UK BASED OLYMPUS E-SYSTEM USERS CAN NOW HIRE ZUIKO DIGITAL EQUIPMENT

Press Release

Olympus UK E-System User Group Launches DSLR equipment hire service

Unique service provides a potentially free try-before-you-buy opportunity in addition to affordable access to Top Pro lenses and accessories

Hemel Hempstead, 9th December, 2009.

Selected items from the Olympus E-System DSLR range are now available for hire at competitive rates via the Olympus UK E-System User Group (www.e-group.uk.net), an online community and resource supported by Olympus UK. The service has been put together in response to feedback from E-System photographers who regularly visit the e-group website.

Not only will you be able to hire and use high value items of gear, like the legendary super bright and handmade £5,500 Zuiko Digital 300mm f/2.8 ED telephoto prime lens but, for an introductory period, some or all of the hire fee can be claimed back as a rebate if you decide to *buy the same model item hired within a month.

Olympus UK E-System User Group founder and webmaster, Ian Burley, explains: 'E-group members have been looking for a lens hire service for years and thanks to Olympus UK I'm very excited we are able to make this a reality. Apart from lenses, we will be offering pro-spec flash, camera bodies, and other system accessories for hire. It's a huge bonus that we will be able to offer rebates on hire fees if our users then choose to buy what they have previously hired.'

Ian adds: 'Olympus UK has committed to the rebate scheme until the end May 2010, and I?m sure it will be very popular. For example, if you are seriously considering the purchase of the Zuiko Digital 150mm f/2.0 ED, which sells for the best part of £2,000, you can hire one from us, use it for a week, and it will only cost you £59, plus shipping. If you decide you like it and then go and buy a new one within a month of returning the hire lens, you can claim your £59 hire fee back.'

The hire stock of E-System lenses, camera bodies, and accessories, is being provided by Olympus UK, enabling the e-group to offer very competitive rates, let alone the prospect of free hire for some. 'We didn?t just want to provide a hire service; we wanted to provide one that was affordable. Probably the greatest attraction of the Olympus E-System is the range of Zuiko Digital lenses, and even if you could never justify the cost of owning one of the amazing Top Pro lenses, they are now accessible to many more E-System photographers.'

For more detailed information on the e-group equipment hire service, visit the e-group.uk.net website at: http://www.e-group.uk.net/hire/hire_info.php or click HERE.

*Hire rebates are limited to a maximum of 7 days hire and to qualify you must purchase the same brand new model of item hired, from a UK Olympus stockist, within one month of completing the hire period.