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nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CANON ENHANCES INDUSTRY'S ABILITY TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY
HD CONTENT WHILE LOWERING COSTS OF PRODUCTION
With 13 New Products, Canon Expands HD and SD Possibilities
in the Studio and Field, HD Electronic Cinematography, Remote
Control Systems, and More
LAS VEGAS (NAB2004, Booth # SU9649),
April 12, 2004 — Today's demand for HD programming
is dramatically increasing in every area of TV and motion
picture production. Canon's new products offer the industry
the ability to deliver high quality HD content while lowering
production costs.
On display at NAB2004 will be thirteen new Canon products,
which each maximize the value of a camera by adding a wider
array of options to meet individual users needs. The new
lenses allow flexibility such as the use of portable cameras
in traditional situations, lighter weight ENG/EFP lenses
to combat fatigue, and instant recall of past lens digital
settings to ensure image consistency. In addition, Canon
is introducing its Anamorphic converter, which converts
HD cinematography to CinemaScope™ size automatically.
The converter can be used on any lens and decreases a heavy
burden in the movie production process.
"Innovative products, such as the compact studio lens
and the anamorphic converter, deliver application specific
solutions and expand production possibilities by offering
higher levels of choice at lower price points," said
Gordon Tubbs, assistant director, broadcast and communications
division at Canon U.S.A., Inc, a subsidiary of Canon Inc.
(NYSE: CAJ). "Canon's offerings at NAB2004 constitute
our most comprehensive selection ever and provide the right
lens, for the right application, at the right price."
Cinematography
One of the difficulties Cinematographers face today is the
challenge in adapting HD cinematography to CinemaScope™
size. In the past, tactics such as digitally cropping the
base image's upper and lower sides have been employed, which
can decrease resolution during the process. Canon provides
professionals with a solution for this challenge with its
Anamorphic lens converter for the 2/3" HD format. The
Anamorphic converter fits easily between any electronic
cinematography prime or zoom lens and camera, making it
possible to easily record a CinemaScope™ size (aspect
ratio 2.35:1) image with an HD cinematography camera. By
providing HD productions with this highly efficient path
to full, theater-sized projection, cinematographers can
expect significant time and cost savings in movie production.
Prime Lenses: The new FJs series of HD-EC prime lenses
from Canon has been significantly upgraded and expanded
from five to six lenses;
Anamorphic Converter for Cinemascope: With the ACV-235
Anamorphic Converter, Canon makes it possible to easily
record a CinemaScope™ size (aspect ratio 2.35:1) image
with an HD electronic cinematography camera; and
Zoom Lens: The line of Canon HD-EC zoom lenses has expanded
with the affordable yet high quality new HJ8x5.5B KLL-SC
model.
Studio lenses
Many studios today seeking maximum value are employing portable
cameras in traditional "hard camera" situations,
such as news and episodic production. The new Canon compact
lens allows users to deliver image quality that surpasses
any portable HD lens or SDTV box-style lens while taking
full advantage of portable cameras. In addition, many facilities
are seeking an affordable alternative to larger studio lenses.
Canon's new compact HD studio lens combines high performance
with an economical approach.
The compact Canon DIGISUPER 22xs lens or XJ22x7.3B IE-D
model provides superior optical performance for HDTV or
SDTV in an extremely compact box-style design; and
An affordable option for complimenting Canon's DIGISUPER
25xs lens is the new DIGISUPER 23xs lens, or XJ23x7B IE-D
model, which offers high optical performance and an impressive
f-1.7 aperture as well as a focal length of 7-161mm.
In addition to these new products Canon will display the
DIGISUPER 100X lens, or
XJ100x9.3B IE-D model, the DIGISUPER 86xs lens and DIGISUPER
75xs lens for field production applications.
Enhanced Digital Drive Technology
Camera operators often have to re-shoot the same scene after
changing the camera and/or lens position. Canon has integrated
its e-IFxs/e-HDxs enhanced digital drive technology across
the entire lens line, allowing operators to customize the
multiple digital functions of their lenses with a high level
of efficiency and precision. At the touch of a button this
technology also enables the lens to automatically recall
past settings.
Feature Enhancements for Full Canon Lens Product Line: The
well-received and highly advanced e-IFxs/e-HDxs technology
is now available on Canon's full line of portable HDTV and
SDTV lenses;
Remote Lenses: The Canon Remote Control Lens Series now
includes three new HD lenses, the HJ22ex7.6B ITS lens, HJ17ex7.7B
ITS lens, and wide angle HJ11ex4.7B ITS lens; and three
new SD broadcast lenses, J22ex7.6B ITS lens, J17ex7.7B ITS
lens, and wide angle J11ex4.5B ITS lens; and
Optical Accessories: Canon's expanded line of new optical
converters and attachments for HDTV as well as existing
SDTV accessories includes a 1.5x tele-side converter, .8x
wide-angle converter, .75x wide-angle attachment, and fish
eye attachment.
ENG/EFP
The new ENG/EFP lenses offer additional choices to meet
HDTV and SDTV challenges. The new high quality lenses are
light in weight and offer telephoto focal lengths for sports
production, newsgathering, documentaries, or stabilized
helicopter systems.
Portable HD Lenses: The HJ22ex7.6B lens with e-HDxs technology
is the highest-quality tele-portable lens yet from Canon;
and
Portable SD Lenses: Canon's new J35 series of lenses advances
the art of portable long lens technology.
Canon will also display their full line e-IFxs technology
lenses for SD, including the portable J22ex7.6B lens, J17ex7.7B
lens, and J11ex4.5B wide-angle lens.
Digital Video
Canon will also have on display at NAB2004 its entire line
of digital video camcorders, including the XL1s and GL2
digital video camcorders, its network video solutions and
Pan/Tilt/Zoom (P/T/Z) system cameras, and full line of projectors.
Also on display will be Canon's NU-700N, a turnkey Network
Controllable Pan/Tilt/Zoom (P/T/Z) system ideal for broadcasting
and professional video applications such as traffic, weather
observation and remote city views. For broadcasters in need
of a wireless high-bandwidth connection in situations where
fiber is cost prohibitive or logistically impossible, Canon
offers its Canobeam DT-100 Series, an optical beam communications
transceiver.
See the full line of Canon products throughout NAB2004
at Booth # SU9649, Las Vegas Convention Center.
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 ranked #39 on the Business Week 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 2003, with global revenues of $29.9 billion.
For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.
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All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks
of their respective owners.
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.
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