LAS VEGAS (NAB 2005, Booth # SU 7814), April 12, 2005 – High Definition programming, which began in the sports and entertainment arena, is now moving quickly into the studio. Canon is once again at the forefront of technology with three HD studio lenses. These DIGI SUPER HDxs lenses meet the essential needs of news and general production studios, which are increasingly embracing HD technology.

“Canon continues to recognize the growing acceptance of HD production by broadening our selection of lenses to meet a wide range of needs,” said Gordon Tubbs, assistant director at the broadcast and communications division at Canon U.S.A., Inc, a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ). “Our commitment to HD Studio Lenses is evidenced by the innovation we have brought to this important category.”

Having largely completed the transmission-related investments for the Digital Television (DTV) transition, broadcasters are now turning their attention to DTV infrastructures and studios for origination of news and other television programming. HDTV is central to such planning for many of these broadcasters, as it is for the extensive independent production industry that creates the content they and cable and satellite networks transmit.

Canon has carefully prepared to meet the diverse needs of this HDTV studio origination with a broadening range of HD studio lenses. Three different HD studio lenses offer creative flexibilities that can address virtually all studio production needs.

Canon’s “flagship” HD studio lens is the DIGI SUPER 25xs. This XJ25x6.8BIE-D lens has a wide 70.4-degree horizontal field of view and a focal length range that meets the needs of most large studios. This lens mobilized all contemporary design resources to yield the highest overall optical performance possible in sensitivity (maximum aperture of f 1.5), MTF distribution over the image plane, contrast, relative light distribution, and color reproduction while also maintaining superb control over optical aberrations. Canon has delivered many of these lenses to major studios across the country over the past two years.

Flanking this top-of-the-line DIGI SUPER 25xs lens is the sister DIGI SUPER 23xs lens, which started deliveries six months ago. Recognizing that many of the major camera manufacturers now offer two tiers (separated by sensor technologies and other features) of large studio cameras to achieve more flexibility in meeting performance-cost criteria of different customers, Canon designed this new XJ23x7BIE-D lens to be a cost-effective complement to those HD cameras. Already recognized as a very high-performance lens, the DIGI SUPER 23xs lens is anticipated to help provide affordable HDTV lens/camera systems that will spur a more rapid deployment of HDTV studios.

A significant new innovation for HD studio production is the XJ22x7.3BIE-D compact studio lens. This unique design stemmed from the recognition that there is now a broad availability of fully featured HD portable cameras that increasingly are being used in the studio. As an alternative to the traditional mounting of the larger box lens to such portable cameras via a substantial support sled, Canon sought instead to miniaturize a studio lens and render it physically compatible for direct docking to these cameras. This is a bona fide studio lens that employs classic HD studio lens criteria. At 13.4 lbs. it embodies an optical system significantly larger than traditional EFP portable lenses--but with less than a third of the weight and almost a quarter of the volume of the traditional studio box lens. The overall HD performance of the XJ22x7.3BIE-D model is exceptionally high for such a compact lens.

All three of these DIGI SUPER HD studio lenses feature the latest generation of digital electronics, including Canon’s new rotary encoder servo system for zoom, focus, and iris using miniature components specially developed by Canon. This feature increases functionality with virtual reality studios as well as many other applications, and makes zoom and focus controls more precise and repeatable. These encoders are anticipated to play a major role in supplying precision digital lens data as metadata systems evolve for production.

See the full line of Canon products throughout NAB 2005 at Booth # SU 7814, Las Vegas Convention Center.

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.



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EDITORS Please note corporate contact information for this division: For more information, please call Canon broadcast and communications division at 1-800-321-4388 or visit www.canonbroadcast.com.