Canon Serves Up New Photographic Products and Solutions at PMA 2005 Trade Show

CreativePro Staff

Canon, America’s choice for digital cameras†, will showcase 14 new products at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) trade show, February 20 – 23 (Canon Booth #3503), in Orlando, Fla.
Playing off of Canon’s recent sponsorship of rising tennis star Maria Sharapova, the company’s PMA 2005 booth theme is “Advantage Canon.” The new products being shown in Canon’s tennis-themed booth will include, the EOS Digital Rebel® XT camera, two new PowerShot® Digital ELPH® cameras, a new compact photo printer under the SELPHY brand, a new 60mm EF-S macro lens, one new ZR and two Optura camcorders, a wireless remote controller, and a photo-centric PIXMA Photo All-In-One printer.
Confirming its market leadership, the NPD Group reports that the Canon brand captured the number one position in total digital camera sales in 2004, with a market share of 20.4 percent, based on unit sales of both compact cameras and digital SLR cameras combined†. In addition, Canon was the number one brand in both NPD’s Digital Point-and-Shoot and Digital SLR categories, with market shares of 18.6 percent and 64.2 percent, respectively.
“Canon’s advantage stems from our long history as one of the leading imaging and optics companies,” said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc, a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ). “With our extensive photographic heritage, Canon proudly designs and manufactures its own digital imaging equipment, including cameras, lenses, camcorders and inkjet printers.”
Continuing its tradition of quality and reliability, the new Canon products debuting at the PMA exhibit include:

• EOS Digital Rebel XT Camera: In the summer of 2003, Canon shocked the market with the launch of the EOS Digital Rebel – the industry’s first digital SLR available for under $1,000. Canon today takes its market leadership a step further with its new EOS Digital Rebel XT camera. This eight megapixel model steps into the sub-$1,000 price point, while the existing EOS Digital Rebel camera drops in price to an estimated street price of $799* with a lens.
  Canon’s new 8.0 megapixel EOS Digital Rebel XT camera features an APS-C Canon CMOS sensor, DIGIC II image processing technology, and wide range of custom and manual controls in a smaller, more compact body than its predecessor. The EOS Digital Rebel XT model is offered in two kit configurations: with and without Canon’s high-quality EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 II zoom lens. The estimated street price for the zoom lens kit will be $999* while the estimated street price for the body only kit will be $899*.
• PowerShot SD400 and SD500 Digital ELPH Cameras: Canon’s two new stylish PowerShot digital ELPH cameras – the five-megapixel SD400 (estimated street price of $399.99*) and the 7.1 megapixel SD500 (estimated street price of $499.99*) models – offer consumers sleek, stylish compact digital cameras at an affordable price.
• PowerShot A510 and A520 Digital Cameras: Named for their use of AA batteries, Canon’s A-series digital cameras feature high image quality and offer comfortably placed controls for consumers to capture, save and share images of meaningful memories, personal milestones and family functions. Smaller and lighter than their predecessors, Canon’s 3.2 megapixel PowerShot A510 and 4.0 megapixel PowerShot A520 digital cameras feature a powerful 4x optical zoom to produce pictures that everyone can be proud of with the image quality Canon is renowned for. The PowerShot A510 digital camera is currently available for an estimated street price of $199.99*. The PowerShot A520 digital camera will be in stores this March for an estimated street price of $299.99*.
• HF-DC1 High Power Flash: Canon has developed a new optional accessory called the High Power Flash HF-DC1. The flash is a supplementary unit that operates wirelessly and increases the effective flash range up to approximately 30 feet. The HF-DC1 flash is supplied with a mounting bracket so it can be attached to the camera, but it can also be hand-held or mounted on a tripod or accessory light stand to adjust the lighting angle for pro-like quality results. Multiple HF-DC1 units can be synchronized with a single camera for even greater lighting flexibility. This smart high-powered slave flash unit is compact and compatible with almost every PowerShot digital camera**.
• EF-S 60mm Macro Lens: The EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens – a compact, internal focusing lens designed specifically for the two Digital Rebel cameras and the EOS 20D SLR – focuses from infinity down to 1:1 (life-size) at a generous working distance of approximately four inches from the subject. The lens will be available in April for an estimated street price of $449*.
• Wireless Controller LC-5: This newly enhanced infrared remote provides photographers with the flexibility to control essential camera functions at distances up to approximately 330 feet. It will be available in June. Pricing will be available at a later date.
• Optura 50 and 60 and ZR400 Camcorders: Canon’s newest megapixel camcorders – the 2.2 megapixel Optura 50 and Optura 60 Mini-DV camcorders and the 1.33 megapixel ZR400 camcorder make it easy for users of any level to capture high quality video and photos. The Optura 50 and Optura 60 Mini DV camcorders will be hitting store shelves in March, with an estimated selling price of $799* and $899*, respectively. The ZR400 will be available for purchase in mid April for an estimated street price of $549*.
• 10 X 42 IS L Waterproof Binoculars: By combining a rugged waterproof*** design and precision image stabilized optics, Canon’s new 10X42 L IS WP binoculars provide serious outdoorsmen and maritime adventurers with an essential optical tool. The 10×42 L IS WP binoculars feature a large 4.2mm exit pupil and a 65° apparent field-of-view, resulting in one of the brightest and widest fields-of-views in its class. The binoculars will be available in March for an estimated street price of $1,599*.
• Compact Photo Printer SELPHY CP600: Replacing the popular CP-330 compact photo printer, Canon’s new Compact Photo Printer SELPHY CP600 allows consumers to make beautiful photos and postcards in 63 seconds††. The Compact Photo Printer SELPHY CP600 will be in stores beginning in April and carry an estimated street price of $249.99*.
• PIXMA MP760 Photo All-In-One: Canon’s new PIXMA MP760 Photo-All-In-One allows consumers to print directly from slides and negatives, includes card slots for direct digital photo printing and features an intuitive LCD screen for viewing images. Besides great prints, users can also scan and make copies at home or in the office with the machine that raises the bar for photo print quality from a multi function device. Canon’s new PIXMA MP760 Photo All-In-One will be available in March for an estimated selling price of $299.99*.

For additional product information, please refer to individual product news releases issued by Canon today, or visit www.usa.canon.com.
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.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.
Specifications and availability dates are subject to change with notice.
† According to The NPD Group, Canon has held the number one position in digital cameras throughout 2004, based on unit sales and revenue figures compiled from consumer information and point-of-sale data collected from retailers and other distribution channels. Data made available January 26, 2005.
*All prices are set by the individual dealer and may vary.
**Except for the PowerShot 600, 350, and Pro70.
***Up to one meter and up to 30 minutes.
††Print speed based on average output speed achieved during product testing with DIGIC II processor embedded Canon PowerShot digital cameras. Other products’ print speed may vary. Printer functions are sensitive to temperature and humidity; please see User Manual for appropriate operating environment.