SOURCE: Meade Instruments Corp.

Meade Instruments to Introduce Revolutionary Binocular With Integrated Digital Camera At PMA 2002

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2002--Meade Instruments Corp. (Nasdaq NM: MEAD - news) today announced that it will introduce CaptureView(TM) -- a revolutionary binocular featuring a built-in digital camera -- at PMA 2002, the annual convention of the Photo Marketing Association International to be held this year on February 24th - 27th in Orlando, Fla.

CaptureView(TM) combines a full-function 8X22 folding-roof prism binocular with an integrated digital camera capable of storing up to forty 640X480 resolution pictures (as well as hundreds at a lower resolution). Utilizing software provided with the product, a user can download the images to a PC to be printed or e-mailed. According to Brent Blaine, Vice President of Sports Optics at Meade Instruments, CaptureView(TM) will be available in spring 2002 and is expected to sell for approximately $100 at retail.

``Early indications of interest from our retail partners suggest that CaptureView(TM) is ground-breaking in the field of consumer optics,'' said Blaine. ``In particular, we believe that with its digital imaging capabilities, CaptureView(TM) has the potential to expand measurably the worldwide market for binoculars -- whose buyers include sports enthusiasts of every description.''

Since its 1999 acquisition of Bresser Optik, Meade Instruments has been one of the largest distributors of binoculars in the world.

Meade is a leading designer and manufacturer of optical products including telescopes and accessories for the beginning to serious amateur astronomer. Meade also offers a complete line of binoculars for the casual observer to the serious sporting or birding observer. The Company distributes its products worldwide through a network of specialty retailers, mass merchandisers and foreign distributors. Additional information on Meade is available at www.meade.com. Information on PMA 2002 is available at www.pmai.org.