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OLYMPUS -
Digital
SLR Cameras
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Dedicated Digital System Born of a Design Philosophy that Places the
Highest Priority on Digital Image Quality |
The
Olympus interchangeable lens type digital SLR camera system maximizes
the inherent characteristics and benefits of digital cameras, and was
developed in compliance with the new Four Thirds System standards and a
design philosophy that places the highest priority on digital image
quality. It is a digital SLR system that uses a 4/3-type image sensor
to achieve both outstanding mobility and superb image quality, and it
features dedicated interchangeable lenses specifically developed to
maximize the performance capabilities of digital cameras.
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| Dedicated
High-Performance Digital Camera Lenses: A Fusion of the Finest
Conventional Optical Technology and the Most Advanced Digital Imaging
Technology |
Dedicated
digital camera lenses demand an even higher standard of precision than
conventional film camera lenses, but by drawing on our extensive
expertise in optical technology in an effort to achieve the ultimate in
digital image quality, we were successful in developing a new line
Zuiko Digital high-performance digital SLR camera lenses. Zuiko Digital
lenses feature large apertures and light, compact design that greatly
extend photographers' shooting capabilities, and they are manufactured
using ultra-high-precision production technologies to assure superior
resolving power and contrast. Four lenses will be offered in the first
wave of product introductions, but various other interchangeable lenses
will be added to the lineup in the future.
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| About
the Zuiko Brand |
It was in
1936 that the Takachiho corporation, forerunner of today's Olympus
Optical Co., Ltd., introduced its first camera, the Semi-Olympus I. The
camera's lens was given the name Zuiko, a Japanese word that means
"light of the gods." It was an auspicious name, chosen partially
because the lens had been developed at the Mizuho Optical Research
Laboratory (in Japanese, the first character of the name "Mizuho" can
also be read "zui"), and partially because the corporate name,
Takachiho, is a Japanese word that means "mountain of the gods." But
more than the name, it was the extremely high quality of the lens that
sparked comment at the time. And ever since, Zuiko lenses have been
featured on succeeding generations of Olympus cameras. The Zuiko lenses
for our OM SLR system 35mm film cameras, for example, were widely
acclaimed for their remarkable resolving and imaging power, and became
one of the world's most respected high-performance lens brands.
Now, drawing on traditional optical and lens production technologies,
as well
as the most advanced digital technologies, the Zuiko brand has evolved.
The result
is the Zuiko Digital lens lineup, a series of dedicated
high-performance lenses
developed specifically for the next generation of digital SLR cameras.
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| About the
Four Thirds
System |
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The Four
Thirds System is a
next-generation digital SLR camera system that features a 4/3-type
image sensor and a line of interchangeable lenses specifically
developed to match the optical characteristics of digital SLR cameras
without being constrained by the design demands of conventional 35mm
film SLR cameras. In addition, the Four Thirds System establishes an
open body and lens mount standard to ensure compatibility between
bodies and lenses produced by different manufacturers.
Currently available interchangeable lens type digital SLR cameras are
basically based on conventional 35mm camera systems. As a result, they
must be equipped with CCDs or other image sensors that are comparable
in size to 35mm or APS film. However, because the imaging
characteristics of these large image sensors are fundamentally
different from those of film, a number of issues can prevent them from
achieving their full performance potential. These issues include:
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| (1) |
Although
film is capable of responding to light that strikes it at a high angle
of incidence, a high angle of incidence can prevent sufficient light
from reaching sensor elements at the periphery of an image sensor,
resulting in poor color definition at the outer edges of the image,
particularly when shooting with wide-angle lenses.
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To
achieve the resolutions required by the milli-micron pitch of image
sensor elements, the demands of optical design require the use of much
larger lenses. Moreover, manufacturers of digital SLR camera systems
have until now adopted the lens mounting systems used on their
respective 35mm film SLR cameras, making bodies and lenses produced by
different manufacturers incompatible with one another.
