rosscob44 Loc: Australia

As a new uhh member i have been following this forum for the last couple of weeks and have found it confusing and informative.
I recently purchased a second hand Olympus E500 (due to cost and something to learn with) that came with 2 kit lenses, since owning this camera I have been playing with it every weekenend filling two 4mb cards experimenting with all the differnt controls, getting some very good and very ordinary results. After reading some of the posts here I would like to order a Zuiko prime lens 12-22 F2.8 with the hope of doing better indoors. The problem is I do not understand why Cannon or Nikon is a better camera, should I forget the lens and go for one of these brands, as these seem to the ones every body is using. After playing with my camera I seem to be able to get some very sharp and clear shots most days (sunny, overcast,shadows) but indoor shots at High ISO(800 and above) seem to be a bit ordinary at best, the flash helps a bit but not much. I have a neighbour who owns a cannon rebel D1000 and her shots don't seem to be any better than mine.
Do you have to spend big to get the top of the line models with better glass, or can I just get my new lens to solve theses problems.
Cheers
:-D :-D

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Hi rosscob, I think your camera is 4/3rds format, so when looking at lenses make sure they are also the same format as there is a micro 4/3rds, known as "MZuiko" lenses, and they are not compatable without expensive adapters! You will soon gets lots of advice about best lens for portrait, I personally use my kit zoom on about F35 (which equates to F70 on a 35mm format) set the aperture to as wide as poss, set ISO about 400, no flash and see what happens.
All the best, John Eccles, England.
Please ignore JR1, he is renown for his negative comments.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

As the saying goes, a poor workman always blames his/her tools.

You say recently purchased......

No one can buy a camera and get shots immediately

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I'm going to trade in my SAAB because I see many more Toyotas on the road.

Same with cameras. Learn to use the one you have for the best results.

Sarge69

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

rosscob44, I am shooting an e520...I've had for about 4 years. I love this camera. I also have bought a couple of lenses beyond the kit lenses. My advice......learn to shoot the camera you have...when you are ready to upgrade you will know what you require in your next camera....

EstherP

Ross, the E-500 is a good camera!
Mine is now tucked away, because I upgraded to the E-5. However, every so often I pull out the 500 just to make sure everything is still in working order, as I am using it as a back-up camera if and when needed.

"The problem is I do not understand why Cannon or Nikon is a better camera" - They are not. Both Canon and Nikon will have models that are better or worse than the E-500, but so does Olympus.
The E-500 is an excellent camera to learn with.
Do your research before spending money on lenses - dpreview is a good place to start as you can compare lenses side-by-side on that website.
Also, be careful that you're not looking at M-Zuiko lenses:
The E-500 is a 4/3 system, but there also is a Micro 4/3 system. You can use 4/3 lenses on a M4/3 system (with an adapter, but you cannot use M4/3 lenses on a 4/3 system.
With the two kit lenses, you have a reach of 14 - 150mm (28 - 300mm equivalent of 35mm film). That's pretty good, indoors or out.
What flash are you using? The on-board flash? Or do you have a separate flash to attach to the hot-shoe?
If not the latter, I would suggest that rather than purchasing another lens at this point, you get a flash.
I did and never regretted it.

Although the store staff tried to talk me out of the one I had chosen: After looking at the options, I selected the Olympus FL-50R. It has remote capability, the E-500 does not. So why would I want to spend the extra money.
The flash worked fine when mounted on the E-500 hot shoe, and now that I have the E-5 I can use it remotely as well ;-)

