evolt 500

[Denture Dan]

I was at our local photoshop, and waslooking at the evolot 500 {8megapixel}. WOW seems like a incredable camera. does anyone know about this camera, and does someone make a housing? thanks Dan

 

[CA Diver]

Since I just bought an Evolt E-300 this just P*#@!! me off. Another example of Olympus putting a camera on the market for 5 months and then upgrading it so that nothing will match. Just looking at the body I know it will not fit into the Olympus housing for the E-300.

I like the camera but am getting tired of Olympus changing their 8 mp option every 5 or 6 months.

 

[Ron Brandt]

Dan, a buddy of mine had a lot off grief from Olympus.

I see you have ordered something different and possibly a good choice.

Please PM me with your local email address!

Ron

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I bought one of the 2 lense kits(14-45 & 40-150mm) for $810 at Best Buy(financed, score one for the broke dude!). I'm really enjoying it so far, camera feels great in my hands and feels solid despite the plastic body. Its really light for a dSLR, some people may appreciate that, but I would like a bit more weight. Takes the same batteries that the C5060,7070,8080s use, so I was square with that. It has two card slots, one for CF and another for XD - just like the PnS models already noted. The viewfinder is kinda small, but more than ample. All the exposure controls are at hand without going into the menu(short of the ISO which has its own button into the menu). Manual WB can be done without accessing the menu. Dust will never be a problem on the lense.

As of yet, I'm not aware of a housing for it. Although, I wouldn't be able to afford it if it were to come out anytime soon anyway

I've read that Olympus will be bringing 3 more dSLR bodies to the market in 2006. The E1's successor is rumored to be in the mix, not sure what else. I'm hoping nothing that will make the E500 obsolete, if so, ah well - I'm happy regardless. Olympus is planning on jumping its sales in the dSLR level from 3% to 30% within the next 5 years - so expect alot to be coming out.

 

[mguebert]

Ikelite is supposed to have a housing available for the E500 in Dec/Jan timeframe. I just purchased one and hope to have it by the middle of next week.

 

[rcolman]

Obsolete is in the mind of the beholder. I went from a 5060 to an E-300 in an Ikelite housing and have 50 dives on it so far. The jump in performance was astounding. There is, however, no particular reason to jump on the next "new" model -- the E-500 is mostly a marketing upgrade, and I plan to shoot my E-300 for a couple of years before even CONSIDERING an upgrade.

Remember, this is about PHOTOGRAPHY not hardware lust.

Rick Colman

 

[mguebert]

I think the shape and feel of the camera is better, and it's noise reduction is better than the 300. The 500 is mainly to address the common complaints that the 300 would get from it's odd shape.

 

[donblume]

I bought one of the 2 lense kits(14-45 & 40-150mm) for $810 at Best Buy(financed, score one for the broke dude!). I'm really enjoying it so far, camera feels great in my hands and feels solid despite the plastic body. Its really light for a dSLR, some people may appreciate that, but I would like a bit more weight. Takes the same batteries that the C5060,7070,8080s use, so I was square with that. It has two card slots, one for FC and another for XD - just like the PnS models already noted. The viewfinder is kinda small, but more than ample. All the exposure controls are at hand without going into the menu(short of the ISO which has its own button into the menu). Manual WB can be done without accessing the menu. Dust will never be a problem on the lense.

As of yet, I'm not aware of a housing for it. Although, I wouldn't be able to afford it if it were to come out anytime soon anyway

I've read that Olympus will be bringing 3 more dSLR bodies to the market in 2006. The E1's successor is rumored to be in the mix, not sure what else. I'm hoping nothing that will make the E500 obsolete, if so, ah well - I'm happy regardless. Olympus is planning on jumping its sales in the dSLR level from 3% to 30% within the next 5 years - so expect alot to be coming out.

I have been researching all the specs on the E-500 and read somewhere that it had either Aluminum or Titanium body. I may call Olympus to find out.
As far as the IkeLite UW housing, their web site show it as: "New housing specifications and pictures coming", no price or any information on it. I assumed it was not out yet. Anyone have contrary info?
Don

 

[donblume]

Ikelite now shows specifications and pictures for UW Housing for SP500. It lists at $500.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

The E500 body is plastic, not metal of any sorts.

The SP500 and the E500 are two different beasts, the SP500 is a PnS and the E500 is a dSLR. I would expect the housing for the E500 to break the $1000 mark.