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Through the years Olympus has contributed many creative
and exciting products and put them in the hands of consumers around the
globe. And in doing so, Olympus has been the pioneer behind a number of
technological and design innovations that enable people to see and hear
the world in ways never before thought possible.
DIGITAL INNOVATIONS
TruePicTM
First released with the C-2500L in November 1999, TruePic technology is an internal camera function which uses all the pixels captured by the CCD at all resolutions to create an image. The technology also micro smoothes the image to give a smoother and clearer image. This is very apparent when lower pixel resolution images are captured by the camera. Unlike traditional digital camera designs which throw away pixel information to create smaller file sizes, TruePic uses all the pixel information to create a better and truer photographic image at the lower pixel resolutions. TruePic can be found in the C-2500L SLR, E-10 SLR, E-20N SLR, and many other Olympus digital camera models.
OIE (Optimum Image Enlargement)
Released in August 2001 with the C-4040 Zoom, and included with the D-40 Zoom and other Olympus digital cameras, OIE is an algorithm which allows the camera to scale up the image while it is still RAW data in the camera. This allows a higher resolution image through advanced interpolation using the maximum optical spatial resolution of the CCD. For example, a 4 megapixel camera can produce a 7.6 megapixel file through this technology. Since the image enlargement happens before the image is saved as a JPEG it also reduces the JPEG artifacting that may happen in image-editing programs to achieve this same type of enlargement of the file size. The advantage is in printing to the photograph, giving the user a smoother print.
"Lenses designed to be digital"
As the pixel resolution grew and pixel density became more of an issue many cameras faced issues with their lens choices. In 2000 with the introduction of the E-10 Olympus pioneered the first super high-quality zoom lens for digital photography. This 4x zoom lens features ED glass, Aspherical, and Low dispersion glass elements in a design which focuses all the light from edge-to-edge on the CCD to give extremely sharp, smooth and clear images. This knowledge is also applied to all Olympus digital cameras.
APM (Automatic Pixel Mapping)
Although an extremely rare problem, Olympus began including APM to handle "dead" or "stuck" pixels in the CCD with the C-4040 Zoom in the fall of 2001. Most customers will never need to use the function, but it is there for those who depend on their camera. Now they can simply engage the menu function to re-map their CCD instead of having to send the camera in for this service to an Olympus Service center. Outside of a few very expensive high-end studio cameras, Olympus was the first to offer this technology to a Prosumer and Pro level camera. APM can currently be found in the C-4040 Zoom, D-40 Zoom, and E-20N, and is available as an upgrade to the E-10.
Right Angle Lens Design
Pioneered on the Brio D-100, the newly designed right angle lens allows the Brio D-100 camera to maintain a thin or slim thickness matching that of a compact film camera without the loss of sharpness or key advantages like auto focus.
"All-in-One" SLR design
First used in the successful Olympus IS series film cameras, the "All-in-One" design appeared in the Olympus D-500L and D-600L digital cameras in 1997, setting new standards for digital photography at that time. In 2000 the "All-in-One" digital design reached the E-10 Professional SLR, the E-20N SLR, and more recently, the E-1 and EVOLT. The advantage this brings to digital photography begins with a better dust seal, keeping pixel-covering dust off the camera's CCD. Also the rigid lens mounting means a more accurate alignment of the lens and the CCD for a better matching of performance and focus to the CCD. Outside the performance factor the "All-in-One" design also allowed the production of a high-quality camera at a more reasonable price point for both the pro and advanced amateur.
Auto-Connect USB
In mid-2000 Olympus was the first to add the easy and simple to use Auto-Connect USB to our Digital camera line, beginning with the E-100 RS and E-10 SLR. Auto-Connect USB is also known as "Mass Storage USB," or "Storage Class USB". The advantage this has over other USB types is the ability to automatically communicate with a modern computer operation system and mount as a hard drive device without the need for any additional drivers or software. All you need to do is open the drive icon and drag-and-drop the images to the hard drive or folder of your choice. Current operating systems that support Auto-Connect USB include Windows ME, Windows 2000 Pro, Windows XP, Macintosh OS 9 to 9.21, and Macintosh OS X. Windows 98 second edition or SE and Macintosh OS 8.6 will also support this functionality with the addition of updated drivers or extensions. Currently all newly introduced cameras use the Auto-Connect USB.
FILM INNOVATIONS
Wide-Angle Lens
Olympus introduced the world's first wide-angle lens-shutter camera in 1955 with the Olympus Wide.
Interchangeable lenses
1958 was the year that Olympus developed the world's first lens-shutter camera with interchangeable lenses - the Olympus Ace.
Wind and Rewind
The Olympus Pen EM in 1965 was the world's first camera equipped with motorized film winding and rewinding.
Sliding Lens Barrier
The introduction of the Olympus XA in 1979 brought the sliding lens barrier to the world of cameras, securely covering the lens when it is closed to protect it from dust and scratches. The sliding lens barrier made it easier to do so as well since you no longer had to attach the lens cap after each use or worry about losing it.
All-Weather
The idea of the all-weather compact camera culminated in 1986 with the Olympus AF-1, letting people take and enjoy their pictures under a variety of weather conditions such as rain and snow.
Auto Color-Balancing Flash
Auto Color-Balancing Flash that ensures your pictures display natural colors when taken under artificial lighting conditions.
Visual Confirmation Finder
Olympus' exclusive Visual Confirmation Finder (VF) momentarily darkens
the lens (as seen through the viewfinder) once the shutter button is pressed,
clearly indicating that your photo was taken so you'll know you
got the shot you wanted when you wanted it.
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