FOR RELEASE: May 27, 1999, Melville, NY
Company Contact:
Olympus America Inc.
Digital & Imaging Systems Group
Ken Barone
Product Manager
516) 844-5181
baronk@olympus.com
Agency contact:
Karen Thomas
Thomas PR
(516) 549-7575
kthomas@thomas-pr.com
OLYMPUS SHIPS WORLDS FIRST ZOOM LENS
2.1 MEGAPIXEL FILMLESS DIGITAL CAMERA
C-2000 Zoom Features 2.1 Megapixel, 3X Optical Zoom, Infrared Remote
Control, Aluminum Point & Shoot Body
Olympus America Inc., Digital & Imaging Systems Group, the leading
consumer camera manufacturer, today announced that it has begun
shipping the worlds first 2.1 megapixel zoom lens filmless digital
camera, the C-2000 Zoom. The latest addition to the award-winning
Olympus filmless digital camera line, the C-2000 Zoom boasts a 2.1
megapixel resolution (1600 x 1200), 3X optical zoom lens, infrared
remote with fully automatic controls for novice users and powerful
manual controls any photo enthusiast would appreciate. All this is
packaged in a compact ergonomically designed point & shoot body.
The C-2000 Zoom is a camera first and foremost. The optics system is
a world class all-glass aspherical 3X zoom assembly. Featuring both
fully automatic and manual modes of most all selections, this camera
is both a convenience camera and a photo enthusiasts implement.
Manual controls now extend into areas other digital cameras have yet
to approach in this price range. It even offers the choice of 100,
200 or 400 ISO film speed equivalency.
Secondarily, this camera is designed to be a digital device with many
high-tech features, including Digital Telephoto at any optical focal
length, in camera image review and inspection at several
magnifications, floppy disk compatibility to personal computer
systems, and reusable SmartMedia cards.
Thirdly, the camera is a consumer electronics device, with video
connectivity to popular home entertainment appliances including the
new award-winning 5-in-1 Olympus P-330 Instant Photo Printer. The TV
connection allows the user to crop and make several sized prints
right from their TV, while the new remote control aids in reviewing,
cropping, editing and printing photos while relaxing in front of the
television.
The C-2000 Zoom is designed by Olympus, a camera company that
understands and excels in camera ergonomics. It is easy to use and
understand -- from the natural look and feel of the camera, to the
obvious nature of its use. Its new colorful menu structure further
enhances the end user experience. Beautifully designed with the
consumer in mind, the camera is light weight at 10.7 ounces and very
compact with dimensions of 4.2 wide x 2.9 high x 2.6 deep.
The Olympus C-2000 Zoom combines an unprecedented level of
photographic control with a particularly responsive user interface,
and a full 2.1 million pixel resolution, said David Etchells,
Publisher, The Imaging Resource on-line digital photography resource
center. The result is a digital camera that is first and foremost a
camera. Photo enthusiasts who have been unwilling to give up the
creative flexibility of their film cameras now have a viable digital
(filmless) option with which to exercise their craft.
C-2000 Zoom is a Filmless Camera
Olympus digital cameras are well-known for their exceptionally
high-quality images. Images captured with the C-2000 Zoom produce
photographs equivalent to that of many film-based cameras. This is
achieved by a number of factors, including a truly, world class all
glass 8-element 3X zoom (35-105mm equivalency) with a fast f2.0-f11
lens aperture, low compression ratios including an uncompressed mode,
and a host of other sophisticated Olympus technologies. The results
from the C-2000 Zoom are truly photographic.
The C-2000 Zoom includes enthusiast level photographic controls you
would not expect even from this fifth generation Olympus filmless
digital camera. The shutter speed is determined in either an
automatic or manual mode at -1/800 second and additional accessory
lenses can be added by attaching to the external threaded mount. The
camera also features a built-in, intelligent 4-mode flash with
red-eye reduction, force-fill flash, automatic low-light and
back-light mode, and force-off to accommodate most all lighting
conditions. External lighting can be synchronized to the camera to
further extend its use and function. There is even a slow
synchronization mode for use with manually selected shutter speeds.
