Specifications for E-500
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Model   Olympus E-500
Type   Interchangeable digital SLR camera.
Compatible lens   ZUIKO DIGITAL, FourThirds System lens.
Lens mount   FourThirds mount.
Body   Fiber reinforced polycarbonate.
Media   CompactFlash card (Type I and II), Microdrive, xD picture card. (Dual slot).
xD-Picture Cards can be used directly in the xD-Picture Card slot, or via the MACF-10 Compact Flash adaptor.The xD Panorama function is not available.
 
Effective pixel number   8 million pixels.
Image size   17.3mm x 13.0mm.
Image sensor    
Type 4/3 type Full Frame Transfer CCD solid-state image sensor.
Total pixel number 8.89 million pixels.
Aspect ratio 4:3.
Filter array Primary colour filter (RGB).
Filter    
LPF Fixed type.
IR cut filter Hybrid type.
Dust protect filter Supersonic Wave Filter.
Viewfinder    
Type Eye-level TTL Penta mirror type optical view finder.
Field of view Approx. 95%.
Magnification Approx. 0.9x with a 50mm lens set to infinity at -1 dioptres.
Eye point Approx. 16 mm at -1 dioptres.
Diopter adjustment Built-in type -3.0 to +1.0 dioptres.
Focusing screen Fixed type.
Mirror Quick return mirror.
Viewfinder information AF frame (super impose), AE lock, AF confirmation mark, metering mode, exposure mode, shutter speed, aperture value, white balance, exposure compensation value indicator, flash, battery check , record mode, number of storable still pictures.
Depth of field preview Yes (customised One-touch WB button).
Eye cup Interchangeable type EP-5/6, EP-5 supplied.
Eye piece shutter Eye piece cap EP-4 supplied.
Autofocus  
Type TTL phase difference detection system.
Focus modes Single AF, continuous AF, manual focus, single AF + MF, and continuous AF + MF.
Detection range EV 0 to 19 (ISO 100).
Focus areas 3 points.
Focus area selection Automatic and manual selection.
AF assist lamp Built-in flash, optional Olympus dedicated flashes.
AF lock Locked by first position of shutter release button, AE/AF lock button (customised)
Focus tracking Available in continuous AF mode.
Focus aid Available.
Manual focus Available by rotating focus ring, available for setting manual focus operation in AF mode (customised).
Exposure control  
Light metering system TTL open aperture light metering with 49-zones multi-pattern sensing system.
Light metering modes Digital ESP, centre-weighted average and spot (about 2% of entire frame), Highlight and shadow based spot metering. 
Detection range Digital ESP, centre-weighted average:
EV 1 to 20 (50mm 1:2, ISO 100).
Spot:
EV 3 to 17 (50mm 1:2, ISO 100).
Exposure modes Auto, Programme with programme shift, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual.
Scene programmes Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Night Scene & Portrait.
Scene select Portrait, Landscape, Landscape & Portrait, Night Scene, Night Scene & Portrait, Firework, Sunset, Macro, Sports, High Key, Low key, Document, Beach & Snow, Candle, Children.
Exposure compensation Up to +/- 5 EV in each 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps.
AE lock Locked by first position of shutter release or AE/AF lock button (customised).
Exposure bracketing 3 frames in +/- 1, 2/3 , 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps (selectable).
Sensitivity    
Auto ISO 100 to 400.
Manual ISO 100 to 400. Expandable to 1600 (in each 1/3 EV steps possible ). Noise filter is selectable in ISO boost.
Shutter  
Type Electronically controlled focal plane shutter.
Shutter speed

Auto, P, Ps, A mode: 1/4000 – 60 sec. (depend on conditions)
S mode: 1/4000 – 60 sec.
M mode: 1/4000 – 60 sec. and bulb (up to 8 min.) Scene mode: 1/4000 – 2 sec .

