Olympus Introduces High Speed xD-Picture Card™: A New Type H-series

High-Speed, High-Capacity 512 MB Compact Memory Media for Digital Cameras

Melville, New York, November 28, 2005 – Olympus Imaging America Inc. proudly introduces the new H512 MB Type H-Series xD-Picture Card™, an advanced memory media designed for ultra-compact digital cameras. The H512 MB card has the highest speed performance in the xD-Picture Card™ series of media cards, and is scheduled to go on sale at the end of December 2005 with plans of introducing 256 MB and 1 GB capacities later on.

The H512 MB Type H-Series xD-Picture Card uses the latest high-capacity storage technology to pack 512 MB of memory and high speed performance onto an ultra-compact media card measuring just 25.0mm (W) x 20.0mm (H) x 1.7mm (D) in size. The Type H-series xD-Picture Card TM is being developed using this advanced technology.

The H512 MB enables users to take and store approximately 250 shots averaging an image size of 8 megapixels with an Olympus digital still camera in HQ mode (the default high-quality image setting). The card features high-speed data-transfer capabilities, achieving write speeds up to 2-3 times faster than the Standard and Type M xD-Picture CardTM when used with Olympus digital cameras.*

“The rising pixel count and the advanced video-recording functions for digital still cameras are driving demand for digital camera memory media with higher speed performance,” said John D. Blakeslee, Business Manager, Digital Memory Products. “Olympus plans to apply this high-capacity, high speed memory technology to develop the xD-Picture CardTM for Olympus digital cameras with memory capacities of up to 8GB.”

The letter “H” is printed on the new H-Series media cards alongside their memory capacity. The xD-Picture Card logo is printed on the product in a distinctive blue (rather than in gold/silver, as with earlier series).

*Write speeds will differ from camera to camera, with shooting modes and shooting conditions. The H512 MB does not work with all digital camera models. Please check the Olympus web site for details. www.olympusamerica.com.

ABOUT OLYMPUS IMAGING AMERICA INC.
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering award-winning products for consumer and professional markets.

Olympus Imaging America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Olympus Corporation, to develop breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality that enhances peoples lives every day. These include:
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Olympus Imaging America Inc. is responsible for sales in United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.