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Lexar Media Leads Industry with World's Highest Capacity CompactFlash Memory Card
Lexar Media Brings 4GB CompactFlash to Photographers Worldwide
FREMONT, Calif., August 4, 2003 -- Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading designer, developer and marketer of high-performance
digital media and accessories, today announced that the company is shipping the world's first and only 4GB CompactFlash memory card. Specifically
designed for professional photographers shooting hi-resolution images, the 4GB card stores about 600 images captured in RAW mode using a
6-megapixel professional camera. Amateur photographers shooting with lower resolution cameras could expect to capture as many as 45,000
JPEG images using the high capacity memory card. The actual number of images a 4GB card can store depends on the camera quality, resolution
and image file selection mode.
The 4GB memory card is designed to meet the insatiable demand of professional
photographers for high-capacity storage. For many professionals, 600 RAW images
is comparable to the number of images shot in a day, which allows for extended,
uninterrupted shooting and fewer memory cards to manage throughout the day.
The 4GB card is speed rated at 40X, which is capable of a sustained minimum
write speed of 6MB/s. As with all of Lexar Media Professional Series CompactFlash,
the 4GB card features Write Acceleration (WA) technology, to achieve even greater
speeds in WA enabled cameras. Lexar Media Image Rescue software is included
free with the 4GB card, enabling photographers to recover deleted or seemingly
lost images, or permanently erase the card preventing future image recovery.
"Once again Lexar Media is leading the memory card industry by delivering the
highest capacity CompactFlash on the market," said Jim Gustke, Lexar Media,
general manager of marketing. "Many segments of the professional photography
market have a real need for extraordinary capacity CompactFlash cards. Commercial,
wedding, celebrity, fashion, and sports photographers often shoot hundreds of
images uninterrupted and many shoot in RAW or TIFF mode to capture the highest
quality image possible. Because professional cameras can generate RAW files
over 9MB and TIFF files in excess of 15MB, extremely high capacity CompactFlash
cards, such as our 4GB, are now a necessity."
"By allowing this large number of high quality images to be saved on one CompactFlash
card, we expect professional photographers will increasingly shoot the highest
quality image possible," said John Omvik, director of product marketing, Lexar
Media. "We also expect professionals with our 4GB card to become more adventurous
and shoot without concerns of capacity limitations. This unique combination
enhances the photography experience and increases the chances of capturing winning
shots."
"Until the introduction of this card, I was shooting with 1GB cards and often
I filled four in a single afternoon," said Jim Jordan, advertising, fashion
and celebrity photographer. "With a 4GB card, I don't waste time changing cards
in the middle of a shoot. With the high profile clients I typically shoot for,
regular card changing can be an inconvenience to both of us. At the end of the
day, I only have one card to keep track of, which simplifies my life and my
assistant's life."
"I'm on location almost 250 days of the year and many times in unpredictable
climates and on unpredictable terrain," said Jeffrey Aaronson, internationally
recognized photojournalist. "With Lexar's huge capacity 4GB CompactFlash card,
I can keep my card in my camera at all times and not worry about changing the
card in dangerous situations or exposing the inside of my camera to the elements,
which provides ease of mind and allows me to focus on creating images."
The 4GB card is CompactFlash Type II and requires the host camera to support
the FAT32 file system. Most digital cameras today support the FAT16 file system,
but the FAT16 system only supports data up to 2GB. All CompactFlash cards above
2GB require the camera to support the FAT32 file system. Compatible cameras
include Canon Powershot G3, Canon Powershot G5, Canon Powershot S45, Canon Powershot
S50, Canon EOS 10D, Canon EOS-1Ds, Kodak DCS 720X, Kodak 760, Kodak DCS Pro
Back (all models), Kodak DCS Pro 14n, and Olympus E-1. Most higher-end camera
models being introduced today will support the new FAT32 standard. More information
about FAT32 and a regularly updated list of compatible cameras is available
at www.lexar.com/FAT32.
The 4GB card is available now at many photo specialty stores at an expected
price of $1,499.
About Lexar Media, Inc.
Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR) is a leading designer, marketer and licensor of award-winning removable flash-based digital storage media, card readers
and ATA controller solutions for the digital photography, consumer electronics, industrial and communications markets. Lexar Media brands digital memory
cards in the industry's most popular formats including CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard and SD. As a digital storage innovator,
Lexar Media was the first to develop and advance proprietary read-write speed standards for its USB-enabled CompactFlash cards and holds over 60 controller
patents. Licensees of Lexar Media's technology include Olympus, SanDisk, Samsung Electronics and Sony. Headquartered in Fremont, California, Lexar
Media also has offices in London and Tokyo. Lexar Media is a member of the Russell 2000 Index. For more information, please call 1-800-789-9418 or
visit www.lexar.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include statements related to the
benefits of and consumer demand for Lexar Media's high performance CompactFlash products. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. These risks include that
the growth and success of Lexar Media's business depends on its ability to achieve and maintain technology leadership, and sell and market products that
are commercially accepted. Readers should also refer to the risk factors described in Lexar Media's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2003. Lexar Media assumes no
obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this news release.
Lexar Media, SayCheese.com, Shoot & Share, JumpShot and the Lexar Media logo are trademarks of Lexar Media, Inc.
Lexar Media Inc. is an authorized licensee of the CompactFlash trademark. All other brand or product names are trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
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