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With the Four
Thirds System,
it is possible to produce lenses that maximize the performance
potential of digital camera image sensors while also offering high
mobility, handling ease, and the wider range of choices that lens mount
standardization assures. It is an entirely new digital SLR camera
system standard that was designed and developed specifically to
maximize the imaging characteristics and performance advantages of
digital cameras. Announced by Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. and the Eastman
Kodak Company in September 2002, the Four Thirds System is an open
standard that other manufacturers are being encouraged to support. Fuji
Photo Film Co., Ltd. has already announced that it will support the
standard.
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| 4/3-Type
Image Sensor |
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The Four
Thirds System
defines a standard for 4/3-type CCD, CMOS, or other image sensors to
allow the use of dedicated digital SLR camera lens systems that
maximize image sensor performance and ensure outstanding image quality
while also being smaller, easier to handle, and higher in mobility than
35mm film SLR camera lens systems.
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| Lens Mount
Standardization |
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The Four
Thirds System is an
open standard with standardized camera body and lens mounts, assuring a
level of mounting compatibility that has been impossible to achieve
with digital SLR cameras that utilize existing 35mm film SLR lens
systems. In addition, the new system defines standards for image circle
size (the diameter of the area in which the subject is resolved) and
back focus distance (the distance from the lens mount to the image
sensor).
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| Summary |
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| Olympus
Optical Co., Ltd.
(President: Tsuyoshi Kikukawa) is pleased to announce the introduction
of the Olympus E-1 digital SLR camera. The E-1 is the first camera in
the world to realize the design advantages of the new Four Thirds
System for digital single lens reflex cameras and interchangeable
lenses. |
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The Four
Thirds System is a
newly developed digital camera design standard that uses a 4/3-type CCD
image sensor to achieve both outstanding mobility and superb image
quality. The system also features dedicated interchangeable lenses
whose optical design is specifically geared to match the performance
requirements of digital imaging. In addition, the Four Thirds System
establishes a common standard for lens mounts to ensure that lenses and
bodies made by different manufacturers are truly interchangeable.
The E-1 is the world's first Four Thirds System camera, and Olympus'
first interchangeable lens type digital SLR camera. Its body, lenses,
flash equipment, and other accessories are all designed exclusively for
digital camera use, and it offers the high image quality, high
mobility, and high reliability that professional users demand.
Digital camera image quality is primarily determined by the lens, CCD
image sensor, and image data processing engine. The E-1 satisfies
professional photographers'
demands for high image quality by teaming a 4/3-type, 5-megapixel CCD
that uses full-frame data transfer to ensure a wide dynamic range, with
lenses that are
specifically designed to maximize the performance potential of the CCD,
and an ideally matched image processing system. In addition, an
exclusive new Olympus
Dust Reduction System significantly reduces the problem of the image
sensor being contaminated by dust when changing lenses, something which
has plagued interchangeable-lens-type
digital SLRs up until now.
The body is constructed of a light, rigid magnesium alloy, and despite
incorporating the Dust Reduction System and other features that enable
it to withstand the rigorous demands of professional use, weighs a mere
660 grams.
A variety of features ensure the quick response that professional users
demand. A high-capacity on-board memory and a newly developed
high-speed image processing engine enable up to 12-frame sequential
shooting at a speed of up to 3 frames per second. Furthermore, a phase
difference detecting auto focusing system provides fast, accurate
focusing for quick, responsive shooting that pro users are sure to
appreciate.
