We designed the EVOLT E-500 to give it the best balance of size, weight, and strength. The camera uses an aluminum frame skeleton surrounded by a modern polycarbonate (plastic) body. Modern polycarbonate is often as strong as many of the metals used in traditional camera construction. We did not want to make the camera too small otherwise we would compromise the mount and holding of large size lenses.

Olympus OM- Series lenses can be mounted on Olympus E-System DSLRs with the optional MF-1 OM Lens Adapter. OM- Series lenses are unable to communicate with the firmware in E-System camera bodies. Therefore, their use in this fashion has the following restrictions: Although it is possible to use the A (Aperture priority AE) shooting mode in auto exposure, the aperture display is not available.

Firmware updates of Olympus E-System digital SLR bodies and Zuiko? Digital lenses are performed using OLYMPUS Master? or OLYMPUS Studio? software. Each version of the software has an Update Camera function that is used to initiate the update procedure. OLYMPUS Master 1.x: On the opening page, click on Update Camera or, in the Browse window's menu bar, click on Online Service > Update Camera.

No, the camera is not designed to be used in severe environmental conditions. The Olympus E-3 would be more appropriate for use in severe conditions.

Our exclusive Dust Reduction TechnologyTM with the Supersonic Wave FilterTM delivers spot free photos. megapixel CCD with the exclusive Olympus TruePic TURBOTM processing technology produces bright and colorful photos. The largest selection of precision-crafted digital specific lenses available today from any manufacturer. Olympus Zuiko Digital LensesTM produce photos that are crisp, sharp, and have accurate color from edge to edge.

The One-Touch WB button on the upper right of the camera back is the EVOLT E-500's Custom Function button. Its assigned function is changed via the Setup 1 menu (indicated by the icon of a wrench, followed by the number 1). The default function of the button is the One-Touch White Balance. In addition to being able to set One Touch White Balance to OFF (requires firmware update 1.

The EVOLT E-500 accepts CompactFlash cards up to 8 GB in capacity and supports Write Acceleration CompactFlash cards. When the camera polls the card at power up, if it detects Write Acceleration technology, it enables its own Write Acceleration firmware.

Microdrive storage media that support the CF + Type II (CompactFlash extension) are compatible with the EVOLT E-500. Because Microdrive media use a spinning hard disk drive as the recording medium, they are susceptible to damage from impact, vibration, and strong magnetic fields ? especially during recording and playback.

The five focusing modes are provided to offer the photographer greater flexibility in setting up the camera for diverse shooting situations. Any of the focusing modes that have an MF in their designation allow the photographer to adjust the focus by turning the focusing ring on the lens. S-AF (Single AF) ? Every time the shutter button is pressed halfway the camera focuses. This mode is suitable for taking pictures of still subjects or subjects with limited movement.

Thyristor-type flash units can be used with the EVOLT E-500's Manual shooting mode as long as the sync voltage does not exceed 6 VDC. Third-party TTL flash units will not have TTL capability because the contact pins in the camera hot shoe probably won't align with the contacts on the flash. In addition, the TTL communication with the EVOLT E-500 may damage the camera circuitry or corrupt the camera firmware.

The optional RM-1 Remote Control (item #200597) can be used to remotely trigger the shutter button of the EVOLT E-500. It allows the photographer to get into the frame and be part of the shot. It can also be used for long (BULB) exposures, such as night photographs. The RM-1 is an infrared release that must be aimed at the Remote Control Receiver on the front of the camera body.

SLR is a Single Lens Reflex camera. The single lens part refers to the fact that it is using a single lens for capturing images and displaying on the viewfinder. The reflex part refers to the use of some mechanism for reflecting light towards the viewfinder. SLR is a preferred style of camera because it allows the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or sensor without any parallax or distortion.

The EVOLT E-500 can take time-lapse photo sequences by using the Time Lapse option of the Camera Control feature in the optional OLYMPUS Studio? application software. Unlike built-in intervalometers found in some digital cameras, OLYMPUS Studio offers very detailed computer camera control over preset time periods. To use this functionality, connect the camera to the computer using the USB cable bundled with the camera. Set the camera's USB Mode to CONTROL.

Digital cameras vary the light sensitivity of the image sensor by varying the gain voltage applied to the sensor, much like turning up the volume on a stereo. When the gain voltage is increased, as it is when shooting with higher ISOs, the sensor becomes hot. Hot pixels perform differently under extreme conditions. The result is a graininess known as "noise." Noise occurs whenever sufficient heat has built up on the image sensor.

The Olympus FL-40 external flash is not compatible with the EVOLT E-500 because it was not designed to work with the TTL firmware in the camera.

The EVOLT E-500 is a Digital SLR camera body that uses Zuiko E-System interchangeable lenses. This camera has enough performance and features to satisfy an advanced photographer yet is still easy enough to be used by beginners.

Many of the E-System accessories are compatible with the EVOLT E-500 along with the following specific accessories: Lithium Battery Holder LBH-1. Holds three CR123 Lithium batteries and inserts into the battery compartment in place of the BLM-1 battery (also compatible with other E-System cameras)

No. We have determined that very few customers today use an AC adapter with their digital SLR camera. We believe that the BLM-1 battery will provide sufficient power for most camera owners.

Each camera offers a different combination of features and functions so the choice of model should be based on your photography needs.