If you’re into old-school digital cameras with loads of grit and personality, the Olympus E-500 should be your next pick up. In this video, I take the E-500 out and chat through what makes it such an interesting DSLR—especially now, two decades after it launched. It’s got that early-digital-era feel, with just enough modern control to keep it fun and practical. Spoiler: the colors slap.

The E-500 dropped in 2005 and came packed with an 8MP Kodak CCD sensor. The CCD magic really shines in the color rendering—there’s a certain crunchiness and character to the images that you don’t get with newer CMOS sensors. This thing isn’t fast by any stretch, but if you’re the kind of person who likes to slow down and enjoy the process, the E-500 rewards you.

What I love about this camera is how straightforward it is. You've got a proper optical viewfinder (no live view here), and full PASM controls. It uses CompactFlash or xD cards (yes, the weird small ones), and the 2.5-inch screen, while honestly terrible resolution, gets the job done for checking your frames. Pair it with a decent Four Thirds lens, and you’re vibin.

Honestly, this camera feels like a time capsule in the best way. If you’re into experimenting with old gear, the E-500 is seriously worth a look. Check out the full video for more detail, I’ve also dropped the sample shots below.

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