IEEE1394 and USB 2.0 interfaces are provided for high-speed transfer of
image data to personal computers. Both Windows(R) and Mac OS
environments are supported the included OLYMPUS Studio 1.0 software
provides much faster RAW data processing than has been previously
realized. In addition, a new image selection function speeds thing up
even more by making it easy for users to select only the best shots for
RAW data image rendering. |
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| Top Features |
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Dedicated
digital design for the high image quality that professional users
demand [ or Dedicated digital design for professional image quality ] |
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Light,
rigid, dust-and-water-droplet-resistant magnesium-alloy body with
high-endurance shutter for high mobility and reliability |
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Newly
developed image processing engine and high-speed, high-precision AF
system for high-speed shooting and image processing |
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Wide array
of exposure controls and function settings for versatile shooting
capabilities |
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Supports
OLYMPUS Studio 1.0 software for professional digital workflow
management (trial version included) |
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| Main Features |
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| PROFESSIONAL-GRADE
IMAGE
QUALITY |
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A
Dedicated Digital Camera Lens Line-Up |
| Interchangeable
lenses that are designed for use on both film and digital SLR cameras
have always suffered from diminished resolving power at the periphery
of the lens when used on digital cameras. On the E-1, this problem was
solved by developing a line of lenses specifically for digital camera
use. As a result, distortion is low and color fidelity is high even at
the periphery of the imaging
area. |
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Full-Frame
CCD |
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4/3-type, 5.0-megapixel CCD is used for image capture. Offering 4 - 5
times the imaging area of the 1/1.8-type and 2/3-type sensors used in
most compact digital cameras, the E-1's sensor delivers the image
quality that professional users demand. In addition, it is the world's
first dedicated still-image sensor, and offers full-frame data transfer
with a wide latitude that allows shooting under a wide range of
lighting conditions -- something that is impossible to achieve with the
interline CCD that are used on most digital still cameras. In addition,
full-frame CCDs offer higher grayscale sensitivity, ensuring better
shadow and highlight detail than interline CCDs. |
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3 ASICs
for High-Speed Shooting and Image Processing |
| Image
processing, data transfer, and camera control can all be carried out
simultaneously thanks to the use of a high-performance image processing
engine and three ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits). In
addition, the performance characteristics of the image processing
engine, lenses, and CCD are ideally matched to ensure the very highest
image quality. A high-capacity 128MB working memory are built-in to
further assist high-speed shooting and image processing. |
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Newly
Developed Focusing Screen |
| A bright,
clear view is provided by a newly developed Neo Lumi Micron Mat
focusing screen. A hexagonal microlens with a 20µm pitch assures
a bright view and easy focusing, with minimal moir� effect for natural
blurring of out-of-focus elements. For high-precision work, the
focusing screen can easily be replaced with a separately
available grid-pattern focusing screen. |
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100
Field of View |
| The
pro-oriented viewfinder provides a field of view that is approximately
100% of the imaging area. An eyepiece shutter prevents light from
entering the eyepiece during exposure. |
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| PRO-ORIENTED
MOBILITY AND
RELIABILITY |
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Light,
Rigid, Magnesium-Alloy Body |
| Despite
the E-1's pro-grade specifications, the use of a light, yet rigid,
magnesium alloy results in a low body weight of just 660 grams, which
is an ideal weight for professional use. |
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Dust
Reduction System with the World's First Ultrasonic Rounded Filter
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exclusive new Olympus-developed Supersonic Wave Filter and Dust
Reduction System significantly reduce the problems that can be caused
by dust that enters the camera when changing lenses, or by particulate
matter generated inside the camera. Ultrasonic vibration instantly
removes dirt and dust, preventing image quality deterioration and
ensuring beautiful, high-quality images with every shot. |
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150,000-Shot
High-Endurance Shutter |
| Designed
and constructed with the needs of professional users in mind, the
shutter unit is a focal plane shutter with vertical-travel metal
curtains. It has undergone 150,000-shot tests* (in-house) to ensure
outstanding endurance. In Anti-Shock mode, shutter release is delayed
until residual vibration caused by viewfinder
