Olympus Adds 8mp E-system SLR
The E-500 is the latest addition to Olympus's E-System range of digital SLR cameras.
The eight-megapixel Full Frame Transfer CCD is larger than traditional CCDs, according to the
company, which enables it to produce images that have a greater range of exposure, more
detail and less noise.
The lightweight SLR features Olympus's own supersonic wave filter, which shakes the image sensor at 35,000 vibrations a second to remove dirt, producing cleaner images. A noise filter can be applied at high ISO values to minimise image noise. Metering has been improved over other E-System models with 49 areas available to the sensor.
The E-500 uses a TruePic, Turbo image processor, which Olympus says ensures images ofer lifelike colour, resolution and contrast. It has a 64MB image bugger, which allows four TIF or RAW images to be captured at 2.5fps.
Images can also be viewed in the buffer before being saved to the E-500's choice of CompactFlash or xD media cards, which is designed to save time deleting unwanted shots. They are viewed on the unit's 2.5-inch, 215,250-pixel LCD screen.
As part of the E-System, the E-500 can share lenses with the E-1 and E-300 digital SLRs. Alongside the launch of the E-500, Olympus has launched two zoom, a macro and two telephoto E-System-compatible lenses. The Zuiko Digital ED 18-180mm and Zukio Digital 17.5-45mm lenses offer 10x and 2.6x zoom respectively. The Zuiko Digital 35mm Macro lens allows 1:1 life-size shots to be taken.
The Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm is the world's first 1:2.0 telephoto lens, according to Olympus. The Zuiko Digital 90-250mm ultra-telephoto lens offers a bright 1:2.8 aperture.
The E-500 will be available in four kits, though pricing has yet to be confirmed. The Body Kit includes the E-500 body, BLM-1 rechargeable battery pack with BCM-2 charger. The SE Kit includes the E-500 body, the Zuiko 17.5-45mm lens, the LBH-1 battery holder, and three CR-123 batteries. The Standard Kit includes the E-500 body, a 14-45mm lens, and the BLM-1 rechargeable battery pack with BCM-2 charger, for an estimated price of around 884 Euro ($1000) according to Olympus. The Double Zoom Kit includes the E-500 body, a 14-45mm lens, a 40-150mm lens, and the BLM-1 rechargeable battery pack with BCM-2 charger, for an estimated price around 960 Euro ($1156).
The lightweight SLR features Olympus's own supersonic wave filter, which shakes the image sensor at 35,000 vibrations a second to remove dirt, producing cleaner images. A noise filter can be applied at high ISO values to minimise image noise. Metering has been improved over other E-System models with 49 areas available to the sensor.
The E-500 uses a TruePic, Turbo image processor, which Olympus says ensures images ofer lifelike colour, resolution and contrast. It has a 64MB image bugger, which allows four TIF or RAW images to be captured at 2.5fps.
Images can also be viewed in the buffer before being saved to the E-500's choice of CompactFlash or xD media cards, which is designed to save time deleting unwanted shots. They are viewed on the unit's 2.5-inch, 215,250-pixel LCD screen.
As part of the E-System, the E-500 can share lenses with the E-1 and E-300 digital SLRs. Alongside the launch of the E-500, Olympus has launched two zoom, a macro and two telephoto E-System-compatible lenses. The Zuiko Digital ED 18-180mm and Zukio Digital 17.5-45mm lenses offer 10x and 2.6x zoom respectively. The Zuiko Digital 35mm Macro lens allows 1:1 life-size shots to be taken.
The Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm is the world's first 1:2.0 telephoto lens, according to Olympus. The Zuiko Digital 90-250mm ultra-telephoto lens offers a bright 1:2.8 aperture.
The E-500 will be available in four kits, though pricing has yet to be confirmed. The Body Kit includes the E-500 body, BLM-1 rechargeable battery pack with BCM-2 charger. The SE Kit includes the E-500 body, the Zuiko 17.5-45mm lens, the LBH-1 battery holder, and three CR-123 batteries. The Standard Kit includes the E-500 body, a 14-45mm lens, and the BLM-1 rechargeable battery pack with BCM-2 charger, for an estimated price of around 884 Euro ($1000) according to Olympus. The Double Zoom Kit includes the E-500 body, a 14-45mm lens, a 40-150mm lens, and the BLM-1 rechargeable battery pack with BCM-2 charger, for an estimated price around 960 Euro ($1156).
