bmattock
Veteran
I've noticed that the Evolt E-500 is currently selling used on eBay for somewhere around $150 USD. This seems like an absurdly low price. Any particular reason why the E-500 would be selling for less than other Olympus models?
And has anyone used the E-500 (or other Olympus dSLR cameras) with M42 lenses and manual focus? How does it stack up? Being into Pentax, I'm just curious; because at the price, I could nearly afford to experiment. But it seems odd that the closing prices have been so low on the E-500...
And has anyone used the E-500 (or other Olympus dSLR cameras) with M42 lenses and manual focus? How does it stack up? Being into Pentax, I'm just curious; because at the price, I could nearly afford to experiment. But it seems odd that the closing prices have been so low on the E-500...
Gaspar
Established
The E-500 was made obsolete by the E-510, aledgedly a much superior sensor. Saying this I am sure in low ISO the quality is fine. Check examples on Flickr.
bmattock
Veteran
A good suggestion, and yes, I always use 'Camera Finder' on Flickr to look at various models. That said, I've noticed the E-510 is nearly as inexpensive on eBay as the E-500. Just wondering if there is something undesirable about those particular models that anyone happened to know of. I realize that 4/3 has a 2x crop instead of the typical 1.5 or 1.6, but that's not a drawback for me, I seldom shoot wide anyway. Just wondering what manual focus was like on these cameras as well.
monemmer
Established
AFAIK the E-500 does not have the in camera image stabilization and only an 8 mega pixel sensor. I have the E-510 and use it with my Minolta manual focus lenses. It has in camera image stabilization and you can manually dial in the focal length. This works really well.
For manual focus lenses the viewfinder on the Olympus DSLRs is quite small and very difficult to use. Only after upgrading to an after market split prism screen did my success rate of achieving good focus close to using one of my Minolta bodies.
For manual focus lenses the viewfinder on the Olympus DSLRs is quite small and very difficult to use. Only after upgrading to an after market split prism screen did my success rate of achieving good focus close to using one of my Minolta bodies.
stephaneb
Established
The 500 has a Kodak sensor. The 510 has a Panasonic sensor. The Kodak is slightly better colour-wise and the Panasonic is slightly better above 800 ISO. My experience with an E300, which I think has the same sensor as the 500, is that there is much more highlight recovery possible than with my E3. The 510 is notorious for limited dynamic range and blown highlights.
The 12-60mm zoom is an amazing piece of optics and would justify on its own to get one of those cheap bodies.
The 12-60mm zoom is an amazing piece of optics and would justify on its own to get one of those cheap bodies.
jfretless
Established
What kind of adaptor do you use to mount M42 lenses? Generic or Olympus made?
monemmer
Established
Stephane, I have not noticed any problems with blown highlights using my E-510. I usually underexpose by around 1/2 stop and process from raw, that might work around the problems you mention.
I wholeheartedly agree with you on the 12-60mm. I bought one a couple of months ago and it is truly fantastic.
I wholeheartedly agree with you on the 12-60mm. I bought one a couple of months ago and it is truly fantastic.
monemmer
Established
I use a jinfinance (ebay ID) adapter for Minolta MD. I don't have any M42 lenses. The adapter I have for Minolta MD works o.k. but since it has to be quite thin, one has to be quite careful when handling the camera with a manual focus lens mounted. Other adapters are thicker and lock better (as I have heard).
jfretless
Established
The $950 12-60mm? 2.8-4.0?
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Bill, as others have mentioned, if you can, go for E-510 (built-in IS is awesome for manual lenses).
If you manage to get one for $150-200, it will pay itself quickly just by using it for a while. Make sure that you pick up one with the 14-42mm "kit" lens (not the older 14-45mm) which is unbelievably small, light, and excellent optically.
Don't forget the C/Y and Leica R adapters if you have any Contax or Leica lenses lying around. I use these a lot on my E-620.
It's easy for most people to dismiss these bodies as inferior to their APS-C competitors (hence the bargain used prices), but as some of us here can attest, for high-quality and small package, Olympus still have the best value out there.
If you manage to get one for $150-200, it will pay itself quickly just by using it for a while. Make sure that you pick up one with the 14-42mm "kit" lens (not the older 14-45mm) which is unbelievably small, light, and excellent optically.
Don't forget the C/Y and Leica R adapters if you have any Contax or Leica lenses lying around. I use these a lot on my E-620.