The flash can be fired at the beginning or end of an exposure
allowing the user much creative license.
The exposure system is quite sophisticated as well. At its core is a
fully automatic center weighted matrix metering system which can be
manually overridden with a spot meter and/or further manually
controlled with +/- 2 EV step control in 1/3 increments. These auto
and manual exposure controls are augmented with additional functions
which extend into areas other digital cameras have yet to approach in
this price range, such as aperture preferred and shutter preferred
auto-exposure system controls. This is a first for popular priced
digital cameras.
The shutter preferred mode allows the user to control exposure
length. Now fast moving subjects can be frozen in time or allowed to
move through a shot. The shutter preferred mode facilitates creative
control of image depth of field. This camera is all about choice and
freedom of creativity. These are features seldom seen even in
film-based point and shoot cameras.
The camera also features both auto and manual white balance,
autofocus with both pre-focus and quick-focus options. The C-2000
Zoom even offers the choice of 100, 200 or 400 ISO film speed
equivalency.
The C-2000 Zoom even comes equipped with a remote control which
allows the user to select and activate many picture taking choices at
distance. This is a wonderful advancement for wildlife and other
photography.
The C-2000 Zoom provides five levels of recording images (with two
for standard quality): Standard Quality (VGA) at 640 x 480 with
standard compression JPEG files, Standard Quality (XGA) at 1024 x 768
with standard compression JPEG files; High Quality and Super High
Quality JPEG files at 1600 x 1200 with standard compression and
minimal compression, respectively; and Super High Quality TIFF files
at 1600 x 1200 with no compression.
C-2000 Zoom is a Digital Camera
The C-2000 Zoom connects easily to a computer through the optional
FlashPathTM floppy disk adapter. FlashPath is a revolutionary floppy
disk adapter through which the photos saved on the Olympus SmartMedia
storage card are easily loaded into a computer. Once the included 8MB
memory card is placed in the adapter, think of it as an 8MB diskette.
Images can then be viewed, changed and saved using the included
software. Floppy drive use through this adapter is simple and
convenient. Another optional adapter allows the user to download
picture data to a computer though the extremely fast PCMCIA slot
found in most laptop computers.
With the C-2000 Zoom, users have the flexibility of using the 3X
optical zoom lens with or without activating the Digital Telephoto
mode. The Digital Telephoto can be used at any optical focal length
with 1.6X, 2.0X, and 2.5X magnification. Use of both the optical zoom
and digital telephoto can provide the equivalence of a 260mm lens.
The built in 1.8-inch LCD display automatically activates when
choosing the digital Tele/Wide, macro and either of the shutter or
aperture preferred modes for through-the-lens composition and
what-you-see-is-what-you-get results. Many will think of it as a
Digital SLR. The macro capability allows the user to get in as
close as eight inches, so the C-2000 Zoom can capture the smallest
details. By combining the Macro and Aperture shooting modes, users
can move tightly in on small subjects while controlling the depth of
field -- a feature close-up photography enthusiasts will appreciate.
An Image Inspection mode allows up to 3X magnification of images on
the LCD so the user doesnt have to download images to inspect small
details. Images can be seen in variable magnification of 1.5X, 2X,
2.5X or 3X. The area of inspection can even be moved around the image
while inspection is in process. This also allows magnified images to
be printed directly to the Olympus printer. It is like having crop
and enlargement in the camera. Also, since the 8, 16, and 32MB
SmartMedia cards (all compatible) can save hundreds of images in one
card, the LCD allows 1, 4, 9, or 16 thumbnail images to be previewed
at a time, making the camera more efficient to use. For example, the
4-up review aids greatly when comparing the impact of white balance
and other variable settings.
