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KYOCERA's CONTAX Tvs Digital Arrives!
World's First "Boutique" Point & Shoot Digital Still Camera Incorporating A Carl Zeiss T* Lens
Somerset, NJ – Kyocera Optics, Inc., a digital imaging industry leader, announces the arrival of the highly anticipated Contax Tvs Digital, the world's first digital camera targeting the demands of the prosumer and advanced amateur customer segments. The Contax Tvs Digital employs the latest in optical technologies and achieves superior image quality by offering 5-megapixel resolution with 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom for a maximum of 12x zoom. The Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* f/2.8-4.8 lens includes three aspherical elements that cover the focal length of 7.3-21.9mm, which is equivalent to a 35mm to 105mm zoom in 35mm format."Carrying on the tradition set by the popular Contax T series, the Contax Tvs Digital delivers an extraordinary high standard of quality combined with an array of features not found on most digital cameras," explained Ben La Marca, President of Kyocera Optics, Inc.
The Contax Tvs Digital boasts a newly designed Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar Lens with T* coating, a built-in diopter, infrared wireless remote control and a titanium body (available in both silver and black versions).
The T* (T Star) seven-layer, anti-reflection coating is applied to every glass surface of the Carl Zeiss lens dramatically reducing flare and increasing contrast. Internal reflections cause considerable damage to an image because white light hits the image plane washing out, not only the natural beauty of the colors, but important image detail as well. The very special T* anti-reflection coating virtually eliminates this damage by canceling out reflections through a high-precision phase shift process. As a result, only a clear, saturate, high-contrast image meets the CCD.
Outdoor LCD viewing has often been a problem in the past. That is, until Kyocera pioneered a new technology, which has been incorporated into the new TVS Digital. The new "Dayfine" 1.6" TFT color LCD makes it easier than ever to view images or subjects while outdoors in very bright conditions. The "Dual Backlight" design incorporates a newly developed special optical film to increase the transmission of light from the LCD. In addition, ambient light is used to increase the intensity of the image displayed on the LCD. This increases the brilliance and contrast even under the brightest outdoor conditions.
The Contax Tvs Digital features various multi-shooting modes. The macro mode allows the camera to focus as close as 3.7 inches. Five flash mode options are available (auto flash, red-eye reduction auto flash, fill-in flash, flash off and nighttime portrait). A variety of other modes are offered, including landscape, color, sepia, b/w, white balance (auto, preset, daylight, tungsten, cloudy, fluorescent), sharpness and chroma. Manual exposure compensation (+/- 2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 increments) is also available.
A well-designed control layout makes for quick and easy use of the camera's menu. Two set-up modes allow faster menu access. One mode, Set-up "C," changes camera functions (flash mode setting, change of exposure compensation range, etc.), while the other mode, Set-up "D," changes digital functions (electric beeping tone, electronic zooming, start-up screen setting, etc.). Another feature is a customized startup screen, which is similar to a PC desktop. The user can choose an image taken with the camera to be displayed on the screen each time the camera is turned on.
An AVI movie mode is also featured on the new Contax Tvs Digital and can hold up to 60 seconds. For the user who wants to be a part of the picture, a remote control makes it easy.
Designed for long-time shooting, the camera is powered by a high capacity lithium-ion battery and has been tested to last over 4 ½ hours in continuous playback mode. The Contax Tvs Digital comes in both titanium silver or black finish, measures at 4.4" W x 2.4" H x 1.4'" D and weighs 7.4 ounces. Images are downloaded via the included USB cable.
The Contax Tvs Digital features Epson's revolutionary new PRINT Image Matching (PIM) technology, enabling it to work perfectly with the newest generation of EPSON Stylus Photo printers. With PRINT Image Matching, critical image specific parameters for printing are recorded by the camera and saved in each image data file. PRINT Image Matching-enabled Epson Stylus Photo printers use this information to ensure that they accurately reproduce the image captured by the camera.
The street price for the Titanium silver camera is $899.95 and is available beginning March 2003; the street price for the Titanium black camera is $999.95
and is available beginning April 2003.
For a listing of authorized dealers, visit us at www.contaxcameras.com.
About Contax:
Contax North America, a division of Kyocera Optics, Inc., markets a complete line of high-end photographic equipment including 35mm manual and auto focus SLR's, the World's First auto focus full-frame digital SLR, medium format SLR's, rangefinders and sophisticated digital, film lens/shutter and zoom cameras. The company also maintains the exclusive license to distribute world renowned Carl Zeiss T* lenses for 35mm, 645, Digital and Advanced Photo System cameras. For more information, please visit us at www.contaxcameras.com.
About Kyocera Corporation:
Kyocera Optics, Inc., is owned by Kyocera International, Inc., the holding company for seven wholly owned Kyocera subsidiaries headquartered throughout North America.
Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation (NYSE: KYO), the group's global parent, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, the company has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems and industrial ceramics. Kyocera Corporation recorded consolidated sales of $7.78 billion for the year ended March 31, 2002. On July 15, Kyocera was ranked #25 in Japan, and #272 in the world, on BusinessWeek magazine's annual "Global 1000" listing of the world's most highly valued publicly held companies. For more information, please visit us at www.kyocera.com.
