Olympus EVOLT E-500

Front (6.0)
The Evolt E-500 has a viewfinder hump, unlike the flat-topped E-300 and E-330, so it is the most conventional-looking Evolt since the E-1. The viewfinder hump holds a pop-up flash, so it is larger and boxier that its optics require. The lens mount is large, given the small sensor size, and set far to the right. The hand grip is wide and thick, and covered with leather-textured rubber. A dark red window between the viewfinder and the grip covers a self-timer light, and a sensor for an infrared remote control. A four-thirds format logo is below the window.

Back (6.0)
A wide, soft rubber eyecup surrounds the small eyepiece, with a small diopter control on the left and the exposure and focus lock button on the right. Five buttons run down the left side of the back, beside the 2.5-inch, 215,000-pixel LCD. The buttons control the pop-up flash, image review, image delete, menu, and info display. To the right of the LCD, there's a button to set the Burst mode, self-timer, or remote control. Below that is the four-way controller, which is made up of four separate buttons in a ring and a fifth button in the center. Clockwise from the top, the buttons control white balance, autofocus, ISO, and metering pattern. The center button is the OK button for most camera functions. A status light below the four-way controller blinks as data is written to the memory cards. High on the right are buttons for taking white balance measurements and choosing the AF sensor site to activate. The memory card door makes up the lower part of the right side of the camera, and a notch in the back gives the user a spot to pull it open. There is no locking device on the door.

Left Side (6.0)
A flexible rubber cover conceals and protects the combination USB and AV port on the left side of the Evolt E-500, and a wide, stamped-metal strap lug protrudes from the top of the side. Several surface panels meet on the left side of the E-500. The seams are uneven and obvious – on better-made and more attractive cameras, the pieces fit together better.

Right Side (6.0)
The memory card door comprises most of the back half of the right side, and the rubber grip makes up most of the front half. The gaps around the door are large, and don't seal well against dirt or moisture. The strap lug is high and out of the way.

Top (6.0)
There's a focal plane indicator on the left side of the Evolt E-500's top. It's a feature most E-500 users will ignore, but it is supposed to be useful for focusing by tape measure. The viewfinder hump sports a hot shoe compatible with Olympus's varied line of dedicated flashes. Both the hot shoe and built-in flashes are on the lens axis, which is the ideal placement. To the right of the hump is a small blue light that indicates the function of the dust removal system. The mode dial is next. It's very large and very stiff. It won't turn a full rotation, so if the camera is set to one of the Auto modes, the user can't turn it 90 degrees to get over to the Manual modes – the dial has to go the long way, 270 degrees. The large and apparently durable power switch juts out from underneath the mode dial. The E-500's only control dial is smaller and placed toward the back, where the user's right thumb can reach it. The exposure compensation button is forward, on the grip. The large, chrome shutter release is further forward on the grip.

Bottom (6.0)
The battery compartment is in the grip, and its door is on the bottom of the camera. It closes with a large, secure latch, though it is not sealed well against dust or moisture. The E-500 has a bright metal tripod bushing centered on the lens axis and the focal plane, a positioning that can make it easier to center on many tripods. A textured patch around the bushing may grip tripod heads better than a smooth surface would. It may also hide minor scratches from tripod screws.