Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak CCD Image Sensor Powers First Olympus Digital-SLR Camera for Emerging Four Thirds System Standard
New KODAK KAF-5101CE Image Sensor Customized For Olympus Optical
ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 24 -- Eastman Kodak Company today announced that Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. of Japan has selected an enhanced version of the Kodak KAF-5101CE charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor for its new Olympus E-1 Digital Single Lens Reflex (D-SLR) camera system, the first digital camera designed for the emerging Four Thirds System standard.
The enhanced KAF-5101CE was designed and developed in conjunction with Olympus to match the exact optical characteristics of the E-1 camera (see today's related news from Olympus, Olympus Introduces Interchangeable Lens Type E-1 Digital SLR Camera Systems for Professional Use). By closely coupling the KAF-5101CE CCD image sensor with its new interchangeable lens family and digital image processing system, Olympus has developed a camera system offering professional-grade image capture, fast photographic speed, and broad user versatility.
The Kodak KAF-5101CE sensor is an enhanced 5.1 million pixel full-frame color CCD sensor that provides high-resolution digital images ideal for the professional and advanced amateur markets. Specific benefits of the new KAF-5101CE image sensor include:
- Image Quality
leverages Kodak's advanced Full-Frame CCD technology to
provide ultra-wide dynamic range for rendering fine image
details in the highlight and shadow areas and excellent color
fidelity for sharp images with brilliant colors;
- Speed 4/3-type
image sensor enables camera designs with extremely low shutter
lag, fast shutter speeds and rapid read-out for high image burst
rates;
- Size designed to
match the new Four Thirds System interchangeable lenses
resulting in a new class of camera lenses that are more compact
and half the size and weight of the equivalent focal length
lenses for traditional 35 mm cameras for improved
portability;
- Photo-sensitivity
matching the 4/3-type imager and lenses enables wide-angle
photography and improved sensitivity (effective ISO) for image
capture in dimly lit photographic conditions.
Jointly announced by Olympus and Kodak last year, the Four Thirds System standard represents a breakthrough in digital camera design. Digital SLR camera systems based on this architecture are fully optimized for digital image capture allowing cameras such as the E-1 to deliver the performance and image quality expected by the professional photographic market.
"The combination of the enhanced Kodak KAF-5101CE sensor and the new Olympus digital SLR camera with interchangeable lenses creates a revolutionary new category of digital SLR cameras that will appeal to photographers seeking the highest level of image quality and versatility," said Hiroshi Komiya, director, board member, executive managing officer and group president, Imaging System Group, Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. "We are excited to be working with Kodak's Image Sensor Solutions group to provide the marketplace with new offerings that leverage the latest digital standards for improved image capture."
Kodak and Olympus are members of the Universal Digital Interchangeable Lens System Forum, an industry forum that promotes the acceptance of the Four Thirds System by camera manufacturers. The delivery of the Kodak KAF-5101CE image sensor demonstrates Kodak's continued commitment to the Forum as well as to working with customers to deliver image sensors that address specific market needs and design standards.
"Kodak is proud to be working directly with Olympus to advance the adoption of the Four Thirds System standard to make a new class of digital cameras available to the professional photographer market," said Chris McNiffe, general manager, Kodak's Image Sensor Solutions organization. "By working with Olympus and delivering the enhanced KAF-5101CE sensor, Kodak continues to execute on its growth strategy of adapting technological innovation to advance the digital imaging market while opening up new market opportunities for Kodak and its customers."
The standard version of the KAF-5101CE image sensor is currently available. For specific ordering information and lead times, please contact Kodak's Image Sensor Solutions at (585) 722-4385 or by email at imagers@kodak.com.
About Kodak's Image Sensor Solutions (ISS)
Committed to being the world's leading supplier of image sensor solutions for high performance imaging markets, Kodak's Image Sensor Solutions (ISS) division is solving its customers' imaging needs by focusing on developing, manufacturing and marketing solid state charged-coupled device (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors for applications ranging from satellite and medical imaging applications to digital cameras and machine vision products. Under its business charter, ISS is responsible for aggressively identifying and marketing new applications and solutions to help Kodak's OEM partners and customers integrate Kodak components into their products and applications.
About Eastman Kodak Company and infoimaging
Kodak is the leader in helping people take, share, enhance, preserve, print and enjoy pictures -- for memories, for information, for entertainment. The company is a major participant in infoimaging -- a $385 billion industry composed of devices (digital cameras and PDAs), infrastructure (online networks and delivery systems for images) and services & media (software, film and paper enabling people to access, analyze and print images). Kodak harnesses its technology, market reach and a host of industry partnerships to provide innovative products and services for customers who need the information-rich content that images contain. The company, with sales in 2002 of $12.8 billion, is organized into four major businesses: Photography, providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; Commercial Imaging, offering image capture, output and storage products and services to businesses and government; Components, delivering flat-panel displays, optics and sensors to original equipment manufacturers; and Health, supplying the healthcare industry with traditional and digital image capture and output products and services.
For more information on Kodak's image sensor product line, visit www.kodak.com/go/imagers.