with a focal-plane shutter and no Live View or video.
The light body and small Zuiko Digital lenses make it a manageable general-purpose and travel kit, and the CCD sensor gives pleasant colour in daylight. The 8MP resolution suits prints and web use but limits heavy cropping, and there is no Live View, so composition is through the finder only, which some find a limitation compared with later bodies.
When buying, check the shutter count, inspect the sensor for dust despite the cleaning system, and test the screen for haze or dead pixels. Confirm the card-door and battery-door latches and that the BLM-1 battery remains available. As an early Four Thirds CCD body, expect colour to drift in mixed light and note that Olympus service for E-System cameras has ended, so purchase on tested condition alone.