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Page 1 of 4 CENTER VALLEY, Pa., March 5, 2008 – Olympus today announces the
extremely portable E-420 – perfect for everyone who wants to step up to
the power and performance of a digital SLR (single lens reflex) yet
enjoy the ease of use and ability to compose images on the LCD common
to point-and-shoot cameras. Weighing a mere 380 grams (13.4 ounces),
the E-420 is 20 to 40 percent lighter than competing DSLRs. Good things
come in this small package, including Live View, which enables users to
hold the camera away from their faces and interact with their subjects
– ideal when capturing photos of children, for example.
This lightweight 10-megapixel DSLR offers heavyweight technologies,
including a bigger, more viewable 2.7-inch LCD and consumer-friendly
fast On-Screen Autofocus, Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology
and Perfect Shot Preview to get the most out of the Live View
experience. Additionally, when it comes to Live View, not all LCDs are
created equal. At 2.7-inches, the portable E-420 LCD is large enough
for users to compose and review images without squinting. The small
camera’s LCD is not just larger, it is part of a camera with
technologies intelligent enough to take advantage of the Live View
photography experience. These innovative technologies include:
• On-Screen Autofocus works as seamlessly as a point-and-shoot to
display subjects in focus on the LCD the instant the shutter is pressed
half way;
• Face Detection Technology targets and locks on up to eight faces
to ensure they are in focus and crystal clear for amazing portraits;
• New and Improved HyperCrystal II™ Technology delivers twice the
contrast and better viewing in extreme lighting conditions, a broader
range of color detail, and a wider angle of view on the LCD so you and
your friends can see it up to 176 degrees off-center;
• Shadow Adjustment Technology captures detail in the bright areas
of a frame and opens up detail in the shadows that other cameras would
render too dark or underexposed; and
• Perfect Shot Preview enables you to view and select your favorite
effect right on the LCD, and see how the image will look before you
even capture it, so you know that what you see is what you get.
“The Olympus E-420 delivers the professional-grade image quality of a
digital SLR with the simple operation of a point-and-shoot camera,”
said John Knaur, senior marketing manager - DSLR, Olympus Imaging
America Inc. “Thanks to the camera’s small size and lightweight body,
users can take the E-420 everywhere, and they will never miss another
shot because the of the camera’s straightforward controls.
Additionally, our innovative technologies help consumers get more from
Live View.”
World’s Smallest Digital SLR
A camera designed to be held away from the face lets you take great
photographs without weighing you down. The E-420 is small enough to fit
into a purse or a jacket pocket and light enough to shoot with
comfortably all day. Measuring 5.1 inches by 3.6 inches by 2.1 inches
(excluding protrusions), it is the world’s smallest digital SLR. And at
a featherweight 13.4 ounces, only its predecessor (E-410) weighs less.
The E-420’s new ergonomic grip on the front of the body allows for
easier one-handed operation and ensures a secure hold in the most
challenging shooting conditions.
One of the World’s Thinnest Lenses Meets the World’s Most Compact DSLR
The world’s smallest DSLR deserves a similarly compact lens, and
Olympus has it: the ultra compact Zuiko 25mm f2.8 digital specific
lens. This 0.9 inch-thick lens offers a fixed 50mm equivalent angle of
view. Together with the E-420, the Zuiko 25mm f2.8 lens will offer the
ultimate combination of ease of use and portability.
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