Olympus Announces Three New Zuiko Digital Lenses

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., October 16, 2007 - Launching together with the new Olympus E-3 Digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera, Olympus proudly adds three new ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses to its line of 100 percent digital-specific optics. These innovative lenses employ Olympus' newly-developed Supersonic Wave Drive (SWD) technology inside to provide quiet, ultra-fast autofocus (AF) speed, and offer several impressive distinctions.

The ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD focuses twice as fast as the previous ZUIKO DIGITAL lens with that focal length; and

The ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-35mm f2.0 SWD joins the existing ZUIKO DIGITAL 35-100mm f2.0 as the brightest fixed aperture lenses in their class.

Moreover, a new ultra-compact, high-performance ZUIKO DIGITAL EC-20 2x Teleconverter doubles the focal lengths of any lens attached from the wide selection of FourThirds and Olympus E-System lenses, for twice the telephoto power. Now the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD (which covers a zoom range equivalent to 100mm to 400mm on a 35mm camera lens), combined with the EC-20, will provide a huge equivalent zoom range of 200-800mm.

"With these three new SWD lenses, we've got outstanding glass to match the high quality performance of our flagship E-3 digital SLR," said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, Digital SLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. "In testing, the autofocus speed of the 12-60mm has proven to be the fastest in the world, and the 14-35mm is the world's first standard zoom lens to rival fixed focal length lens speed with a bright F2.0 aperture. The fast-focusing 50-200mm telephoto is ideal for sports and action photography, and these three lenses fulfill many of a photographer's focal length needs."

All three SWD lenses will be manufactured at the Olympus Tatsuno Plant in Japan, which is equipped with the highest state-of-the-art production technology in the field of optical equipment.

Supersonic Wave Drive Technology

Olympus-proprietary SWD technology has enabled an ultra-fast, whisper-quiet, high-precision AF system. Two compact, high-powered SWD devices power autofocus at an ultra-high speed by exciting unique elliptical oscillations, while an ultra-compact 5.3mm x 4.3mm optical encoder detects and controls the lens drive position using direct rotation detection without reduction gear. This enables it to achieve a level of precision that's accurate to 5 microns (5/1000 mm). When used in combination with the new E-3, which offers improved AF computation and lens-body communication rates, the SWD motors provide the fastest focusing speed of approximately 170 ms (0.17 seconds).

ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD

The ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD is a high-performance standard zoom lens, which covers a zoom range equivalent to 24mm to 120mm on a 35mm camera lens. Special optical glass elements are used to correct various types of aberrations, while the 100 percent digital design ensures high-definition performance with clear, crisp images from edge to edge. This lens also boasts impressive close-up shooting capability, allowing users to shoot from as close as 25cm throughout the zoom range.

The lens' autofocus is powered by Olympus' breakthrough SWD. Designed to be the world's fastest AF system, this extraordinary autofocus drive provides both high speed and high precision while operating with lower noise than ever. Optimized for use with the new E-3, this lens enables the camera to demonstrate the full power of its high-speed capability, providing the fastest autofocus available in the world using a standard zoom lens.

ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD

The ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD is a high-performance super-telescopic zoom lens that features, for the first time, the SWD (Supersonic Wave Drive) autofocus system and covers a zoom range equivalent to 100mm to 400mm of a 35mm camera lens. ED lens elements are used extensively to correct the color blurring that can occur when telescopic lenses are extended to their maximum focal length, while the digital-dedicated design ensures high-definition performance with clear, crisp images from edge to edge. Close-up shooting capability is also superb, with a minimum shooting distance of just 1.2 meters throughout the zoom range.

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