mirror retraction has subsided. |
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Outstanding
Resistance to Dust and Water Droplets |
| Special
seals protect key areas of the body and help shut out moisture and
dust, ensuring that the camera meets the rigorous demands of
professional use. |
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Superb
Handling for High Mobility |
| The camera
fits the hand perfectly from the first moment, and offers superb
handling in situations that demand high mobility, with an "analog feel"
to controls that are positioned precisely where the user expects them
to be. Conveniently positioned main and sub dials make it easy to
adjust shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, and other
settings. In addition, the functions assigned to each dial can be
customized to suit the photographer's preference. |
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| HIGH-SPEED SHOOTING AND
IMAGE PROCESSING |
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High-Speed,
High-Precision AF |
| A new TTL
phase difference detecting auto focusing system developed specifically
for Four Thirds System cameras provides fast, accurate focusing at 0EV
to 19EV (ISO100 sensitivity). When shooting in the dark, the camera's
built-in AF illuminator can be set to activate automatically when
needed. In Continuous AF mode, predictive autofocusing ensures focusing
accuracy even when shooting moving subjects. There are three autofocus
target zones. Although the default AF mode uses automatic target zone
selection, users can select one of the three zones manually if they
prefer. |
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12-Frame
Sequential Shooting at Up to 3 Frames per Second |
| In
Sequential mode, a maximum shooting speed of up to three frames per
second is offered. What's more, the E-1's 128MB buffer memory allows up
to 12 frames can be taken in a single burst regardless of whether they
are shot in RAW, TIFF, or JPEG mode. |
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| A FULL
ARRAY OF SHOOTING
FUNCTIONS |
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Versatile
Exposure Controls |
| Exposure
control modes include Aperture-Priority AE, Shutter-Speed-Priority AE,
Program AE, and Manual modes. In Program AE mode, a Program Shift
function allows users to change the combination of aperture and shutter
speed settings while maintaining optimum exposure. Exposure
compensation is available over a wide range of +/-5EV. Compensation is
incremented in 1/3EV steps by default, but can be set to 1/2EV or 1EV
steps according to the user's preference. |
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Auto
Exposure Bracketing |
| Three-frame
or five-frame auto exposure bracketing is possible in 1/3EV, 1/2EV, or
1EV steps over a maximum range of +/-5EV, allowing photographers to
obtain the results they want even in lighting conditions that make it
difficult to determine the correct exposure settings. |
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Three
Metering Systems |
| Users are
offered a choice of Digital ESP (Electro Selective Pattern) metering,
center-weighted average metering, or spot metering. Olympus' widely
acclaimed proprietary Digital ESP metering measures and calculates
light levels for the center and other areas of the frame separately to
ensure accurate metering under complex lighting conditions.
Center-weighted average metering measures light values for the entire
image area, but places greater emphasis on the values recorded at the
center of the frame. Spot metering measures light values for a small
area at the center of the frame that represents about 2% of the total
image area. |
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Wide
ISO Sensitivity Range |
| ISO
sensitivity settings include Auto, 100, 200, 400, and 800. In addition,
there is an ISO Boost function with 1600 and 3200 settings that can be
used when shooting at fast shutter speeds or in very low light. |
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High-Precision
White Balance |
| The E-1's
auto white balance system achieves exceptional accuracy by using
information from both the CCD and a separate light sensor. Twelve
preset white balance settings ranging from 3000K to 7500K can also
easily be set using button and dial controls, and +/-7-step fine tuning
is available for all white balance settings. A one-touch white balance
function allows users to store and retrieve up to four frequently used
white balance settings at the touch of a button -- a great convenience
for studio work with custom lighting setups. |
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Auto
White Balance Bracketing |
| Auto white
balance bracketing saves a single frame of RAW data as three separate
images, making it easy to obtain optimum color balance in lighting
conditions that make it difficult to determine the correct white
balance settings. The width
of the auto bracketing steps can set in three levels. |
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Noise
Reduction and Advanced Noise Filter Functions |
| The noise
reduction function uses a proprietary Olympus algorithm to detect and
eliminate the random noise that can appear on long-exposure images. The
advanced noise filter offers improved noise discrimination at the edges
of picture elements,
ensuring both minimal noise and superior edge definition. |
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Shading
Compensation |
| By
