Olympus, Panasonic and Sigma to Publish Joint Catalog

Listing Products Based on Four-Thirds Open Standard for Digital Camera Systems

Olympus Imaging Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic) and Sigma Corporation have jointly compiled a comprehensive catalog of exchangeable lens for their digital single-lens reflex camera systems based on the Four-Thirds System standard. Distribution of the new catalog, the first of its type in the industry ^(*), will commence in late September.

The Four Thirds System is a standard for digital single-lens reflex cameras designed and developed to take full advantage of the characteristics of digital technology. Because lens and body mounting information is based on an open standard, users can freely mix and match camera bodies and lenses supplied by participating manufacturers.

The "Four Thirds Lens Joint Catalog" was jointly compiled by the three participating manufacturers to provide users with a single catalog that would inform them about the fun and versatility offered by this open standard. In addition to coverage of all 24 exchangeable lenses supplied by the three participating manufacturers under the Four Thirds System standard, the 40 full-color pages also provide a clear yet highly detailed analysis of the features of each lens, together with numerous examples of photographs.

Distribution of the catalog through retailers in Japan will begin in late September. Overseas distribution will be initiated in stages, starting with the Photokina 2006 at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, which is the world's biggest photographic and imaging fair.

The website (http://www.four-thirds.org/en/) will be updated to coincide with the launch of the catalog. This will occur at 14:00(JST) today. New information about the Four Thirds System standard will be added to this website from time to time.

* For exchangeable lenses designed for digital SLR cameras; based on Olympus research.

Catalog Cover	Digital SLR Camera Exchangeable Lenses Based on the Four Thirds System Standard

Media Contacts
Olympus Corporation Public Relations and Investor Relations	Tel: +81-3-3340-2188
SIGMA Corporation Public Relations	Tel: +81-44-989-7432
Panasonic, International PR, Akira Kadota Panasonic News Bureau	Tel: +81-3-3578-1237 Tel: +81-3-3542-6205
Four Thirds System Standard Website:	http://www.four-thirds.org/en/

The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.
Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.
Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.