CANON SUPPLIES A FULL RANGE OF HDTV LENSES
TO NBC FOR ITS FIRST-EVER ALL-HIGH DEFINITION BROADCAST
OF AN OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES IN TORINO, FEBRUARY 10-26

Whether Watching in HDTV or SDTV, U.S. Viewers Will See NBC’s Olympic Coverage
Captured with Canon, the Exclusive Supplier of Lenses to NBC for the Torino Winter Olympics

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 10, 2006—As the world focuses in on the excitement and drama of the Torino Olympic Winter Games from February 10-26, the High Definition video images televised by NBC, America’s Olympic Network, will be captured exclusively with lenses supplied by the Canon Broadcast & Communications division. Canon will also be providing on-site technical support to NBC throughout the duration of the Torino Winter Games, the sixth consecutive Olympics at which Canon has partnered with NBC.

“Canon consistently designs and delivers a gold medal performance when it comes to state-of-the-art optics,” said Dave Mazza, senior vice president, engineering, NBC. “It is comforting to know that when preparing for an event as large as the Olympics that Canon will be there to support us.”

“Canon has been our lens partner for the past six Olympics and has provided a quality product that delivers excellent images for our viewers,” added Chip Adams, director of venue engineering, NBC. “The also have provided unparalleled support for the lenses they’ve supplied and for the lenses that our Outside Broadcast (OB) vendors provide.”

“Canon is proud to once again be NBC’s choice for lens manufacturer,” stated Gordon Tubbs, assistant director of the Broadcast & Communications division at Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Canon has supplied NBC with lenses for its Olympic coverage since 1992 and we of course look forward to many years of working with them in the future as. The Torino Winter Games is especially significant for us because this is the first Olympics that NBC will be covering totally in HDTV. All of the lenses that we are supplying to NBC are HDTV lenses, which incorporate many of Canon’s most advanced technologies.”

As Adams explains, NBC will be using a wide variety of Canon HDTV lenses to capture the action at the many venues of the Torino Winter Olympics. “Canon has a product line that address all of the production styles employed by NBC at the Olympics,” said Adams. “These include: large zoom lenses for sports coverage in big stadiums and outdoor venues; zoom lenses that provide easy access to zoom and focus data that is used by virtual graphic system vendors; HD studio lenses; lightweight ENG lenses; wide-angle lenses for interviews and crane use; small portable studio lenses for tight, small interview studios at the venues; small long-zoom lenses for EFP shoots; and knowledgeable and personable service support that’s willing to help in any way to keep their lenses working.”

Shooting in winter conditions can be harsh, but despite the possibility of cold, wet weather Canon’s optics and digital technology ensures dependable, reliable HDTV lens performance at all times. All Canon HDTV lenses have the advantage of the company’s unique, advanced Power Optical System, which achieves the highest specifications and quality through advanced X-Element optical path design. Combined with this is Canon’s Internal Focus (IF) technology for lower distortion, minimized chromatic aberration, and advanced protection from dust and condensation—vital considerations in the challenging climate of the Olympic Winter Games. In addition, Canon’s HDxs features for digital lens control, including eDrive for user-preset control of portable HDTV lenses and Shift-IS Optical Shift Image Stabilization on HDTV long field lenses—will further ensure maximum creative flexibility in all production situations.

The list of lenses that Canon is supplying to NBC for the Torino Winter Olympics includes the top-of-the-line XJ25x6.8B IE-D “DIGISUPER25xs” HDTV studio lens, which is designed to provide the very highest picture quality amid the most demanding conditions. With a zoom ratio to 25X and a focal length from 6.8mm to 170mm, the DIGISUPER25xs features a next-generation digital servo system that makes possible such functions as a constant angle of view while focusing (also known as “CAFS,” or “Constant Angle Focusing System”) and a digital memory selection for a variety of servo pre-sets.

On hand in the studio will be the revolutionary new XJ22x7.3B IE-D “DIGISUPER22xs” Compact HDTV studio lens, which is designed for use with portable cameras. The DIGISUPER22xs directly couples to portable HDTV cameras without a traditional “sled” support apparatus and provides the performance of larger “box-style” studio lenses in a compact size. The DIGISUPER22xs is a small, high-performance, cost-effective lens that allows a lightweight lens-camera package on a modest-size pedestal or sturdy tripod to be used in the studio.

