Features ED Glass Lens, Compact Body, 3.2 Megapixels at Affordable Price

Melville, New York, March 2, 2003 – Olympus America introduces the new remarkably compact design of its next-generation Ultra Zoom series with the CAMEDIA® C-740 Ultra Zoom, a 10X optical zoom, 3.2 megapixel digital camera. The sleek, compact C-740 Ultra Zoom is ideal for the budget-conscious family photographer who wants the flexibility of a wide focal length range, automatic controls for basic point-and-shoot simplicity, and manual controls for maximum creativity in a portable package.

“Olympus has responded to consumer demand for a compact, powerful zoom digital camera by redesigning our Ultra Zoom series and making these cameras more portable,” said Martin Lee, vice president of marketing, Olympus America, Inc. “The most remarkable feature of this new camera is that even with its smaller size it features an incredible 10X optical zoom glass lens that ensures the best image quality in its class.”

Innovative
The C-740 Ultra Zoom offers a powerful Olympus aspherical ED (extra dispersion) glass lens to evenly distribute light across the camera’s CCD sensor to create a sharp, even exposure for details and vibrant colors at distances near or far. The camera’s 10X optical zoom is an equivalent zoom range of 38mm to 380mm – longer than many lenses used on professional SLR film cameras – and its additional seamless digital zoom capabilities increase the lens range to a total 30X seamless zoom (10X optical zoom + 3X digital zoom) of about 1050mm equivalent.

Stylish
The C-740 Ultra Zoom is based on the popular Olympus C-700 Ultra Zoom series (the world's smallest optical Ultra Zoom digital cameras), and provides even more pixels and has a sleeker, more compact durable body than its predecessors. Because it uses the miniature xD-Picture Card exclusively, the C-740 measures a mere 4.2" long x 2.6" high x 2.7" wide, and weighs just 10.4 ounces, making it the perfect travel companion to go the distance.

Intelligent
The 3.2 megapixel CCD of the C-740, and Olympus TruePicTM technology, allows users to obtain a realistic look with their photographs at all photo sizes e-mailed or printed. The camera’s CCD captures the detail needed for true crystal clear photo quality printing even on print sizes of 8" x 10" and larger.

Approachable
The C-740 Ultra Zoom offers a menu architecture that’s easy to navigate to get the right settings fast. In fully Programmed Auto mode, the camera offers basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking in typical situations. The easy-to-use Scene Program on the mode dial provides fully automatic exposure adjustments for the photographer who wants optimum results in a wide variety of settings: Portrait, Self Portrait, Landscape-Portrait, Sports, Night Scene and Landscape photography. The special “My Mode” feature saves time by allowing the user to assign frequently used settings to the mode dial for quick access.

The C-740 Ultra Zoom's advanced settings include controls for aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual operation and are ideal for experienced photographers who want to take control. And transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the supplied Auto-Connect USB feature that does not require software drivers for hassle-free image downloads. Images may also be viewed on a television with the supplied video cable.

Exciting Features for the Most Realistic Digital Images
With the C-740 Ultra Zoom, what you see is what you get because its Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) shows you exactly what the camera will capture on the CCD. The EVF also displays aperture, shutter speed, and image quality settings and can be used in playback in addition to the 1.5" color LCD display.

The C-740 Ultra Zoom sports a fast shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second for action photography, the extensive shutter speed range also allows long exposures of up to 16 seconds in manual mode, enabling photographers to express their creativity when capturing night scenes or sunsets.

Olympus photos are known worldwide for vibrant, sharp and photo-realistic image quality. This is achieved with a host of key technologies including Olympus' high-quality all-glass lens (with aspherical lens elements) that's specially designed for digital cameras, and provides the equivalent of 38 to 380mm, f2.8/3.7 to 8.0 in 35mm photography. The Macro Mode allows users to take close up photographs to capture details like dewdrops on a petal.

Other controls include Digital ESP multi-pattern and spot metering; auto white balance; multiple flash settings and exposure compensation. The camera comes with a built-in flash that offers 5 settings including slow synch to provide the widest range of options.

The cameras also capture QuickTimeTM video so users can create short movies that can be sent over the Internet to co-workers, friends and family.

Availability
The C-740 Ultra Zoom will be available in April 2003.

U.S. Pricing
C-740 Ultra Zoom Street Price: $499.00 (U.S.)
C-740 Ultra Zoom SRP: $599.00 (U.S.)

For more information contact Chris Sluka, public relations manager, Olympus America Inc, Consumer Products Group, Two Corporate Center Dr., Melville, NY 11747-3157, ph: (631) 844-5000 (800) 622-6372, Fax: (631) 844-5262 or the Olympus Web Site: http://www.olympusamerica.com. Review units and high-resolution images of the camera are available from Mullen Public Relations. Contact Michael Bourne, senior account executive, 978-468-8953 or [email protected].

ABOUT OLYMPUS – Nothing’s impossible.
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a global leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing optical-digital product solutions for health care and consumer segments. The company leverages R&D investment in technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines that include:

• Digital and film cameras, and digital voice recorders; and
• Minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical endoscopes;
• Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
• Chemistry-immuno analyzers and lab automation systems.

In the U. S. and Canada, Olympus America Inc. serves health care, scientific and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial and other service offerings and is the leading brand in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. The company’s market-leading consumer camera products and services business spans North and South America. Olympus America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and parent company to develop state-of-the-art products and services that are innovative, intelligent, and easy to use. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.