I am confused: I have an E-500 Olympus. I understand it uses 4 3 system lense. When I go to buy a new lense I am warned that micro 4 3 and the 4 3 system is different and one will not...

dimondon Loc: Georgia

I have an E-500 Olympus. I understand it uses 4 3 system lense.
When I go to buy a new lense I am warned that micro 4 3 and the 4 3 system is different and one will not fit the other. Do I understand that correctly?

tomfr Loc: Brevard N.C.

I just bought an Olympus Pen PL3 micro4 3 camera. My understanding is that the lenses are different. Check out one of the 4 3 forums to be sure.

pdwoodswood Loc: Lewisville, NC

dimondon wrote:

I have an E-500 Olympus. I understand it uses 4 3 system lense.
When I go to buy a new lense I am warned that micro 4 3 and the 4 3 system is different and one will not fit the other. Do I understand that correctly?

Someone please explain the 4/3 thing or is it 4 3. I have seen this before and would just like to know......Thanks

tomfr Loc: Brevard N.C.

It is actually called four thirds. I understand it was developed by Olympus and one other major camera manufacturer, micro four thirds lenses are interchangeable between all micro four thirds brands. To get a handle on this whole thing go to Wikipedia.

lacsar Loc: Columbia SC and Newland NC

The mini 4/3 fits Olympus new pen camera's, the original 4/3 fit the Olympus E system camera's, like the 500. I think Panasonic also uses the 4/3 mount. I have an old E-410 and it takes great pics, and even though I have up-graded to another camera, I am still keeping and using the E-410.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

Are you talking about the micro lense when you refer to them as the mini lense? I have an E-500 and have purchased many lenses . I have been pleased with it and would buy an upgrade in a minuet. If it was not for Olympia's financial problems. Or if I am able to make sense of this terminology and how to use the mini, micro or 4 3 systems connection with other cameras and understand the interchangeability of external flash and other accessories to another brand or body. I now think I understand an adapter ring is needed to use the micro lense on the E-system's body. Will an external flash adapt to any other camera?

tomfr Loc: Brevard N.C.

If you go to the Olympus website there is all the information anyone could want. Once again, I would suggest going to the various four thirds forums, there seem to be informed discussions on Olympus's real or imagined financial problems.

fawlty128 Loc: LI, NY now in Allentown, PA

dimondon wrote:

I have an E-500 Olympus. I understand it uses 4 3 system lense.
When I go to buy a new lense I am warned that micro 4 3 and the 4 3 system is different and one will not fit the other. Do I understand that correctly?

You will need an adapter if you want to use your 4/3 lenses on a micro 4/3 camera ( all the PEN cameras are micro 4/3).

EricLPT Loc: Jonesborough TN

The short version:

4/3=DSLR

Micro (m)4/3= new smaller mirrorless cameras Oly PEN and Panasonic G-Series.

An adapter is needed to use a 4/3 on a m4/3.

Your E-500 uses 4/3. The PEN series uses m4/3 but can use a regular 4/3 with an adapter. It will look like 'socks on a rooster'. I don't think you can go with a m4/3 on an E-500, it would cause vignetting as the m4/3 lens is much smaller.

Hope this helps,

Eric