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November  1, 2001
A Top Global Brand in 35mm Compact Cameras
Olympus µ[mju:] Series Hits 20 Million Mark
* This news release is only for Japanese market.
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (President: Tsuyoshi Kikukawa) is pleased to announce that total shipments for the µ[mju:] series of 35mm compact cameras reached 20 million cameras at the end of October 2001.
Olympus launched the µ[mju:] series with the µ[mju:] camera in March 1991, recording total shipments of one million cameras within the first year. The µseries has continued to perform well, with shipments reaching 10 million cameras in February 1998 and 20 million cameras in 2001, the series' 10th anniversary year. The µ series features an ultra-compact, lightweight design as well as high-level functionality and exceptional picture quality. To maintain its leadership position in the market for compact cameras, Olympus aspires to develop new products in the µ series that capture the hearts of customers.
Birth of µ[mju:]
The development of the µ camera began with the idea of creating a camera that not only took pictures, but was also a joy to own. The µ series was born with the launch of the µ[mju:] standard autofocus compact camera in March 1991. Based on the concept of "small beauty," the µ series offers a range of ultra-compact, lightweight cameras that are a pleasure to own. These high-performance cameras make it easy to take gorgeous pictures, and their stylish design achieves an aesthetic beauty that enriches the camera owner.

µ[mju:] Series Design
In designing the µ series, Olympus broke from a more traditional approach to camera design, opting instead for a stylish "wave style" design that highlights the camera's portability. The design creates a natural beauty that is perfectly smooth when the lens cover is closed. The styling of the camera's three-dimensional contour considers ergonomic factors that enhance holding comfort. Subsequent models in the µ series continue to uphold the basic concept of the original µ camera.

Evolving High-Performance
The µ series achieves an innovative compact and lightweight design while packing a host of advanced technologies. After developing a panorama camera with midroll change in 1992, Olympus expanded the series with models equipped with high-powered zoom lenses. These models feature high-precision auto-focusing as well as high-performance lenses that achieve exceptional picture quality.
In addition, advanced features include weatherproof construction, a variable power flash system, the Release Confirmation Finder, which indicates when the shutter is released, and in the µ[mju:]-II 170VF, the flagship model for the series, the Advanced
Combination Autofocus System, which combines the strengths of passive and active focus for precision auto-focusing under all photographic conditions. Olympus continues to develop the µ series in an effort to enhance performance further and better meet the needs of its customers.

µ[mju:] Hits History

µ[mju:] Hits History
Expansion picture

International Recognition of the µ [mju:] Series
  Japan
Year Model Award
1991 µ[mju:] '91 G-Mark for Good Design
Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry
1991 µ[mju:] Silver D-Mark for '91 Design of the Year
Popeye magazine
1992 µ[mju:] Nikkei Excellent Products Award - Design Category
1993 µ[mju:]ZOOM
PANORAMA		 '93 G-Mark for Good Design
Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry
1994 µ[mju:]ZOOM
PANORAMA		 Camera Grand Prix '94
Camera Industry Press Club
1996 µ[mju:]ZOOM 105 '96 G-Mark for Good Design
Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry
1997 µ [mju:]-II '97 G-Mark for Good Design
Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry
1999 µ [mju:]-II 115 VF '99 G-Mark for Good Design
2000 µ [mju:]-II 170 VF '00 G-Mark for Good Design


  Europe
Year Model Award
1991 µ[mju:]-1*1 Best Camera
Prague Interkamera Show (Czechoslovakia)
1992 µ[mju:]-1 Design Selection '92
Stuttgart Design Centre (Germany)
1992 µ[mju:]-1 Design Innovation '92
Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen (Germany)
1994 µ[mju:]PANORAMA*2 Best Fixed Lens Compact Camera
Buying Cameras Awards 1994
Buying Cameras magazine (United Kingdom)
1994 µ[mju:]ZOOM*3 Best Compact of the Year,
Photography magazine (United Kingdom)
1994 People's Choice Awards
1997 µ[mju:]-II*4 European Compact Camera of the Year '97-'98
EISA
1997 µ[mju:]-II Design Innovation '97
Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen (Germany)


  United States
Year Model Award
1991 InfinityStylus*5 Best of What's New
Popular Science magazine
1992 InfinityStylus Mark of Innovation '92
Travel & Leisure magazine
1992 InfinityStylus Readers' Choice
Peterson's Photographic magazine
1992 InfinityStylus Best Buy
Consumer Digest magazine
1993 InfinityStylus
InfinityStylus ZOOM*6		 Top Products of the Year '93
(Lens Shutter Cameras)
Photographic Trade News magazine
1995 InfinityStylus ZOOM Top Products 1995 - Lens Shutter/Zoom
Photo Trade News
1995 InfinityStylus Top Products 1995 - Lens Shutter/Fixed Focal Length
Photo Trade News
1996 InfinityStylus Top Products 1996 - Lens Shutter/Fixed Focal Length
Photo Trade News
1997 InfinityStylus ZOOM Buyer's Guide "The Best Gear of 1997"
Outside Magazine
1997 InfinityStylus ZOOM 105 "Best Buys: Zoom - 35mm Point & Shoot"
Consumer Digest
1997 InfinityStylus ZOOM 105 Top Products 1997 - Lens Shutter/Zoom
Photo Trade News
1997 InfinityStylus Epic "Best Buys: 35mm Point & Shoot"
Consumer Digest
1997 InfinityStylus Epic Top Products 1997 - Lens Shutter/Fixed Focal Length
Photo Trade News
1998 InfinityStylus ZOOM 140 Top Products 1998 - Lens Shutter/Zoom
Photo Trade News
1998 InfinityStylus Epic ZOOM 80 "Best Buys: Zoom - 35mm Point & Shoot"
Consumer Digest
1998 InfinityStylus Epic "Best Buys: 35mm Point & Shoot"
Consumer Digest
1998 InfinityStylus Epic Top Products 1998 - Lens Shutter/Fixed Focal Length
Photo Trade News
2000 InfinityStylus Epic CHOICE Award
ConsumerReview.com

* 1 InfinityStylus in the Americas.
* 2 InfinityStylus Panorama in the Americas.
* 3 InfinityStylus ZOOM in the Americas.
* 4 InfinityStylus Epic in the Americas.
* 5 µ [mju:]-1 in Europe.
* 6 µ [mju:] ZOOM in Europe.
*Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. was changed to OLYMPUS CORPORATION as of October 1, 2003.
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