It's easy for most people to dismiss these bodies as inferior to their APS-C competitors (hence the bargain used prices), but as some of us here can attest, for high-quality and small package, Olympus still have the best value out there.
bmattock
Veteran
Ok, good information, thanks everyone!
As some of you know, I shoot the Pentax *ist DS and K200D with manual K-mount and M42 lenses and a split-screen (don't have one for the K200D yet, but soon). I also have a Sigma SD14, but I'm unhappy with the M42 adapter I purchased (back-focuses and hard to focus without split-image screen). I happened to notice the low prices for used E-500 and E-510 cameras and went 'hmmmm'. Wondered what could be wrong with them for the prices to be so low. And I am intrigued by the idea of a low-cost but high-quality platform for C/Y and Leica R lenses.
I might have to save up awhile or (gulp) sell a few things, but I might be able to afford one of these bodies at this price. I like in-camera anti-shake, but if the E-500 has a better sensor, I can give up the AS for that. High-ISO is nice, but I seldom use it when doing MF with old lenses anyway.
FrozenInTime
Well-known
Manual focus with the 4/3 viewfinder is somewhere between not that easy and impossible.
If you can find a slightly later model, with live-view it will pay you dividends in the long run.
( ex-E3 system owner, but now mostly film again and down to just a E-420 as my only DSLR for copy work with a macro lens )
If you can find a slightly later model, with live-view it will pay you dividends in the long run.
( ex-E3 system owner, but now mostly film again and down to just a E-420 as my only DSLR for copy work with a macro lens )
monemmer
Established
That's the one. It's the kit lens for the E-3 and a bit front heavy on an E-510. I picked up a factory refurbished one from adorama for $750. Except for a couple of very small scuffs on the hood it was like new. You can use nextag.com to track its retail price, it has sold new for around $800 several months ago, but with the US$ going south those prices will probably not return anytime soon.
bmattock
Veteran
Thanks, that's good to know. I'm really only interested in manual focus and I don't care for live view. If the optical focus screen is hard to focus on with the addition of a split-image aftermarket screen, then I might have to give this a miss.
swoop
Well-known
I bought a refurb DMC-L1 For about $700. Which included the $900 Leica 14-50 f2.8-3.5 lens. The camera has some issue above ISO 400. but the lens was perfect. And I plan on using it with an e-620 in the recent future.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
I hear you, although I have no problem focusing with any E-system cameras with manual lenses. But then again my eyesight is normal and I don't wear glasses.
I think the E-620 is as they say, the "bee's knees." I was skeptical at the live-view before also, but as I began to use it, it's really well designed. And that swivel LCD just adds to the flexibility for composing.
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
I use an E-300 and an E-510 for professional work, but I use no manual focus lenses with them. Sometimes manual focus is needed even with the Zuiko Digital lenses. The small finders make this difficult, but it is not impossible. Live View, for me, is worthless.
bmattock
Veteran
Thanks again, guys. As I said, I have no interest in Live View. Sorry, just not my thing, never will be. If I can't use an optical finder to focus, I am not interested. I focus manually on an optical focus screen. Period.
Same thing for the recommendations of $700 + lenses. Don't care how good they are, it's out of the question for me. I was asking about the Oly E-500/510 dSLR bodies because they seem to be going for around $150 USD used on eBay. That's do-able for me. I have M42 lenses by the bushel and can afford an adapter. If I wanted a $700+ lens, I'd stick with my Pentaxes, really. The goal here is very, very, cheap, and I define 'cheap' as less than $200 USD all in.
However, I sincerely appreciate the personal opinions on the ability to manually focus using the smaller Olympus dSLR screens. Anybody tried the aftermarket split-focus ring screens?
Same thing for the recommendations of $700 + lenses. Don't care how good they are, it's out of the question for me. I was asking about the Oly E-500/510 dSLR bodies because they seem to be going for around $150 USD used on eBay. That's do-able for me. I have M42 lenses by the bushel and can afford an adapter. If I wanted a $700+ lens, I'd stick with my Pentaxes, really. The goal here is very, very, cheap, and I define 'cheap' as less than $200 USD all in.
However, I sincerely appreciate the personal opinions on the ability to manually focus using the smaller Olympus dSLR screens. Anybody tried the aftermarket split-focus ring screens?
Michael Da Re
Well-known
I've been using my OM lenses on my E500 for a while now and have had no real problems with focusing, unless I'm drinking then I can't even auto focus. I also wear glasses but the dioptre takes care of that. I think you would enjoy using your M42 lenses on the E500. It would make for a very small package.
