I like the new evolt 500. If they would only come out with a quality camera like the metal body of the 30d I would buy it. Their ccd cleaning system is very cool. What happened to olympuses cutting eadge?

It sounds Revolting.

Sorry I couldn’t resist that. Actually I think the evolt 500 is competitive in the entry level DSLRs. I agree their sensor cleaning system sounds good and they have a sensible two-lens kit available. As for the cutting edge, I’m not sure if they have been at the cutting edge of SLRs since the OM1 back in the late seventies.

Olympus consider there 500 to be a advanced/ proffesional camera. And they where rather creative with the E10 and E20. They where the first through the lens SLr Dig with a fixed lens that produced and was concidered a pro model. I had an E20 and it was one of the best and reliable cameras I ahve ever had.

Olympus might push the Evolt 500 as an advanced or professional camera but it is priced and has features to compete with the likes of the Canon and Nikon entry-level cameras. All the reviews I have seen also consider it to be an entry-level camera.

I think the 4/3 sensor format is ideal for anyone who wants to produce wallpaper regularly.

I own the Evolt E300, and have been using it for about six months now. As far as the camera body goes I think it's competetive with other similarly-priced models. Where it falls down is in the lenses. The kit lenses are fine, though their f-stop limitation is about 3.5 or higher at max zoom, and they come without the chromatic aberation fixing stuff in the lenses which results in less than perfect images. If, however you want to get decent lenses expect to pay over $1000 per lens. There is no middle-ground in their lens product line.