Contax Tvs Digital Specifications*
| Type | Digital still camera with record, playback and erase modes |
| Recording Media Image Format |
SD Memory Card and Multi-Media (MMC) cards Complies with JPEG standard (Exif2.2), DCF Standard, supports DPOF |
| Effective Pixels | 5.0 Mega-pixels |
| Pickup Device | 1/1.8" square-pixel interlace readout system CCD with 5.25 gross pixels |
| Pixels (still image) | 2560x1920, 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480 |
| Pixels (movie) | 320x240, 160x120 |
| Image Quality | F (Fine), N (Normal) |
| Lens Aperture |
Carl Zeiss T* Vario Sonnar 7.3mm-21.9mm, F2.8-4.8 (6 elements in 6 groups), (approx. focal length in 35mm format, 35mm-105mm) Wide: F2.8, F3.3, F4.0, F4.7, F5.6, F6.7 Telephoto: F4.8, F5.6, F6.7 |
| Digital Zoom | x1.3, x1.6, x2, x3, x4 |
| Focusing Control | Video feedback auto-focus and manual focus |
| Focusing Range (from CCD surface) |
AF: 0.6m ~ infinity MF: 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 5m, infinity Macro: 0.15 ~ 0.6m |
| Exposure Control Metering modes Automatic exposure range Exposure compensation |
Program AE, aperture-priority AE, LT (Long Time) mode CCD multi-area evaluation metering, center-weighted metering, and spot metering LV3 ~ LV16.5 +2.0EV ~ -2.0EV (1/3EV or 1/2 steps) ABC (Automatic Bracketing Control) +/-0.3EV, +/-0.5EV, +/-1.0EV |
| Shutter | CCD electronic shutter and programmed electronic shutter with independent aperture control, 1 ~ 1/2000 sec LT mode: 1 sec, 2sec, 4sec, 8sec |
| White Balance | Auto, Day light, Cloudy, Tungsten lamp, Fluorescent light, Preset |
| Color mode | Color, B/W, Sepia |
| Sharpness | +3 ~ -1 (5steps) |
| Chroma | +, 0, - (3steps) |
| Exposure sensitivity | Auto and Manual setting |
| Finder Optical finder LCD monitor |
Real-image zoom viewfinder Approx. field of view 83%, magnification 0.35 ~ 0.99, diopter adjustment, – 3 ~ +1 diopter 1.6", 84960pixels TFT Color LCD monitor (354x240 dot) |
| Flash | Built-in Flash, flash-compensation – 1 ~ +1 |
| Flash modes | Auto-flash, auto red-eye-reduction flash, no flash, fill-in flash, night portrait flash |
| AF modes | Wide AF and Spot AF |
| Movie mode | File format: AVI file, sound record on/off Recording resolution: 320x240, 160x120 Recording period: 30 sec/session (320x240) 120 sec/session (160x120) Playback: QuickTime 4.1 or above (Windows, Macintosh) |
| Function (still image) C. Menu D. Menu |
Self-timer/remote release, AF mode, metering mode, ABC, drive (single, continuous), LT mode, flash output compensation Color mode, Image Resolution, Image Quality, WB bracketing, Sharpness, Chroma |
| Function (movie) C. Menu D. Menu |
Self-timer/remote release, AF mode Sound record mode on/off, Color mode, Movie Resolution |
| LCD Monitor | Flash mode, WB, metering mode, focus mark, drive(C ), pixels, quality, number of recordable images, exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture, exposure sensitivity, Sharpness, Chroma, digital zoom, self-timer/remote release, macro, MF, AFL, ABC, WB bracketing, battery indicator ,date |
| Display Panel | Flash mode, macro, drive mode (c), number of recordable images, MF, AFL, exposure compensation indicator, LT, battery indicator |
| Playback mode | Multiple image display, after record, protect, erase, erase all, resizing, slide show, DPOF setting Close up image playback, Thumbnail Playback, Histogram display |
| After record | 30sec/still image File format: wave |
| Resizing | 320x240 or 160x120 file format: jpeg |
| Delete | Erase single frame or erase all frames |
| SET UP mode Setup (C) Setup (D) |
Flash default, ABC, AFL hold time, AE lock by AFL button, exposure comp. hold time, exposure comp. step LCD monitor brightness, date, date imprint, format, auto-off time (power save), digital zoom, beep tone, shutter tone, select color, opening display image, auto REC review, language, file number reset, mode reset |
| Video output mode | NTSC/PAL composite video signal selectable |
| Input/output | Video output connector, External power input connector, USB connector (mini-B) |
| Power | 3.7v lithium ion battery pack (1500mAh) dedicated AC adapter |
| Outer shell material | Titanium |
| Dimension | 4.4" W x 2.4" H x 1.4" D (not including protruding parts) |
| Weight | Approximately 7.4 ounces (without battery pack and memory card) |
| Operating temperature | 0 ~ 45 degrees centigrade (under the dry conditions) |
| Accessory | Remote release (Contax Remote Controller RC-1) |
For product images contact Shari Ehrlich at (212) 355-5049 ext. 113 or email to sehrlich@hwhpr.com
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