New 14-45mm and 40-150 mm Zuiko Digital Specific™ Zoom Lenses Offer Uncompromising “Digital From The Ground Up” Quality at a Price Consumers Can Afford

Melville, New York, September 27, 2004 – Olympus America Inc. today enhanced the E-System, the world's first 100% all-digital interchangeable lens SLR system, with the introduction of two new Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses: the 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f3.5-4.5 Digital Zoom Interchangeable Lenses. These new consumer lenses will further expand the power of the E-System by delivering higher resolutions and superior image quality for consumers who appreciate versatility and affordability.

According to John Knaur, senior marketing manager at Olympus America: “Both the 14-45mm and 40-150mm are compact, lightweight digital zoom lenses that cover the zoom range most frequently used in photography. Both feature faithful photographic performance with sharpness even at the edges of the image. With the introduction of the new Zuiko Digital Specific 14-45mm and the 40-150 mm Lenses, as with the entire E-System, we are furthering our commitment to consumers by providing the most advanced as well as cost effective 100 percent digital system on the market today.”

Developed specifically for digital capture with smart technology, Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses deliver edge-to-edge sharpness with reduced distortion and shading. The lenses are designed to perfectly match the imager so light strikes the sensor directly, ensuring rich, accurate colors, sharp contrasts and bright images even at the edges.

The Zuiko Digital 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 and the Zuiko Digital 40-150 mm f3.5-4.5 Zoom Lenses are interchangeable lenses specifically created for the Olympus E-System and represent the latest additions to the Zuiko Digital Specific Lens Family. Both the 14-45mm and the 40-150mm are standard digital zoom lenses that complement each other and can be used in conjunction to cover a wide range of focal lengths and zoom ranges. In addition, both of these “designed for digital” lenses offer superb quality suitable for everyday use by advanced photographers as well as by newcomers to digital SLR products.

The Zuiko Digital 14-45mm f3.5 – 5.6 Lens (equivalent to 28mm – 90mm in 35mm photography) now comes standard with Olympus' newest consumer digital camera, the EVOLT E-300, also announced today. Its 3.2x zoom covers the zoom range most frequently used in everyday photography, and with 12 elements in 10 groups and a weight of just 9.98 oz/285g (approx.) it offers users an extremely dynamic, portable everyday-use zoom.

A newly developed 'floating' mechanism is incorporated into the focusing system to ensure exceptionally smooth action across the entire focusing range. Close-ups as near as 15 in/38cm are possible throughout the zoom range. The lens also boasts a new multi-coating process, which minimizes ghosting and flaring as well as a reliable metal lens mount, which is designed for ruggedness that ensures confidence in any situation.

The Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f3.5 – 4.5 (equivalent to 80-300mm in 35mm photography) features a 3.8x zoom capability that provides everything from mid-range zoom power to easy-to-use full-fledged zoom. With 13 elements in 10 groups and a weight of just 15.75 oz/450g (approx), the Zuiko Digital 40-150mm Lens is meant to go anywhere. In addition, the lens employs a f3.5-4.5 brightness making it ideal for achieving effects like background blurring and perspective compression, suitable for everything from portraits to sports scenes. As with the 14-45mm lens, the 40-150mm is also reinforced by a new multi-coating process as well as a new reliable metal lens mount.

The Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses are based on the Four Thirds System, an open standard for digital SLR cameras and interchangeable lens systems that utilize a 4/3-type image sensor. The Four Thirds System is designed to achieve an optimal balance between image quality, camera and lens size, and system expandability. The system maximizes the performance of image sensors and lenses with a 100% digital-from-the-ground-up design. Olympus introduced the E-1 professional Digital SLR in October 2003, followed by the introduction of several Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses. Visit www.olympusamerica.com/dslr for more information.

Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14-45mm
Lens Construction	12 Elements in 10 Groups including 2 Aspherical Lens Elements
Angle of View	75 to 27 Degree
Closest Focusing Distance	0.38m
Maximum Image Magnification	0.16x
Minimum Field Size	107 x 80mm
Number of Blades	7
Maximum Aperture	f3.5 Wide – f5.6 Telephoto
Minimum Aperture	f 22
Filter Size	58mm
Dimension	Diameter 2.8 in x 3.41 in Length (71 x 86.5mm)
Weight	9.98 oz/285g
Tele Converter EC 14	Yes **MF use only
Extension Tube EX-25	Closest Focusing Distance 6 in/153mm Extended Maximum Image Magnification 1.14x Minimum Field Size 15 x 11mm
Lens Hood Lens Cap	LH-61 LC-58B (58mm)
.

*All specifications subject to change.

Olympus Zuiko Digital 40mm - 150mm F3.5-4.5
Focal Length	40-150mm
Lens Construction	13 Elements in 10 Groups
Angle of View	30 to 8.2 Degree
Closest Focusing Distance	1.5m
Maximum Image Magnification	0.12x
Minimum Field Size	140 x 105mm
Number of Blades	7
Maximum Aperture	f3.5 Wide – f4.5 Telephoto
Minimum Aperture	f 22
Filter Size	58mm
Dimension	Diameter 3 in. x 4.21in Length (77 x 107mm)
Weight	15.75 oz/450g
Tele Converter EC-14	YES ** MF use only
Extension Tube EX-25	Closest Focusing Distance 8.2in/208mm Extended Maximum Image Magnification 0.62x Minimum Field Size 29 x 22mm
Lens Hood Lens Cap	LH-61B LC-58B (58mm)
.

*All specifications subject to change.

ABOUT OLYMPUS
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering innovative solutions in healthcare and consumer electronics worldwide.

Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Tokyo-based Olympus Corporation, to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:

• Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
• Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
• Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents; and
• Digital and film cameras, and digital voice recorders.

In the U. S. and Canada, Olympus serves healthcare, scientific and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers efficiently, reliably, safely, and easily achieve superior results. Olympus is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. The company's market-leading consumer electronics business spans North and South America. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.

####