ORLANDO, FL, (FEBR. 21, 2006) - Professional and advanced consumer photographers can now save money, time and avoid product obsolescence, thanks to a joint venture between Franke & Heidecke (for Rollei) and Komamura (for Horseman) to provide a family of integrated products that allow photographers to easily interchange lenses, backs, and accessories without having to outsource.

The two companies will unveil a major part of their new product family here at PMA, which begins Febr. 27. Among the products to be shown are the Rollei 6008 AF "Bundle," the Rollei X-ACT 2, the Horseman SW-D Pro wide angle, the Horseman LD "movement" camera for DSLRs and the Horseman 6x17 Super Panorama camera. Horseman will also show a 3D stereo camera proto type.

Franke & Heideck, manufacturer of the Rollei medium format camera in Germany, and Komamura (Horseman), a leading manufacturer of medium and large format cameras in Japan, last month announced their joint venture to distribute their medium and large format professional cameras in the U.S. through Komamura and doing business as Direct Source Marketing. DSM was created as a result of the joint venture between Komamura Corporation, a long time distributor of Rollei and Horseman products in Japan, and Franke & Heidecke, the Germany-based manufacturer of Rollei professional products.

All of the products in the Rollei/Horseman family work together. No other manufacturer offers this level of integration.

The following is a brief description of the products to be shown at PMA:

The Rollei 6008 AF, the world's first auto focus single lens reflex camera in a 6 x 6 medium format, is now available as a digital camera bundle for the professional photographer. The bundle includes a digital back, editing software, and an AF Xenotar 80 mm F2.8 lens.

The Horseman LD is a DSLR that has a unique ability to take advantage of camera movements with a Canon or Nikon. It provides a swing/tilt of up to 360 degrees, a rise/fall of 30 mm each and a lateral shift of 30 mm left and right.

You can use both medium and large format lenses and, with the LD's revolving back system, you can change format very quickly and smoothly.

The Rollei X-Act 2 bellows system is the first portable medium-format monorail camera with an optical bench. It provides an ideal workflow solution with its removable back.

The Horseman SW-D Pro is a super wide angle camera that works with digital camera backs, including those with the recently developed 36 x 48MM CCDs.

The Horseman 617 Panorama camera allows the professional photographer to capture the most challenging panoramic shot. It comes in a 6x17cm format (actual size:56x168mm).

The Horseman 3D camera is an innovative stereo solution, which will appeal not only to wedding and portrait photographers, but to the medical and industrial fields. This appeal is not only because of its 3D pictures, but because of its unique integration - it is one camera with two lenses mounted in a single shutter, not two lenses with two shutters.

MSRP pricing for the new products (street price will likely be lower) starting at $17,999. for the Rollei 6008AF bundle with the P20 digital back; $3,000 for the X-Act 2 system; $2,600 for the Horseman LD, $2,799 for the Horseman SW-D Pro and $5,000 for the Horseman 3D stereo camera.

For more information contact www.rollei.de , www.horsemanusa.com