Have you suggested going out with your neighbour, and taking photos of the same subjects, not to see which one is best or worst, but to compare notes and learn from each other? When you get home, look at the photos on the computer, enjoy a glas of beer, and try and figure out why this showed this way in his photos and another way in yours. Make it fun!
EstherP

rosscob44 Loc: Australia

Thankyou estherP for your answer.
Right from the time I charged the battery and took my first photo with this camera I liked it. I was able to produce some very useable shot outdoors using a full manual mode, then using shutter priority, aperture priority and full manual I am learning what this camera can and cannot do.I have a secondhand Metz 44 speedlight that fits on the hot shoe and works ok in TTl mode, I have not tried manual on the flash yet. Not knowing what a good camera or a bad camera is I was simply asking is "is the Olympus lens worthwhile investigating". Just reading this forum it seems as though the other brands have good and bad lenses that produce photos that may have been of different quality. Is this the same with Olympus lenses and generic type lense for use indoors a low light situations.
Thank you again for your input

SR71BLACKBIRD

Your camera is fine, all camera's have their limitations and their sweet spot. Continue to use it and you will find out where yours is at. I.e how high an ISO you can use b4 noise becomes an issue. Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax, Sony, Panasonic all produce fine cameras, picture quality comes from the photographer not the brand used.

Freeaviator Loc: Buffalo,NY

I started with an Olympus 565UZ then "graduated" to an Olyumpus E-420 because I wanted the freedom of interchangable lens for more challenging photos...I now use the E-420 as my second camera and have upgraded to an E-3 and LOVE IT! I stayed with the Olympus line mainly because I liked the results I was getting....and the basics control panel you use with your right thumb remains somewhat constant.Zuiko makes some of the best glass out there .....again just my opinion, shoot what you can afford, shoot what you're comfortable with and continue to experiment and learn what you have....the real talent comes from what is BEHIND the viewfinder, not what it is connected to.

Lenf Loc: Strasburg,PA

Hello Rosscob, the e-500 is a great little camera, I believe released in 2005 and is 8 mp. We really need to know what Lens you have with it and I would not spend any additional money on another lens , until you really put this camera through its Paces.i use several cameras, mainly Nikon, but for underwater Olympus has the best deal. The basics of any camera are the same iso, f- stop,etc. so until I spent time going through each setting one by one on my Olympus EPL-1, I finally made progress. Take your time read the Manuel, google your camera model and read the reviews, and please Check the Olympus website to make sure you have the lastest program update. It sound like it may have not been updated. I have found the Olympus repair and tech center to be wonderful, I sent two cameras for repair and am 100% satisfied. Olympus is a good camera, it just needs an experienced driver as they say.. Have fun learning the features, first.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Hi lenf, I also have an Olmypus e-pl1 camera and I agree with your advice. I found the kit 14-42 lens quite good, but I now use a Sigma 19mm 2.8 as a prime lens and I am very happy with the results. I still use the original zoom lens for very wide angle shots and for the longer length when neccesary. Usually the Sigma lens is left permanently on the camera
The only critcism I have with the camera is the AEB only goes upto +/- 1 and has to be set on continuous to work.
Cheers John, Leyland UK

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

Before I post here, let me say, pay attention to EstherP on the E-500 and her comments on Olympus. She pretty much fleshed out many aspects of the camera, and the 4/3 system. Her posts seem to always be a good and informative read.

My posts on the other hand, tend to antagonize and upset people. It's something I do quite well. If you ask Annie_girl, she will tell you I set off her "Snot Alarm"... Annie... I love that term. I'm really thinking about getting a T-shirt made with "SNOT" on the front. But not until I find the T-shirt emblazoned with "E-Harmony Reject".

First order of business. You have fallen prey to even listening to the myth that Nikon and Canon are better (or even the best) cameras to have. They are, quite simply put, just "other" cameras from other manufacturer's.

The Olympus E500 is a very capable camera and the last camera that Olympus used the Kodak sensor in, which is capable of more vivid color rendering than many other sensors.

However, there is a 4/3 forum (a couple actually) that is well attended by a group of very helpful people and specific to the 4/3 and micro 4/3 sensor systems.

They also have a fairly busy buy/sell portion of the forum. The web site is:

www.fourthirdsphoto.com

I've shot Olympus OM since 1972 in film and Olympus digital since the their first DSLR's, the E-1 and the E-300. I've shot them alongside plenty of Nikon, Canon and other mfr models.