X-sync speed X = 1/180 sec.
Super FP up to 1/4000 sec.
Shutter release Soft-touch electromagnetic release.
Self-timer 12 or 2 sec
Remote control Yes (including bulb function) with RM-1 (optional) or via PC with SDK (optional) or Studio Sofwtare (optional). 
Drive system  
Drive modes Single and sequential shooting.
Sequential shooting speed Approx. 2.5 fps.
Max. frame number on sequential shooting RAW / TIFF 4 frames, JPEG (HQ, SQ) up to card capacity with high speed media (for example SanDisk Extreme III).
White balance system    
Auto WB system Advanced detection system with CCD imager.
Preset WB 8 types (3000K – 7500K). Lamp 1 (3000K), Fluorescent 1 (4000K), Fluorescent 2 (4500K), Fluorescent 3 (6600K), Daylight (5300K), Cloudy (6000K), Shade (7500K).
Custom WB 1 custom setting (in Kelvin).
WB compensation R – B / G – M, up to +/-7 steps in each 2 mired for both auto and preset settings.
On touch white balance 1 one touch setting.
WB bracketing 3 frames with +/- 4/8/12 mired steps.
Processing  
Image processing TruePic TURBO.
Colour space sRGB / Adobe RGB.
Picture mode Vivid, Natural, Muted, Black & White, Sepia.
Colour saturation 5 levels in each Vivid, Natural, Muted mode.
Sharpness 5 levels in each Picture mode.
Contrast 5 levels in each Picture mode.
Filter Yellow, Orange, Red, Green in Black & White mode.
Toning Sepia, Blue, Red, Green in Black & White mode.
Gradation 3 levels (high key, normal, low key).
Built-in flash    
Type Auto pop-up type, TTL auto or manual.
Synchronisation modes Auto,  red-eye reduction, slow syncro with red-eye reduction, slow syncro, 2nd curtain slow syncro, fill-in, off.
Guide number Approx. 13.
Intensity control Up to +/- 2EV in each 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps.
External flash control
Type TTL auto FP / TTL auto for Olympus dedicated flash (FL-20, FL-36, FL-50), auto or manual.
Synchronisation modes Auto, Manual, Red-eye reduction, Slow syncro with red-eye reduction, Slow syncro, 2nd curtain slow syncro, Fill-in for exclusive flash.
Intensity control Up to +/- 2EV in each 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps.
Control panel
Control panel information Metering mode, exposure mode, aperture value, shutter speed, exposure level indicator, exposure compensation value, exposure compensation indicator, AE bracket, ISO, colour space, picture mode, gradation, colour saturation compensation value, sharpness compensation value, contrast compensation value, White balance, White balance compensation value, noise reduction mode, AE lock, flash mode, flash compensation value, focus mode, AF frame, drive mode, record mode, number of storable still pictures, selected memory card, battery check.
Playback monitor  
Type HyperCrystal LCD panel.
Size 2.5 inch / 6.4cm.
Pixel number 215.250 pixels.
Field of view Approx. 100%.
Brightness control +/- 7 steps.
Playback functions  
Display mode Single, zoom (2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14x), Index (4, 9, 16, 25 frames), slide show, calendar view, rotation, light box view.
Information Exposure mode, metering mode, shutter speed, aperture value, exposure compensation level, ISO, colour space, white balance mode, white balance compensation level, focal length, focus area, file type, picture mode.
Exposure level view Histogram (R, G, B available), high light point warning, shadow point warning.
Erase / protect / copy function  
Erase modes Single, all, selected.
Image protect mode Single.
Copy modes Single, all, selected.
Recording system  
Type of recording format DCF, DPOF compatible, EXIF2.2 compatible, PRINT Image
Matching II compatible.
Type of file format JPEG, TIFF (RGB 8 bit), RAW (12bit).
RAW+JPEG recording Yes.
File size
RAW: 3264 x 2448 uncompressed Approx. 13.6 MB
TIFF: 3264 x 2448 uncompressed Approx. 24.5 MB
SHQ: 3264 x 2448 1/2.7 Approx. 6.4 MB
HQ: 3264 x 2448 1/4 Approx. 4.5 MB
    1/8 Approx. 2.5 MB
    1/12 Approx. 1.8 MB
SQ: 3200 x 2400 1/2.7 Approx. 6.2 MB
    1/4 Approx. 4.4 MB
    1/8 Approx. 2.4 MB
    1/12 Approx. 1.8 MB
  2560 x 1920 1/2.7 Approx. 3.7 MB
    1/4 Approx. 2.5 MB
    1/8 Approx. 1.3 MB
    1/12 Approx. 0.8 MB
  1600 x 1200 1/2.7 Approx. 1.5 MB
    1/4 Approx. 1.0 MB
    1/8 Approx. 0.5 MB
    1/12 Approx. 0.4 MB
  1280 x 960 1/2.7 Approx. 0.9 MB
    1/4 Approx. 0.6 MB
    1/8 Approx. 0.3 MB
    1/12 Approx. 0.2 MB
  1024 x 768 1/2.7 Approx. 0.6 MB
    1/4 Approx. 0.4 MB
    1/8 Approx. 0.2 MB
    1/12 Approx. 0.2 MB
  640 x 480 1/2.7 Approx. 0.3 MB
    1/4 Approx. 0.2 MB
    1/8 Approx. 0.1 MB
    1/12 Approx. 0.1 MB

Image editing    
RAW development Yes.
JPEG/TIFF editing Yes (Black & White, Sepia, red eye reduction, colour saturation, resize).
PictBridge Yes.
Menu    
Category Shooting menu 1, Shooting menu 2, Playback menu, Custom menu, Setup menu.
Languages Default 6 languages (English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian), one language can be downloaded optionally via internet.
Interface  
PC interface USB 2.0 (Full speed), (storage, camera control).
Video signal output NTSC or PAL selectable.
Synchro socket Hot shoe.
Power supply  
Battery Rechargeable Li-Ion battery pack BLM-1 or LBH-1 for 3x CR123A.
Size / weight
Dimensions 129.5 x 94.5 x 66mm.
Weight Approx. 435 g (without batteries and CF card).
Miscellaneous
Sleep mode Yes (off, 1, 3, 5, 10 min. selectable).
Power off mode Yes (off, 4hours selectable).
Environment    
Temperature Operating range: 0°C to 40°C. Storage range: -20°C to 60°C.
Humidity Operating range: 30 to 90%. Storage range: 10% to 90%.
Box contents   E-500 body, USB cable, video cable, Li-Ion battery pack (BLM-1) and Li-Ion battery charger (BCM-2) or battery holder (LBH-1) with 3x CR123A, shoulder strap, Olympus Master CD-ROM, instruction manuals, warranty card.


Specification and design are subject to change without notice.
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