Three Olympus Products Receive 2004 Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) Awards

Olympus Corporation is pleased to announce that three of its products have received 2004 Technical Image Press Association TIPA Awards. 

• Best High-End Lens:Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150mm F2.0
• Best Digital Budget Compact Camera:Olympus CAMEDIA C-310 ZOOM
• Best 35mm Compact Camera:Olympus µ[mju:]-III 80

The ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150mm F2.0 (scheduled to go on sale in late Oct, 2004) lens received the 2004 TIPA Best High-End Lens Award, the CAMEDIA C-310 ZOOM (an export model not sold in Japan) compact digital camera received the 2004 TIPA Best Digital Budget Compact Camera Award, and the µ[mju:]-III 80 (an export model not sold in Japan) compact camera received the 2004 TIPA Best 35mm Compact Camera Award.

ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150mm F2.0 — 2004 TIPA Best High-End Lens Award

The ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150mm F2.0* (equivalent to 300mm on a 35mm camera) is a fast-aperture telephoto lens that complies with the Four Thirds System standard. It was developed for use with the dedicated digital interchangeable lens type Olympus E-System SLR camera. In announcing the award, TIPA said, "The Olympus 150mm f/2 lens was selected by the TIPA jury as the Best High-end Lens. This E-System lens exploits the advantages of the Four Thirds System, giving photographers a combination of telephoto power and wide aperture that is not available through 35mm based systems. With an optical design optimized for the unique demands of digital capture, this lens continues the commitment by Olympus to exploit the advantages of digital capture, rather than working around problems inherited from film cameras."

*Scheduled to go on sale in late Oct., 2004

CAMEDIA C-310 ZOOM — 2004 TIPA Best Digital Budget Compact Camera

The Olympus CAMEDIA C-310 ZOOM* is 3.2-megapixel compact digital camera equipped with a 3x optical zoom lens. In presenting the award, the judging panel stated that, "Olympus continues to blur the boundaries between conventional film cameras and the latest digital models both in terms of styling and price. Clearly demonstrating that high quality and sleek styling do not need to be expensive luxuries, the CAMEDIA C-310 ZOOM, boasting high resolution and a flexible zoom lens, is a worthy winner from one of the biggest names in photography."

*This model is not sold in Japan.

µ [mju:]-III 80 — 2004 TIPA Best 35mm Compact Camera Award

The µ[mju:]-III 80* is the latest addition to the Olympus µ[mju:] series that has recorded global sales of over 24 million units since its introduction in 1991. Representing a further evolution of the series' distinctive design concept, it features all-weather construction, auto color-balancing flash, and a host of other innovative, value-added features that led TIPA to say, "Proving that its success with digital cameras has not detracted from a commitment to film users, Olympus continues to develop its best-selling range of µ[mju:] 35mm compact cameras. Featuring a new ultra-compact flash unit to allow sleek styling and trademark weatherproof protection, the µ[mju:]-III 80 is an excellent example of a camera which can easily be slipped into a pocket but is ready to deliver high-quality images the moment it is switched on."

*This model is not sold in Japan.

The Technical Image Press Association is an independent association of writers and editors representing 31 publications in 12 European nations, and annually presents awards honoring products and technologies of special merit in the fields of photography and imaging. The awards will be presented at a ceremony scheduled to be held during Photokina 2004, the world's largest photographic and imaging-related exhibition, in Cologne, Germany, this coming September.