Epson announces flashy new color digital camera; PhotoPC 500 offers more features, more accessories, still under $500

Business Wire, Oct 8, 1996

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1996--Epson, the creator of high-quality, award-winning color imaging products, Tuesday announced its most advanced digital camera, the PhotoPC 500.

Following on the success of Epson's original PhotoPC, the price- for-performance leader in digital photography, the PhotoPC 500 is smaller and has improved optics, increased storage capacity and red-eye reduction flash, all for $499 estimated street price.

The versatile PhotoPC 500 also has an optional Epson PhotoView color liquid-crystal display (LCD) monitor that lets users preview, playback and perform other time-saving functions. This new addition to Epson's color digital camera line will be shipping in November and works on both Windows and Macintosh platforms.

``We've done a lot of research to determine how we could develop another digital camera that was worthy of the same award-winning reception as the original PhotoPC. I couldn't be happier with the outcome,'' said Anna Jen, product manager-digital cameras, Epson.

``The PhotoPC 500 will debut at the same price point but with several exciting feature improvements. We believe Epson has another winner!''

For Work or Play -- Open Up a World of Colorful Possibilities

PhotoPC 500 is ideal for business and home users who desire a quick and easy way to bring photographs into their computers for printing picture-enhanced documents or sending over the Internet.

PhotoPC 500 images are used to communicate more effectively and creatively in correspondence, proposals, newsletters and presentations, and to add a special touch to personal letters, greeting cards, fliers and school projects. The camera saves time when developing comps for graphic design projects such as brochures, storyboarding or packaging.

Internet Applications

The Epson PhotoPC 500 provides high-quality images for immediate inclusion in e-mail messages or Web sites. Both of Epson's digital cameras store images automatically as JPEG files and are the first digital cameras in their class to use this standard compression technology.

By using this standard, Epson cameras allow users to bring their pictures instantly into documents or Web pages without wasting time or potentially losing data during file format conversion.

To help users get started with Internet applications, the Epson Internet Sampler Pak is included in the box. The Sampler Pak contains a free trial version of Claris Home Page Web authoring software, Network Sound & Light Inc.'s fun-to-use Postcards From the Net software, 50 free hours on America Online and 30 free days on EarthLink Network.

Product Features

Versatility and ease of use are design requirements for Epson's digital cameras, and the PhotoPC 500 is a perfect example. The point-and-shoot PhotoPC 500 has the look and feel of a fully featured traditional 35mm film camera, weighs less than one pound and measures 6.5 x 3.25 x 2 inches (WxHxD).

The PhotoPC 500 takes pictures in 24-bit color or 16.7 million colors for clear color reproduction, and because some applications have different resolution requirements, users can choose between high- and standard-resolution settings of 640 x 480 and 320 x 240, respectively.

For added versatility, users can switch between four flash modes (auto, forced, flash off and auto with red-eye reduction) to provide flash ranges from 1.5 to 10 feet. Users can also thread their own 37mm video camcorder accessory lenses or filters for close-up, wide- angle and special-effect pictures.

The PhotoPC 500 base unit stores up to 30 high- or 60 standard- resolution images. Optional expandable Epson PhotoSpan memory modules increase total storage capacity to 100 high- or 200 standard-resolution images.

Optional Color LCD Monitor

An exciting accessory for the PhotoPC 500 is the Epson PhotoView LCD monitor, a real-time live preview and playback device. It provides a convenient, fast and easy way for users to preview images without first downloading them to a computer.

The active-matrix TFT color LCD is 1.8 inches and has settings for image preview, playback, multiple image display, selective image erase and close-up/macro picture taking (from 1.5 feet away). The Epson PhotoView LCD monitor, which will carry a $199 estimated street price, is a flexible way for users to explore their creativity with digital photography.

``Our customers have the opportunity to pick and choose what accessories they want. And like traditional photographers, digital- camera buyers want to mix and match optional components. Having the ability to change resolution and flash settings, use filters, close-up and wide-angle lenses, quickly upgrade memory and attach an LCD monitor makes this digital camera one of the most flexible on the market today,'' said Jen.

High-Quality Images

Epson's ColorTrue in-camera processing system produces accurate and brilliant color images by using advanced image processing and enhancement algorithms. It is this technology that sets Epson digital-camera image quality above all others in this category.