Portable HDTV lenses that Canon will provide to NBC include the HJ22ex7.6B IRSE telephoto ENG lens, the HJ11ex4.7B IRSE wide-angle lens, and the HJ40x10B IASD-V long portable lens featuring Shift-IS internal Optical Shift Image Stabilization. The HJ22ex7.6B IRSE is a long-focal-length portable HDTV lens that combines wide-angle image capture and lightweight (4 lbs.) performance. With focal lengths of up to 168mm (or 336mm with extender), a wide-angle view of 64.6 degrees horizontal, and exceptionally high sensitivity (f 1.8 maximum aperture) the HJ22ex7.6B IRSE is a lens that can encompass an unusually broad range of shooting situations. Also capturing the action at the Torino Winter Olympics, the HJ11ex4.7B IRSE is among the widest portable HDTV lenses in its class, weighing a modest 4.3 lbs., and featuring a focal length of from 4.7mm to 52mm (9.4mm to 104mm with Extender). The HJ11ex4.7B is designed for maximum mobility and high-contrast, sharp HDTV image capture. For portable camera shots requiring very long zooming with rock-solid steadiness, Canon will also be supplying the HJ40x10B IASD-V HDTV lens featuring Shift-IS internal Optical Shift Image Stabilization. The HJ40x10B IASD-V can extend to 770mm with its extender, and is perfect for capturing historic, unscripted moments when an athlete’s facial expression might convey drama amid the heat of competition.

All three of these portable HDTV lenses feature Canon’s unique eDrive feature, which is built into the company’s full line of e-HDxs zooms. Utilizing three Canon ultra-high-precision, microprocessor-driven digital servos with 16-bit optical encoders, Canon’s eDrive technology enables users to easily program such functions as zoom and focus settings into their lenses 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 program multiple settings or none at all, depending on their personal needs and preferences.

Canon long field HDTV lenses will also be capturing the action of the Torino Winter Olympics from the OB mobile vehicles serving NBC. Equipped with Shift-IS internal Optical Shift Image Stabilization, these lenses—including the XJ100x9.3B IE-D (“DIGISUPER100xs”), the XJ86x9.3B IE-D (“DIGISUPER86xs”), and the XJ75x9.3B IE-D (“DIGISUPER75xs”)—combine very long telephoto capability with Canon’s Shift-IS internal Optical Shift Image Stabilization for dynamic image creation in live HDTV production. Offering a focal range of from 9.3mm to 930 mm (1860 mm with extender), the DIGISUPER100xs provides superb contrast range and high picture sharpness. The DIGISUPER86xs has a focal range of from 9.3mm to 800 mm (1600 mm with extender), and the DIGISUPER75xs provides a range of from 9.3mm to 700 mm (up to 1400mm with extender). All Canon DIGISUPER lenses incorporate the company’s second-generation Digital Servo System, which provides microcomputer compensation of lens focus breathing (the inadvertent alteration of field of view when operating the focus control) as well as a host of other improved digital operational features for focus and zooming control. Canon’s DIGISUPER lenses deliver precision HDTV production performance and heightened long-range zoom capabilities, features that have made Canon the standard of excellence in sports production.

In addition to the HDTV lenses that Canon is supplying to NBC at the Torino Winter Olympics, Canon will also be providing the network with full-time engineering support from a fully staffed on-site facility.

“Canon has the best lens technology and accessories for our coverage of the Olympics,” Adams concluded. “We have many demanding producers, directors and camera operators that require that their equipment deliver quality pictures, reliably, over the course of 16 days of Olympic competition. In various conditions—indoor and out—Canon has always delivered. The Canon service techs are knowledgeable and courteous, and are always asking if our lenses are working properly and if our vendors need any help with their lenses. That’s support!”

About NBC Olympics
NBC, “America's Olympic Network,” owns the exclusive U.S. media rights to the Olympic Games, television’s most powerful property, through 2012, which includes Torino, Italy in 2006, Beijing in 2008, Vancouver in 2010, and London in 2012. This February, NBC Universal will present the 2006 Olympic Winter Games from Torino, Italy (February 10-26, 2006). In August 2004, 203 million viewers watched as the networks of NBC Universal—NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, Telemundo, and NBC’s HD affiliates—offered a record 1,210 hours of Olympic coverage from Athens. In February 2002, 187 million watched the Salt Lake Olympic Games on NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC. For additional information, log onto NBCOlympics.com, the Internet's preeminent source for Olympic results, video, photos, news, and athlete profiles through the Torino Games. NBCOlympics.com will be the only site in the United States featuring competition video of complete runs and routines, real-time results and medal counts for every event, an interactive television viewing guide to help visitors navigate the “418” hours of Olympic programming on the NBC Universal networks, and comprehensive, multimedia-filled profiles on every American Olympian.

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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