CANON LENSES HELP LEADING CHRISTIAN
TELEVISION NETWORK TRANSITION TO HIGH DEFINTION

Trinity Broadcasting Network Purchases a Variety of Canon Portable
HD Lenses to Provide Superior Optics for Studio Production Applications

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 11, 2006—As increasing numbers of television viewers purchase high definition (HD) TVs, broadcast and cable networks are responding by upgrading their facilities for HDTV program production. Religious organizations are no exception, which is why the Trinity Broadcasting Network, the largest Christian television broadcasters in the world, chose three Canon HJ22ex7.6B portable long focal-length HD zoom lenses, three HJ11ex4.7B wide-angle portable HD zoom lenses, and an HJ17ex7.7B HD portable zoom lens to deliver the high resolution, clarity, and overall superior image quality of HDTV to its viewers. All provide exceptional performance and features and yet are lightweight for maximum mobility.

“HDTV is like the transition we went through in the 1950’s from black & white to color,” said Paul Crouch Jr., Vice President of Administration at Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). “You don’t choose to go HD, it’s just part of the evolutionary process that’s coming about. I chose Canon because the quality of the lenses just seemed to be a better product, a notch above some of the competitors. Their lenses seem to be ahead of the curve when it comes to the transition to HD.”

Founded in 1973, TBN produces 50 to 60 hours of original programming each week. Although TBN reaches every major continent through 47 satellites and 12,460 broadcast and cable affiliates, their studio spaces and camera equipment are modest. “Our studio in Costa Mesa CA—even though it’s our flagship studio—is not all that large,” explained Crouch. “I had smaller cameras and I couldn’t afford to put large box lenses on them. I needed smaller ENG/EFP HDTV lenses, and Canon had the best selection and the best options when it came to those.”

“In addition to being Vice President of Administration, I’m also a lighting designer and lighting director,” added Crouch. “I’ve seen a lot of the imagery produced by the Canon HD lenses, and the quality is amazing. Once you see something in HDTV, it’s really hard to go back and watch it in standard definition. It’s just an evolution of technology.”

Canon’s series of portable ENG/EFP HD lenses were designed specifically for broadcasters to achieve high-end, HDTV production quality using a lightweight, portable package. The HJ22ex7.6B’s optical design enables it to capture imagery from long distances, with focal lengths up to 168mm, or 336mm with its extender. The HJ22ex7.6B is the longest focal length portable HDTV production lens offered by Canon (without image stabilization). The HJ11ex4.7B lens is Canon’s widest angle of view portable HDTV production lens. Powerful technology combines with ergonomic design that optimizes this lens for producing HD images at the widest angle in a small, 4.3 lb. package. The HJ17ex7.7B lens is a wide-angle HD zoom as well, providing maximum portability and versatility in EFP applications.

Trinity Broadcasting Network’s new lenses also feature Canon’s exclusive Enhanced Digital “eDrive” technology, which enables users to automate select lens functions depending on their personal preferences. With eDrive, shooters can easily program such functions as zoom and focus settings into the lens for precise, automated repeatability via an easy-to-use LCD menu, assignable “soft” function buttons, and the rocker switch built into the lens grip. Users can choose to program multiple settings, or none at all, depending on their personal preferences and the needs of a given production assignment.

Canon’s Crossover technology is also available on these lenses, and allows for both 16:9 wide screen and standard 4:3 image capture. The design of the Canon HJ22ex7.6B, HJ11ex4.7B and HJ17ex7.7B lenses also feature a relative light distribution that ensures a uniformity of brightness across the image plane, with high contrast and excellent picture sharpness. Canon’s optical and mechanical design controls black reproduction, thereby reducing flare and minimizing chromatic aberrations.

Overall, Crouch believes Canon is a key player in transitioning the TBN to HDTV, and in providing his audience with a new level of outstanding picture quality. “Over the 33-year history of TBN, we’ve had every lens model known to man,” concluded Crouch. “Television stations are in a constant evolutionary process of ever-newer technology, but we’ve always been a customer of Canon based on two things: excellent service and quality products that are one step ahead. When we chose to transition to HDTV, Canon had better products before their competitors did. I’m very impressed with the transition to HDTV, and Canon made that possible.”

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of “Top 100 Brands.” Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2005, with global revenues of $31.8 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

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