ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Olympus Corporation
(Olympus) and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic) have been
engaged in joint development of cameras that comply with the Four Thirds
System standard for interchangeable-lens-type digital SLR cameras, and will
display the fruit of their labors at the PMA 2006 International Convention and
Trade Show that starts today, February 26, in Orlando, Florida. Olympus will
exhibit the E-330, a recently introduced product that incorporates jointly
developed technologies, and Panasonic will announce development of the DMC-L1,
its first digital SLR camera. A prototype of the DMC-L1 will also be
exhibited.
The two cameras are the result of an agreement announced on January 13,
2005, under which Olympus and Panasonic agreed to jointly develop underlying
technologies and key components, and promote the introduction of digital SLR
camera products that take full advantage of the significant user benefits
offered by the Four Thirds System standard.
The jointly developed mirror box unit and Live MOS sensor used in the two
new cameras have significant implications for SLR performance, and have made
it possible to develop products with capabilities that go far beyond digital
SLR cameras of the past.
The mirror box unit integrates a quick-return mirror, viewfinder, and AE
sensor, and effectively functions as the heart of the SLR camera. It was
specifically designed and developed so that it could be used in both Olympus
and Panasonic products.
The Live MOS sensor is a new-generation sensor that offers the high image
quality of a CCD sensor and the low power consumption of a CMOS sensor,
thereby making it possible to display Live View images on a digital SLR camera
for an extended period of time. In addition, because the sensor features
simplified circuitry, the distance from the microlenses to the photodiodes is
short, ensuring improved response and higher image quality when light strikes
the sensor at an angle.
Utilizing these advanced new devices, Olympus and Panasonic will continue
to develop products according to their respective product strategies.
Olympus has already utilized these jointly developed components in the
recently introduced E-330, which is the first interchangeable-lens-type
digital SLR in the world to offer full-time Live View framing via a
rear-mounted LCD monitor -- a feat that until now was thought to be difficult
to achieve. With its Live View capability, the E-330 is an epoch-making
product that makes it possible for users to enjoy an entirely new style of
digital SLR shooting.
As its first digital SLR camera, Panasonic has developed the DMC-L1, which
combines the operating feel of an analog camera with Live View shooting and
other ease-of-use features that are unique to digital cameras. By using the
Live MOS sensor and proprietary Venus Engine III image-processing LSI,
Panasonic has maximized the performance potential of both devices and
successfully achieved the high image quality and high processing speeds that
are critical to SLR camera performance. Following additional development
efforts, Panasonic plans to introduce the DMC-L1 later this year.
By teaming Olympus's industry-leading SLR camera technology with
Panasonic's advanced digital AV technology to offer Four Thirds System digital
SLR cameras and a wide lens lineup, the two companies plan to offer camera
enthusiasts a level of creativity and satisfaction have never experienced
before.
For reference, market size forecasts for digital SLR cameras are shown
below. (Source: CIPA; 2005 results and 2006~2008 forecasts for number of units
shipped by manufacturers)
2005 (actual) 2006 (forecast) 2007 (forecast) 2008 (forecast)
3.79 million 4.68 million 5.26 million 5.62 million
units units units units
About the Four Thirds System Standard
The Four Thirds System standard defines design and development standards
for digital SLR camera systems that fully realize the performance potential of
digital imaging technology. Four Thirds System cameras use a 4/3-type image
sensor that makes it possible to achieve the high image quality and high
mobility demanded of SLR camera systems. In addition, the Four Thirds System
defines an open standard for lenses and lens mounts that assures compatibility
between bodies and lenses produced by various manufacturers participating in
the standard.
SOURCE Panasonic
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Related links:
http://www.panasonic.com
CONTACT:
Olympus: US - Chris Sluka, Sr. Public
Relations Manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc., +1-631-844-5321,
chris.sluka@olympus.com, or Europe - Christina Blake, Corporate
Communications, Olympus Europa GmbH, +49-40-237-73-191,
christina.blake@olympus-europa.com, or Japan - Atsushi
Hatakeyama, Public Relations and Investor Relations, Olympus
Corporation, +81-3-3340-2188,
atsushi_hatakeyama@ot.olympus.co.jp; Panasonic: US - Will Safer,
of Panasonic Corporation of North America, +1-201-392-6124,
saferw@us.panasonic.com, or Sara Whitman, of Peppercom,
+1-212-931-6121, swhitman@peppercom.com, for Panasonic, or Europe
- Brendon Gore, of Panasonic Europe Ltd., +44-208-899-2217,
Brendon.Gore@eu.panasonic.com, or Japan - Akira Kadota, of
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic),
+81-3-3578-1237, Fax: +81-3-3436-6766, or Panasonic News Bureau,
+81-3-3542-6205, Fax: +81-3-3542-9018
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