TV Technology Magazine Cites HJ17ex7.6B as a Preeminent Technological Innovation

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., MAY 23, 2005—In response to the broadcast industry’s transition to Digital Television (DTV) and the associated rapid growth of High Definition (HD) production in news, sports, and entertainment programming, Canon Broadcast & Communications is developing new and innovative portable HD lenses. Canon is addressing the complex demands of HD lens design in terms of weight, size, ergonomics, and price-performance—all of which are especially important considerations for deployment of HD newsgathering systems.

Canon’s unveiled its first HD news lens—the HJ17ex7.6B—at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference and exhibition in Las Vegas (April 18-21). The HJ17ex7.6B, which is designed for HD ENG cameras employing a 2/3-inch imaging device, is believed to be the first in the world to have been designed specifically for HD newsgathering.

In addition to attracting the attention of NAB attendees, Canon’s HJ17ex7.6B lens also won a 2005 STAR (Superior Technology Award Recipient) Award, presented by the editorial staff of TV Technology magazine at the NAB 2005 convention. The STAR Award is designed to celebrate and showcase the preeminent technological innovations available to the broadcast industry. A panel of judges consisting of TV Technology editors and columnists reviewed a variety of products, examined their technical applications and overall contribution to the industry, and then submitted their award nominees.

“Our panel of editors and columnists walked the show floor in search of innovative and ground-breaking new products,” said Tom Butts, editor of TV Technology. “The products we selected made the cut—they demonstrated their ability to help advance the acquisition and dissemination of audio and video in the professional video marketplace.”

The STAR Award-winning HJ17ex7.6B lens is smaller, lighter, and lower cost than its full production “cousin,” the popular HJ17ex7.7B HD lens, which is widely used for high-end HDTV field production. The addition of the new HJ17ex7.6B brings to five the family of Canon’s portable 2/3-inch HD EFP/ENG lenses. The HJ17ex7.6B has a focal length range from 7.6mm to 130mm (or 15.2mm to 260mm with extender) and weighs in at just 3.5 lbs. A switchable aspect ratio (16:9 and 4:3) version of the lens with Canon’s “Crossover” option is also available.

The fact that Canon’s new HJ17ex7.6B lens is designed for HD ENG cameras employing a 2/3-inch imaging device is especially noteworthy given that NAB 2005 saw the first introductions of 2/3-inch HD ENG camcorders from two major manufacturers. Additional companies indicated at NAB that their own 2/3-inch HD cameras are also in development. Manufacturers showed 2/3-inch CMOS camcorders capable of capturing in either the 1080i or 720p HD formats. Canon plans to work with all camera manufacturers as they bring new CMOS and CCD cameras to the market.

“The introduction of the HJ17ex7.6B lens signals Canon’s recognition that the DTV era now anticipates HD newsgathering as a programming dynamic that will become of increasing importance over the next couple of years,” said Gordon Tubbs, assistant director of the broadcast and communications division at Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ). “This is a lens that sought a size and weight to facilitate highly mobile HD acquisition while still delivering full HD image quality to HD camcorders. We are very pleased that the HJ17ex7.6B lens has won a STAR Award from TV Technology magazine.”

About TV Technology: TV Technology is the industry’s leading magazine for technology news and reviews and is celebrating its 22nd year covering the television industry. The magazine is published by IMAS Publishing, the world’s largest publisher of audio and video publications. Other IMAS products include Radio World, Pro Audio Review, and a family of country-specific publications and Web sites.

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 third overall in the U.S. in 2004, with global revenues of $33.3 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.