Toshiba to Debut New Touchscreen LCD Digital Camera at TECHXNY 2002

June 20, 2002 -- With digital images fast replacing traditional film, photographers looking for the latest trend in digital cameras should consider the Toshiba PDR-T20, a sleek, highly-innovative 2.0 megapixel camera with a touchscreen LCD that enables the user to navigate camera controls with a stylus, just as they would a PDA.

The camera will be shown for the first time publicly in North America at TECHXNY/PC EXPO 2002 in New York's Javits Center, June 25-27, 2002. (Booth #3136)

Building on the success of the groundbreaking Toshiba PDR-T10, the World’s first digital camera with a touchscreen LCD and interchangeable faceplates, the new PDR-T20 gives consumers the best of all worlds with its point-and-shoot convenience, its wealth of advanced photographic features and controls, as well as its high tech-looking, silver metallic casing that combines pocketable dimensions with a distinctive sliding lens cover.

“Consumers tell us they want smaller cameras that are more functional, easier to use, and with higher picture quality. The new PDR-T20 fits that bill, since it combines all of those features in an compact, elegant metal housing,” said Doug Freck, Vice President & General Manager, Toshiba Imaging Systems. “The PDR-T20 provides a fun, smart way for consumers to enjoy the full benefit of digital photography.”

With the addition of the PDR-T20, Toshiba now lays claim to one of the most diverse lines of consumer digital cameras on the market with models appealing to digital users at all levels.

TWO-MEGAPIXEL POWER WITH OPTICAL ZOOM
The PDR-T20 takes advantage of its superior 2.01 million-pixel CCD sensor to capture richly detailed 1600 x 1200 images with superior color reproduction. For an up-close feel, it comes equipped with a 2x optical zoom lens (equivalent to a 38-76 mm lens on a 35 mm camera), plus a 3x digital telephoto mode resulting in 6x total zooming capabilities. These features, merged with the camera¹s array of imaging options and the award-winning ACDSee? editing software, make the Toshiba PDR-T20 the perfect camera for virtually any picture-taking situation, from eye-catching close-ups and freeze-frames to stunning portraits and landscapes.

OUTSTANDING PRICE/PERFORMANCE RATIO
Priced at only $399, the PDR-T20 offer features and image quality normally found only in more expensive models, such as: high-precision auto and manual white balance, exposure control that is set either automatically according to brightness or manually set for preferred compensation, a self-timer, multi-zone TTL metering, shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 second, and a pop-up flash with auto, forced, suppressed and red-eye reduction modes that has an operating range up to 10-feet for added versatility.

To assist in capturing the perfect picture, the camera's Scene Mode automatically makes the optimum settings according to the type of subject selected, such as portrait, landscape, sports and night view.

TOUCHSCREEN LCD
The most recognizable feature of the PDR-T20 is its touchscreen LCD. It allows users to navigate effortlessly through the camera’s various shooting and playback modes by tapping icons on the LCD with the included stylus.

The main touch panel is located on the left side of the camera’s 1.5 inch color LCD and contains three icons or “buttons” Display, Menu and Erase -- that serve as starting points for all camera controls. Tapping on one of these buttons brings up a complete set of menus across the entire LCD panel. For example, by tapping on the Menu button the user is given immediate access to the scene mode, flash system, self-timer, zooming and thumbnail display. As a further convenience, the Toshiba PDR-T20 offers the user the option of using a hard selection button, rather than the stylus, to operate the icons on the tap panel.

SECURE DIGITAL CARDS
The new generation of Toshiba digital cameras employ SecureDigital cards (SD) for storage, and the PDR-T20 is no exception. It comes with a bundled 8MB SD card that, depending on the image compression selected (high, standard or economy), can store up to 51 JPEG images. The camera is compatible with SD cards up to 256MB capable of recording a maximum of 1,854 images on a single, postage stamp sized card.

ACCESSORIES, PRICING & AVAILABILITY
The Toshiba PDR-T20 is expected to hit retail shelves by July 2002, with an MSRP of $399. This complete digital imaging solution ships with the bundled 8MB SD card, USB cable, hand strap with stylus pen, camera bag, an environmentally-friendly rechargeable lithium ion battery, and a CD-ROM loaded with ACDSee imaging software for Windows OS (98, 2000, ME, XP) and Macintosh, USB Drive and instruction manual. An AC Adapter is included to recharge the long-life battery while it is in the camera.

For more information, U.S. customers can call 1-800-288-1354. Fax, 1-800-640-8674. Or visit Toshiba on the Web at www.dsc.toshiba.com. Consumers are encouraged to visit www.shoptoshiba.com for on-line shopping.

SOURCE Toshiba