C-2000 Zoom is a Consumer Electronics Camera The C-2000 Zoom can be
used with or without a computer. It features a standard video out
connector for easy viewing of photos on a TV set, in addition to
individual viewing on the LCD. Images can be seen by many people
simultaneously on the television and also be transferred to video
tape and sent to relatives and business associates for easy viewing.
Users of the C-2000 Zoom also have the option of creating photo
prints, without a computer, through the use of the Olympus P-330
Instant Photo Printer by simply removing the SmartMedia card and
inserting it into the printers own card reader. This greatly expands
the market for these products, allowing consumers that do not own a
computer the ability to use a digital camera and their TV for a
multitude of purposes.
An included remote control provides additional benefits here as well
- the ability to view images while comfortably seated at a distance
while the camera is hooked up to a television. As a result, several
people can simultaneously view the photos while relaxing instead of
standing in front of the camera. The remote control can also be used
for multi-image inspection, and locking and unlocking images in the
camera.
Speed
The C-2000 Zoom incorporates high-speed D-RAM for internal
operations. This architectural enhancement provides fast shot-to-shot
performance. Secondarily, the D-RAM also allows for sequence
shooting. This mode enables users to shoot and capture 5-45 images in
second intervals with variable resolutions (VGA - 45 images, XGA -
30 images, 1600 x 1200 - 5 images). Similar to that of advanced film
cameras, activation is easy. Once in this mode, simply hold the
shutter button down and the camera does all the work. The images are
written through D-RAM (internal memory) and saved to the removable
media for later review.
An 8MB SmartMedia removable card is included with the camera, but
additional 4, 8, 16, and 32MB cards can be used so there is no
restriction on the number of photos that can be captured. The
included Olympus 8MB SmartMedia card can be reused as images can be
erased thousand of times. This saves on the cost of both film and
processing making filmless photos with the C-2000 Zoom very
affordable.
Olympus brand SmartMedia cards provide added benefits compared to
other SmartMedia cards. They are pre-formatted for immediate use in
the camera, and include panorama mode firmware. In this mode the
camera locks the exposure to that of the first image in a panoramic
set. The resulting panorama is evenly exposed throughout and the
image seams are difficult to detect. The included QuickStitch
Panorama stitching software from Enroute Imaging allows multiple
images to be joined together (tall and wide) for impressive panoramic
views of such difficult to capture subjects as the Grand Canyon, the
Empire State Building; or for real estate and interior home photos,
that even the widest angle lens cant capture.
The C-2000 Zoom includes an 8MB Olympus brand panorama SmartMedia
card, remote control, 4 AA photo-grade Alkaline batteries, lens cap,
strap, serial cable for PC and Mac, video connection cable for TV or
VCR, Adobe PhotoDeluxe image manipulation and creation software,
Enroute Imaging QuickStitch panorama stitching software, Olympus
Camedia Master Utility Software for downloading images from the
camera, and instruction manuals. For a limited time, 4 free AA NiMH
rechargeable batteries and recharger can be redeemed though the
included coupon. The C-2000 Zoom has an expected street price of
$999. All software supports both Windows and Macintosh computer
systems.
# # #
For more information, contact Olympus America, Digital & Imaging
Systems Group, Two Corporate Center Dr., Melville, NY 11747-3157, ph:
(516) 844-5000 or (800) 347-4027, Fax: (516) 844-5262 or the Olympus
Web Site: http://www.olympus.com/digital.
Olympus America distributes a wide range of products for consumer,
scientific, health care, commercial and industrial markets. These
include film and filmless cameras, Microcassette and digital voice
recorders, binoculars, film scanners, personal photo printers,
medical and industrial endoscopes, biological and metallurgical
microscopes and measuring instruments, clinical analyzers, and other
high technology products. Olympus America is responsible for sales in
Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Interested readers can find an independent preliminary report on the
C-2000 Zoom on The Imaging Resource web site, at:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/C2K/C2KA.HTM