switching on shading compensation, photographers can alleviate the loss
of brightness at the image periphery that can sometimes occur,
particularly when shooting at very wide angles. |
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High-Precision
Flash Control |
| A wide
range of flash modes is provided, including auto, red-eye reduction,
slow synchro (front and rear curtain), and fill-in. Flash intensity can
be controlled over a range of +/-2EV in 1/3EV, 1/2EV, or 1EV steps
according to the user's preference. A variety of optional external
flash units are available. Developed specifically for digital camera
use, they offer photographers a wide range of flash shooting
capabilities. (See separate release on Four Thirds System accessories
for details.). |
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A
Choice of Color Space Settings |
| Two color
space settings are offered: sRGB, which is the standard for Windows(R)
environments and inkjet printer output, and Adobe(R) RGB, which
is used widely for professional use.Users can choose the one that best
suits their creative
needs. |
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Saturation,
Contrast and Sharpness Control |
| Saturation
and contrast can be set to any of five levels; sharpness can be set to
any of seven levels. Whether they want pro-quality color fidelity or
sharp vibrant colors, photographers can customize each image to suit
their preference. When shooting the sky, vegetation, or human subjects,
for example, they can emphasize
specific colors to suit their subject. |
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Simultaneous
RAW/JPEG Image Recording |
| Image data
can be recorded in RAW, TIFF, or JPEG format. In addition, users can
select RAW / JPEG record mode if they want to save RAW data along with
JPEG SHQ, HQ, or SQ mode images. |
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Wide
Range of Custom Settings |
| The E-1's
pro-oriented custom settings includes seven different AF/AE lock
settings, as well as four custom reset settings that can be used to
restore all camera settings to a set of user-defined 'default' values.
AF lock operation can be effected by pressing the shutter button
halfway, or by assigning the AF lock function to the AE lock button. In
addition, the manual focus ring can be set for either clockwise or
counterclockwise rotation according to the user's preference. |
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| OUTSTANDING
COMPUTER
CONNECTIVITY |
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IEEE1394
and USB 2.0 Interfaces for High-Speed Image File Transfer |
| The E-1 is
equipped with both IEEE1394 and USB 2.0 interfaces for stress-free,
high-speed image file transfer to a personal computer. |
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Supports
Newly Developed All-In-One Digital Workflow Software |
| The
included Olympus Studio 1.0 software features a newly developed,
pro-oriented RAW data processing engine that prevents image degradation
caused by compression, bit loss, and tone jumps. The new engine
processes RAW data much more quickly then previous software programs,
and boosts workflow productivity with an improved selection function
that makes it easy to choose the best shot out of many similar images.
As a result, image selection on a computer monitor is as easy as on a
conventional lightbox, and photographers can rapidly narrow their field
of candidate images from several hundred images to just a few. When
working in a studio, the Olympus Studio software can be used to control
the camera from a computer, and images can be saved directly to hard
disk and viewed on the computer's monitor. |
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| Other
Features |
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TFT LCD
Monitor |
| The back
of the camera is equipped with a 134,000-pixel, high-resolution,
1.8-inch TFT color LCD monitor. Brightness can be set to any of 15
levels. |
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Histogram
and Shooting Information Display |
| Photographers
can view a wide range of information on the LCD monitor simply by
pressing the information display button. They can view a histogram
showing key information about the brightest highlights and darkest
shadows in an image. They can also view a highlight display that makes
it easy to identify overexposed areas, and they can view shooting
information such as focal length, exposure mode, exposure compensation,
shutter speed, aperture, and ISO sensitivity. |
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Control
Panel |
| In
addition to the essential shooting information that is displayed within
the viewfinder, photographers can confirm key settings via the LCD
panel on the top of the camera. A backlight is provided for easy
viewing in low light. |
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Support
for High-Capacity Media |
| In
addition to CompactFlashTM Type I and II memory cards, the
E-1 also supports MicroDrive media. xD Picture Cards can also be used
with a CompactFlash adapter
card. |
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Self-timer
and Remote Control |
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built-in self-timer offers a choice of 12-second or 2-second delay. An
optional RM-1 remote control unit is available and can be used with the
2-second delay setting or for immediate shutter release. An optional
RM-CB1 remote cable is also
offered. |
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