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OLYMPUS ROLLS OUT "FERRARI DIGITAL MODEL 2004" LIMITED-EDITION ULTRA- SLIM DIGITAL CAMERA
Designed with Ferrari, Customized Camera Has Formula One Racecar Styling and Olympus Engineering Innovations
Melville, New York, May 19, 2004 - Olympus, official sponsor of the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One racing team, proudly introduces the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL 2004(tm), the second in the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL series of Olympus cameras to be officially sanctioned by Ferrari S.p.A. Approximately 1,000 of these limited-edition models will be sold at select retailers throughout North and South America, of the 10,000 total units being sold worldwide.
The 3.2-megapixel Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL features several Olympus innovations housed in an aluminum body finished in distinctive Ferrari Red that exudes the aura of beauty, quality and advanced technology that are hallmarks of the Ferrari racing machines. The result is a camera specially crafted to appeal not only to all Ferrari and F1 racing fans, but also to anyone who appreciates fine design, superior performance, and the pleasure of owning a true limited-edition original.
A Partnership By Design
For the 2004 model, Olympus collaborated with Ferrari designers for a period of six months to ensure that an authentic F1 look was achieved. A special finishing process that produces a deeper luster was used to better match the signature Ferrari red of Ferrari racing car bodies. The distinctive gloss of the original finish is extremely difficult to reproduce, and multiple processes were required to achieve a Ferrari red that matches the beauty, quality, and durability of the original. The back of the camera body was given carbon-tone accents that have the same texture as the carbon fiber material used to create Ferrari F1 racing car bodies, and the side of the LCD monitor features the distinctive "Prancing Horse" logo of the Ferrari F1 team.
Olympus Innovations In High Gear
The customization and attention to detail of the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL are apparent from the moment the camera is switched on. The startup screen displays a photo of a Ferrari F2004 Formula One racing machine and the roar of a Ferrari engine plays, bringing the thrill of Ferrari F1 Grand Prix racing to life.
But the innovations don't stop there. The Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL, one of the first Olympus digital cameras to feature a 3X optical zoom lens with a folded light path (5.8-17.4mm, equivalent to 38-114mm zoom in 35mm camera format), is the slimmest, most compact digital camera Olympus has ever produced. Its flat metal body features clean, uncluttered lines and measures only 3.7" (W) x 2.6" (H) x .9" (D) and weighs just 5.6 ounces. Just like the Ferrari racecar, no extra weight has been added to the body in order to make it as ergonomic as possible.
Fast Processing Engine Under the Hood
The Olympus TruePic TURBO image processor in the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL enhances high-resolution detail and suppresses noise for sharper, clearer image quality, and optimizes overall processing speed for rapid startup, shutter release and playback.
Bigger Brighter LCD For Maximum Performance
Composing and reviewing images with the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL is now enhanced with a newly developed large 2.5-inch LCD monitor that delivers 210,000-pixels for a clear, high-definition view. In addition, the display offers three times the contrast of conventional LCD screens (based on in-house testing), and dramatically reproduces images with excellent definition and bright, vivid colors. The display offers a 160° viewing angle both on the vertical and horizontal axis, ensuring excellent visibility and beautiful image quality even when several users view photos simultaneously. The display also offers excellent visibility even at beaches, ski resorts, and other bright outdoor locations where conventional LCD monitors can be difficult to see.
A Place to Park Your Camera
Like the Ferrari Formula One racecar that drives back to the pits for a refueling and a tune up, the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL 2004 also comes with its own "garage", a multi-function docking station that allows users to take full advantage of the large, high-quality LCD display by setting the camera upright and using it as an attractive photo stand.
The camera docks to the cradle that is equipped with a DC power input terminal, an AV output terminal, and a USB port so that users can enjoy "Ferrari Slideshows" with four custom slide-to-slide transitions on the built-in display, or in a larger size on a computer monitor or TV, while the camera is being recharged. In addition, PictBridge(tm) support allows direct printing to any PictBridge-enabled printer without using a computer, further expanding the range of ways in which the camera can be enjoyed.
Designed for You
A new Album function allows captured images to be organized into photo albums on the camera's memory card media. Up to 12 albums of 100 images each can be created for easy viewing on the large LCD monitor, effectively making the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL a "camera-and-photo-album-in-one" that users can carry with them wherever they go.
In addition to regular shooting modes, the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL is equipped with optimized Scene Program modes to obtain the results users want in virtually any situation. There are 22 modes in all, including a Beach & Snow mode for sunny days at the beach or in snowy mountains, a Sunset mode and a Candle mode that boost color saturation without using the flash in low-light situations, a Sleeping Portrait mode that adjusts light sensitivity to allow pictures to be taken in very low light without using the flash, a Document mode that ensures text legibility, and more.
A new control dial significantly enhances operating ease by allowing users to cycle through the various settings displayed on the LCD screen menu by rotating the dial with the index finger of the right hand and activating the desired setting with a quick press of the thumb.
The easy-to-understand LCD screen menu interface is designed with entry-level users in mind, and provides a short explanation of each mode's function when a Scene Program mode is selected. In addition, multiple unwanted images can be deleted in a single operation, and image quality selection has been greatly simplified. Now, instead of choosing a combination of image quality and compression ratios, users can simply choose from a list of image quality modes with easy-to-understand names (Super High 3MB, High 2MB, PC Monitor 1MB, E-Mail VGA) that indicate the purpose and approximate size of the resulting image.
Included CAMEDIA Master 4.2 software makes it easy to upload images to the camera after they have been edited on a computer, and to backup photos and albums edited on the camera to a computer. It can also be used to upload photos from sources other than a digital camera, allowing users to carry their favorite images with them wherever they go.
Special Edition Accessories
The Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL includes an impressive array of accessories that, like the camera body, were designed in collaboration with Ferrari designers. The special packaging includes a number of rare Ferrari original items including a camera case and strap that feature a matching design, and are constructed of black, high-quality Alcantara-textured material with red stitching that is similar to the buckskin-finish material used in Ferrari racing cars.
There is also a special presentation box for camera storage embossed with the Prancing Horse logo, a Certificate of Authenticity that shows the camera's serial number, a Certificate of Authenticity card folder with autographed photos of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, an original instruction manual, and a Ferrari photo collection CD-ROM. The photo collection includes images from the five-year period 1999-2003, when Ferrari won consecutive Constructors World Championship titles.
Availability
Shipment of cameras is scheduled for late-July, 2004.
U.S. Pricing
Estimated Street Price: $699 (U.S.)
