Olympus E1 vs. E500

External Since: Feb 08, 2006 Posts: 45

Question for those that have owned both:

1) Does the 8MP really show more information or give the E500 a benefit
over the E1 with prints to say 12X18?

2) How small is the viewfinder in the E500 compared to the E1? Is it
that much of a difference?

3) Does one camera produce better images than the other (speaking
about color/the look/etc.)?

I've researched the two extensively but have not found this info. All
I have found is what the pros/cons are of each camera which doesn't
tell me if the 8MP is obvious over the 5MP, if the quality of the photo
looks any different coming from one digital machine vs. the other
digital machine, and if the view finder of the E1 is larger enough to
make the E500 a much more difficult tool to manual focus with (all my
use will be manual focus).

Thanks to any and all that can help!!!

External Since: Feb 08, 2006 Posts: 45

Lourens Smak wrote:
> In article <1151183447.750171.275140 DeleteThis @c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
> "Progressiveabsolution" <progressiveabsolution DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Question for those that have owned both:
> >
> > 1) Does the 8MP really show more information or give the E500 a benefit
> > over the E1 with prints to say 12X18?
> >
> > 2) How small is the viewfinder in the E500 compared to the E1? Is it
> > that much of a difference?
> >
> > 3) Does one camera produce better images than the other (speaking
> > about color/the look/etc.)?
> >
> >
> > I've researched the two extensively but have not found this info. All
> > I have found is what the pros/cons are of each camera which doesn't
> > tell me if the 8MP is obvious over the 5MP, if the quality of the photo
> > looks any different coming from one digital machine vs. the other
> > digital machine, and if the view finder of the E1 is larger enough to
> > make the E500 a much more difficult tool to manual focus with (all my
> > use will be manual focus).
>
> If you want to use manual focus, the E-330 is the obvious choice. It
> lets you focus using a 10x enlarged part of the image of the real
> imaging sensor. (you can move a little frame around the image to select
> the part that you want to focus on.) The display image is also big of
> course and you can view it using both eyes, like the screen of a
> Hasselblad. The viewfinder of the E1 is much better than the E330's SLR
> viewfinder, but that one is perfectly useable too. (at least for me.)
>
> I own the E1 and the E330 but can't comment on the E500...never used one.
> The 330 images have more detail (a bit) than the E1 but if this is very
> noticeable also depends on the subject, for example. Also, the
> lens+aperture used will have some influence. Kit-lens wide open with 8MP
> could resolve less detail than the 14-54 at f/5.6 on the E1. I haven't
> really tested this btw, I can't be bothered; both are excellent
> camera's. I have seen portraits made with E1, printed at 30x40 inches
> and these looked stunning, but the printing-method is also very
> important to achieve this result.
>
> Wink

> Lourens

Thanks all who have replied. I appreciate it a lot!

The E330 is a nice looking design and I agree with you, having that
viewfinder like a P&S camera not only allows an easier manual focus
method, but more creativity/angle possibilities. I just wish it were
cheaper.

Curious, when you say you can see more detail with the E330, what
exactly are you seeing that the E1 cannot/does not show?

If say you do a 12X16 print, or even that 30X40 print you were talking
about (that's wild), where do you see the differences and what is the
"extra" information that shows up with the E330 but not with the E1?

Thanks again for the response. It's greatly helpful as were the others.
I have now joined the Olympus board for yahoo users.

Regards