The E-500 is relatively slow to power-up, taking about 2.5 seconds. This, however, is due to the activation of the supersonic wave filter dust-reduction system, which needs about 2 seconds to shake dust off the image sensor. Despite the relatively lengthy delay, it rarely resulted in a missed shot. It takes about 1-2 seconds just to get the camera in position to take that first picture.

Under optimal conditions, without flash, we were able to take a photo about every 1 second in JPEG and every 2 seconds in RAW format. The autofocus also performed well, with an autofocus shutter delay of less than 0.5 seconds under most normal lighting conditions.

In continuous shooting mode, the camera was able to capture 2.5 fps is JPEG mode, and about 2.7 fps in TIFF and RAW mode. Using JPEGs, the continuous shooting mode can last as long as you have room on your flash card. In TIFF and RAW mode, the bursts come in 5 second intervals. Even so, the speed in all image formats in impressive for a SLR camera in this low price class.

The Evolt E-500 has an ISO range of 100 to 1600 and shutter speeds ranging from 60 seconds to 1/4,000 second. We found the camera's performance at low-light levels to be noticeably better than the E-300's. Noise was almost undetectable through ISO 400. Even at ISO 800, noise is not all that noticeable, indicating that the camera's noise-reduction system is working as it should.

In low-light conditions, we found the pop-up flash to work about as well as one can expect. The flash stands at least two inches above the lens, allowing the light to pass over the camera unobstructed. The flash was able to illuminate most indoor rooms evenly and completely. If you find that the flash is actually too bright (which it sometimes is), you can always reduce the flash power.

In standard lighting conditions, we found the E-500's overall image quality to be quite good. Sharpness, contrast, and color were all within an acceptable range. Even at just 8-megapixels, the camera's image quality and resolution holds up well against 10-megapixel models like the Nikon D80. We did notice, however, that the E-500 images tended to have an overly-sharp look at times, typical of other Olympus cameras, including the E-300.

Overall, the E-500 represents a fairly substantial step forward from the slightly older E-300. The Evolt E-500 has a new attractive look, and plenty of additional features you won't find on the E-300. There are, however, a few things still missing: USB 2.0 High Speed standard (why is this camera still using USB 1.0?), additional focus points, and a top LCD display. Despite these omissions, the E-500 is a solid contender in the entry-level SLR market. At just $450 for the camera body at the writing of this review, the E-500 is a great deal for any beginner or photo enthusiast.