Michael
Michael
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kuzano
Veteran
Have used a number of the Oly DSLR
Have used a number of the Oly DSLR
Have had:
2- e300
1- e500
2- e510
1- e1
1-e420 (smallest of the lot)
1 panasonic L1 with the Mega OIS 14-50mm 2.8-3.5
all the kit lenses
The e300 and e500 AND the E1 are desirable for the Kodak sensor (color rendition nicer).
The 500 was a "tweener"... between the Live View of the 330 and the in body IS of the 510. It is off on price, but still has a nicer color rendition than the later sensors.
The real sleeper is the E-1 for it's color, but it's 5 Mp and most are put off by that.
The 12-60 is, from all accounts, a great lens, but was not a standard kit lens. The kit lenses for all the consumer models were 14-45 1st and second version and the 14-42. the long kit lens was the 40-150 also in two versions. All three of the kit lenses were better than most other manufacturers kit lenses but never met my requirements. They are, in fact, poor compared to the 14-54, 12-60 and 14-50 panasonic with IS.
For less money than the 12-60, the SHARP kit lens that came with the E1 was the 14-54mm. That lens is now selling for around $300 as opposed to much higher prices for the 12-60. The Panasonic 14-50 was equivalent to the 14-54 and the 12-60 and had "in lens Image Stabilization". However, it was a big lens.
I have used legacy OM Zuiko lenses on all my 4/3 cameras with great results. There are adaptors for LTM, Leica M, Minolta, Canon FD, and the list goes on. Aftermarket adaptors are good, and there are even adaptors with focus confirmation on the manual focus. My favorite Manual Focus lenses are a Zuiko 1.4 50mm and a Tamron (Oly mount) 35-80 f2.8 macro zoom.
The site you may want to visit is the Wrotniak site. He has done exhaustive reviewing and setting tweaking on all the Oly bodies and lenses. www.wrotniak.com as I recall. I never had highlight clipping problems with my 510's, but I used Wrotniaks settings and advice on setting up the cameras.
The new Oly's have been coming out so fast that body prices are dropping a lot. I'm considering another E1. A bit bulky, but weather sealed and incredible image quality due to the Kodak sensor, notwithstanding the 5 Mp.
Have used a number of the Oly DSLR
Have had:
2- e300
1- e500
2- e510
1- e1
1-e420 (smallest of the lot)
1 panasonic L1 with the Mega OIS 14-50mm 2.8-3.5
all the kit lenses
The e300 and e500 AND the E1 are desirable for the Kodak sensor (color rendition nicer).
The 500 was a "tweener"... between the Live View of the 330 and the in body IS of the 510. It is off on price, but still has a nicer color rendition than the later sensors.
The real sleeper is the E-1 for it's color, but it's 5 Mp and most are put off by that.
The 12-60 is, from all accounts, a great lens, but was not a standard kit lens. The kit lenses for all the consumer models were 14-45 1st and second version and the 14-42. the long kit lens was the 40-150 also in two versions. All three of the kit lenses were better than most other manufacturers kit lenses but never met my requirements. They are, in fact, poor compared to the 14-54, 12-60 and 14-50 panasonic with IS.
For less money than the 12-60, the SHARP kit lens that came with the E1 was the 14-54mm. That lens is now selling for around $300 as opposed to much higher prices for the 12-60. The Panasonic 14-50 was equivalent to the 14-54 and the 12-60 and had "in lens Image Stabilization". However, it was a big lens.
I have used legacy OM Zuiko lenses on all my 4/3 cameras with great results. There are adaptors for LTM, Leica M, Minolta, Canon FD, and the list goes on. Aftermarket adaptors are good, and there are even adaptors with focus confirmation on the manual focus. My favorite Manual Focus lenses are a Zuiko 1.4 50mm and a Tamron (Oly mount) 35-80 f2.8 macro zoom.
The site you may want to visit is the Wrotniak site. He has done exhaustive reviewing and setting tweaking on all the Oly bodies and lenses. www.wrotniak.com as I recall. I never had highlight clipping problems with my 510's, but I used Wrotniaks settings and advice on setting up the cameras.
The new Oly's have been coming out so fast that body prices are dropping a lot. I'm considering another E1. A bit bulky, but weather sealed and incredible image quality due to the Kodak sensor, notwithstanding the 5 Mp.
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