The myth that Pros only shoot Nikon and Canon is pure bunkum. There are plenty of pros, who, over the years have shot, and now shoot:

Olympus
Sony (Previously Konica Minolta and prior to that Minolta)
Pentax (who has never changed the lens mount since the K mount)
and others I can't think of at the moment.

Good luck on your Olympus E-500 purchase and you may want to visit Four Thirds Photo.

Although the people on this forum are well intended and some are well informed, there seems not to be a high population of Olympus users.

Regarding your last comment about the E500 vs your friends Rebel. Testing on Olympus model, against Rebel models are often found to be consistently equal. At least it's a fair comparison as both are consumer entry level models.

I purchased a new T3i and held it for thirty days to shoot alongside my Olympus E-PL1. I carried both camera's in all my shooting for that 90 days. At the end of 90 days, I sold the T3i kit because I consistently achieved better images with the Olympus.

LASTLY, Here is a link to a website with thousands of images... every one shot with an Olympus digital. The info portion of each image tells which model of Olympus digital was used. Consider that many of these may include post processing, but overall, this web site will give you a considerable respect for what can be achieved with an Olympus 4/3 or micro 4/3 camera.

http://www.myfourthirds.com/

das Loc: Holywell North Wales

Welcome to the Olympus family of photographers .I am completely new to photography and have this year joined a local photographic society to further my skills, Out of a total of 40+ members we have only 3 members who shoot with Olympus cameras .the great NIKON / CANNON divide is as rife in this club as anywhere else it seems . I myself have recently upgraded to a second hand Olympus E3 and have retained my Olympus E520 as a second backup camera both 4/3 cameras

Our club hold a competition every 3 weeks, judged by independent judges of recognised qualifications, I am pleased to inform you that we, the Olympus users consistently score very high in competition results, I myself am currently standing in second place in overall merit for DPI pictures (this being limited to 3 No pictures only unless accompanied by prints) only being surpassed by last years overall winner who regularly posts 10 pictures ( 5DPI + 5 Prints) and I may add shoots with a Sony Alpha DSLR

If I have learnt one thing since taking up photography in the last 2 years it is that it is NOT the camera but the man behind the lens. Continue to have fun with your Olympus and never be afraid to try different settings and yes we all need to learn. Good luck

pj81156 Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

You bring tears to my eyes. I bought a new E510 with two kit lenses several years ago. I bought it because of a history and love affair with om1n's and om2n's. I couldn't make the transition from film to digital, so sold my E510. I have since tried other digital slr's and found them lacking. I wish I had my E510 back. After reading all the wonderful replies to your posting, I am going to buy another Olympus digital slr, but this time I will give it it's due. Thanks

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

Andrzej Wrotniak

This fellow has been regarded by many Olympus DSLR users as one of the "Go To" people for information and advice on Olympus' E series DSLR's.

He is a serious advocate for the Olympus 4/3 partnership with Panasonic. He is known to "wring" the best out of the Olympus Digital E series cameras, offering reviews, custom setting and tweaks for nearly all the E-volts from the E1/E300 to the E5 and is now providing similar information on Olympus' PEN series Micro 4/3.

I've provided two link here. One to his home page:

http://www.wrotniak.net/

And a link to the list of his suggestions and reviews on various and most Olympus E series DSLR's and the lens system:

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/index.html

The E-500 is singled out here, as are many other model.

If you want to get the most out of any of the Olympus E Series DSLR camera's, this is one site you don't want to overlook. In fact, the site also has pages covering various Olympus film cameras and P&S digitals.

OH YES!!! and a little dig here. Do you know that DPreview just awarded the Olympus OM-D EM5 the camera of the year for 2012, with Canon coming in second, and Nikon somewhere on the list. Kudos to Olympus again. :thumbup: