Canon USA News (Page 11)

From Canon:

New Upgrades, Including Support for Industry-Standard ACES, Look to Help Deliver Greater Production Workflow Efficiency

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 3, 2013 – Canon U.S.A., Inc. a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today new firmware and application software upgrades for the Company's Cinema EOS System lineup of cameras. New ACES compatibility software for the Cinema EOS C500 and Cinema EOS C500 PL Digital Cameras will be available as a free download expected in June 2013. Additional Cinema EOS firmware upgrades, including a new 1,440 x 1,080 pixel recording mode at 35Mbps for the Cinema EOS C300 and Cinema EOS C300 PL Digital Cameras, are expected to be available as free downloads starting in October 2013, all from the www.usa.canon.com.

In response to strong demand from professionals working in the fields of motion picture, commercial and television production, the firmware and application software upgrades will offer enhanced color management efficiency and camera functionality, contributing to improved video production workflow efficiency.

ACES Compatibility for Greater Production Workflow Efficiency (EOS C500/EOS C500 PL)
Cinema EOS C500 and Cinema EOS C500 PL camera users will be able to download a new version of Canon's Cinema RAW Development Software for working with 4K RAW data. The new version provides support for the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) color management standard, as defined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and standardized by the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE). Compatibility with ACES helps make efficient workflows possible, enabling color management using a uniform color space - even when handling video captured using multiple cameras with different color characteristics.

Automatic Functions (EOS C300) and New Recording Mode (EOS C300/EOS C300 PL)
A new firmware upgrade for the Cinema EOS C300 Digital Camera adds Push Auto Iris and One-Shot Autofocus (AF), two outstanding automatic functions incorporated in the Cinema EOS C100 Digital Camera (released in November 2012). These functions enable users to automatically adjust lens aperture and focusing through a simple one-touch operation, which can be particularly useful for cinematographers and videographers shooting without the support of an assistant.

In addition, a firmware upgrade for the Cinema EOS C300 and Cinema EOS C300 PL Digital Cameras adds a 1,440 x 1,080 pixel recording mode at 35Mbps, a resolution widely used in terrestrial digital television broadcasting. This new mode will expand the versatility of the XF codec and can be a useful addition for broadcast applications where the reduced bandwidth requires less transmission time while still maintaining a high level of image quality.

Shifting Display Location during Magnified Focus Assist (EOS C100, EOS C300/EOS C300 PL, EOS C500/EOS C500 PL)
Firmware upgrades for the EOS C500 and EOS C500 PL, EOS C300, EOS C300 PL, and EOS C100 Digital Camera models enable the Magnified Focus Assist function's magnified view area within the viewfinder and LCD monitor to be shifted to locations other than the center of the screen, allowing users to confirm focus across the entire display area.

B&H carries Canon Cinema EOS Cameras.

From Canon:

Designed for Film-Style Operation, Canon Cinema Prime Lenses Deliver 4K Imaging Performance

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 3, 2013 - Canon Inc., the parent company of Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, has announced the development of a 35mm cinema prime lens for large-format single-sensor cameras employing Super 35mm, full-frame 35mm, and APS-C size imagers. The 35mm cinema prime lens will look to join Canon's line of 14mm, 24mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm EF-mount Cinema prime lenses. The 35mm cinema lens in development will look to become the sixth in the line, filling a strategic optical need between Canon's 24mm and 50mm lens offerings. As with Canon's precision-matched, competitively priced CN-E prime lenses, the 35mm lens under development will look to deliver 4K optical performance and inherit the professional operability of the existing CN-E prime lens line.

Canon Cinema prime lenses are part of the Canon Cinema EOS System of professional digital cinematography products, which also include the EOS C500 4K/2K Digital Cinema Camera, EOS C300 Digital Cinema Camera, EOS C100 Digital Video Camera, EOS-1D C 4K DSLR Cinema Camera, and four Canon Cinema zoom lenses. A development sample of the 35mm cinema lens will be on display in the Canon booth #C4325 during the 2013 NAB Show in Las Vegas, NV, April 8-11, 2013, and the lens itself is currently expected to officially launch sometime this year.

"Canon is committed to supporting cinematic culture and the continued advancement of tools for visual storytelling at all levels," affirmed Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. "During the past 18 months, Canon has brought our Cinema EOS product line to market, and in that time we have introduced HD, 2K, and 4K cameras, lenses and workflow solutions, as well as structured a comprehensive service and support network for professionals in the theatrical motion picture and television markets to enable customers to create and deliver exceptional imaging content and cinematic brilliance."

B&H carries Canon Cinema lenses.

From Canon:

Highlights Include Live 4K Workflow Demonstrations in a Full On-Site DI (Digital Intermediate) Suite, Live 4K Broadcast Demonstrations for HD “Ultra-Zoom” Applications, and the Canon Theater

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 3, 2013 - At the 2013 NAB Show in Las Vegas, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, will showcase its full line of professional, high-definition imaging equipment for motion picture, television production, video content creation, and still photography at booths C3628 and C4325. Within this year’s booth, Canon will feature a live 4K Workflow Demonstration where visitors will have the opportunity to interact with industry-leading colorists and editors in a 4K DI (Digital Intermediate) suite. In a live color grading session of 4K footage from Canon’s groundbreaking C500 4K camera, on-site professionals will demonstrate the imaging possibilities of Canon’s 4K image capture technology and view the results on Canon’s prototype 4K reference displays, currently under development.

Building off the recent successes of the Canon Cinema EOS C500 4K digital camera’s broadcast capabilities, the Company will be exhibiting a live demonstration of 4K Remote Broadcast, highlighting how spectacular HD broadcast footage can be captured, digitally rendered and cropped for live-action broadcast applications using Canon’s Cinema EOS equipment. Visitors to this demonstration will see, in real-time, the results and stunning coverage that can be used in multiple high-speed productions, including live-action sports.

Exhibiting some of the recent artistry and award-winning footage shot on Canon Cinema EOS equipment, show attendees are welcome to enter a 90-seat Canon Theater to view spectacular footage and testimonials that illustrate HD, 2K and 4K projects including behind-the-scenes footage on how each project was captured. Demonstrating the full breadth of Canon capabilities from image capture through output, the Canon Theater will take visitors beyond capture and feature additional 4K reference display prototypes currently under development.

The Company has also announced and will showcase the new Cinema EOS C100 EF 24-105 Lens Kit, a cost-effective solution to assist cinematographers, including single-person and small cinematography crews, with the ability to purchase and produce high-quality pieces at an affordable price-point.

In addition, visitors to the Canon booth will have the opportunity to touch-and-try a full range of Canon equipment on display throughout the week. Canon products, such as the EOS-1D C Digital Cinema SLR, EF Cinema zoom lenses and various other cameras and accessories will be available to demo.

Professional cinematographers in need of a fast, easy way to print images for scene continuity or to preserve highlights of a recently completed project can appreciate the convenience and versatility of Canon’s photo-quality printers. On-hand in the Canon booth will be the 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6450, and the 44-inch imagePROGRAF iPF8400, 12-color large-format printers. Both are equipped with LUCIA EX pigment ink set, an enhanced multi-sensor and advanced printing technologies to help achieve extraordinary quality and enhanced color range in large format printed output. Also being shown are the PIXMA PRO series of desktop inkjet printers. The PIXMA PRO-1 printer, the flagship model in Canon’s professional inkjet printer lineup, features a 12-color LUCIA Pigment ink system that expands the color gamut with improved saturation of colors and darker, deeper blacks, over previous models. The PIXMA PRO-10 printer, with its 10-color pigment ink system, and the PIXMA PRO-100 printer, with its 8-color dye-based ink system provide photographers with a number of options to help satisfy their printing needs. The SELPHY CP900 compact photo printer will be on display allowing professionals to see first-hand the convenience and high-image quality of this compact photo printer.

In the BCTV Shooting Gallery, booth visitors will have the opportunity to experience the performance and capabilities of Canon’s Broadcast HDTV lenses through various simulated shooting situations.

Throughout the 2013 NAB Show, Canon will host a series of unique live-learning stage demonstrations with renowned cinematographers, broadcast specialists, and filmmakers at the Canon booth. These industry professionals will provide insight into the ever-changing field of optical and imaging technology and showcase their projects and works that were shot on Canon equipment, as well as share best practices and real-world applications for Canon technology.

Additionally, Canon is hosting a special, three-hour learning session focusing on the intricacies of the Canon Cinema EOS C500 4K digital camera. Led by Los Angeles-based Director of Photography, Suny Behar, the “Canon Cinema EOS C500 4K digital camera Workflow: 2K/4K from Set-Up to Shoot” session will explore camera set-up choices from System Priority, Recording Mode and Resolutions to file output options. Behar will also demonstrate a step-by-step configuration of the Cinema EOS C500 4K digital camera with external recorders. “The Cinema EOS C500 4K digital camera Workflow: 2K/4K From Set-Up to Shoot” will take place on Tuesday, April 9th in rooms N239 and N241with two convenient sessions - the first from 9:30am to 12:30pm and the second from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. NAB attendees with the Conference Flex Pass, the Exhibits-Only (Open to All), the Post|Production World and the SMART Pass are eligible to attend.

For the first time at NAB, Canon’s Professional Services (CPS) is proud to host the CPS Hospitality Suite. Providing service and support to the professional imaging industry and its high demands, the CPS Hospitality Suite is open to all NAB Tradeshow attendees and CPS Members. Located just off of the tradeshow floor visitors to the suite can see Canon’s latest products and take advantage of touch-and-try counters in a private setting.

Canon technical representatives will be on-hand to provide consultations for cinema, video and DSLR users and CPS Gold and Platinum members can receive free onsite Clean & Checks for current professional equipment*. Suite visitors will also be able to chat with Canon experts about Canon’s exciting developments in cinema, video and DSLR technology as well as sign up for Canon CPS membership. Product serial numbers for qualifying CPS equipment will be needed in order to process on-site membership applications.

The Canon CPS Hospitality Suite will be open April 8th through April 10th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and April 11th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

From Canon:

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 21, 2013 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., has placed on Fortune Magazine's 2013 World's Most Admired Companies list. Moving up one spot in 2013 to fourth globally in the Computers category, Canon ranked in the top three for innovation, financial soundness and long-term investment. In addition, the company placed first among corporations based internationally.

Close to 700 companies from 30 countries around the world were analyzed and ranked with the input from 3,800 executives, directors and analysts. The 2013 list was separated into 57 industries ranging from aerospace and defense to trucking, transportation and logistics.

"The companies ranked by Fortune are the most innovative and influential around the world," said Bunji Yano, senior director and general manager, Corporate Communications, Canon U.S.A. "To simply be a part of this list is an honor in itself, yet to rank so highly exemplifies our dedication to not only our customers, but our employees and the communities we serve."

For 2013, companies were judged in nine different attributes of recognition including global competitiveness, use of corporate assets and people management.

From the Canon YouTube Channel:

Thank you to all of our Canon fans in helping us reach a new milestone of 1 million minutes watched on our channel (and counting)! We could not have reached this great landmark without your help and support. As a thank you, we've created this short video including clips of our products, tutorials, movies, explorers of light and much more! We hope you enjoy!

B&H carries Canon products.

From Canon:

TOKYO, March 4, 2013—Canon Inc. announced today that the company has successfully developed a high-sensitivity 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor exclusively for video recording. Delivering high-sensitivity, low-noise imaging performance, the new Canon 35 mm CMOS sensor*1 enables the capture of Full HD video even in exceptionally low-light environments.

The newly developed CMOS sensor features pixels measuring 19 microns square in size, which is more than 7.5-times the surface area of the pixels on the CMOS sensor incorporated in Canon's top-of-the-line EOS-1D X and other digital SLR cameras. In addition, the sensor's pixels and readout circuitry employ new technologies that reduce noise, which tends to increase as pixel size increases. Thanks to these technologies, the sensor facilitates the shooting of clearly visible video images even in dimly lit environments with as little as 0.03 lux of illumination, or approximately the brightness of a crescent moon—a level of brightness in which it is difficult for the naked eye to perceive objects. When recording video of astral bodies, while an electron-multiplying CCD,*2 which realizes approximately the same level of perception as the naked eye, can capture magnitude-6 stars, Canon's newly developed CMOS sensor is capable of recording faint stars with a magnitude of 8.5 and above.*3

Using a prototype camera employing the newly developed sensor, Canon successfully captured a wide range of test video,*4 such as footage recorded in a room illuminated only by the light from burning incense sticks (approximately 0.05–0.01 lux) and video of the Geminid meteor shower. The company is looking to such future applications for the new sensor as astronomical and natural observation, support for medical research, and use in surveillance and security equipment. Through the further development of innovative CMOS sensors, Canon aims to expand the world of new imaging expression.

Canon Marketing Japan Inc. will be exhibiting a prototype camera that incorporates the newly developed 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor and sample footage captured with the camera at SECURITY SHOW 2013 (www.shopbiz.jp/en/ss/), which will be held from Tuesday, March 5, to Friday, March 8, at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center in Tokyo, Japan.

*1 An imaging element (aspect ratio: 16:9) that supports the largest image circle size possible when shooting with a Canon EF lens.
*2 A CCD sensor with a readout mechanism that multiplies electrons after being converted from light. Applications include nighttime surveillance and the capture of astral bodies and nighttime nature scenes.
*3 The brightness of a star decreases 2.5-times with each 1 magnitude increase.
*4 Recording of test video footage was made possible through cooperation from ZERO Corporation.

See a video using the newly devloped sensor here (bottom of page).

From AdNews:

"Canon marketing boss Darren Ryan, who steered the brand's acclaimed 'World of EOS' campaigns, has resigned his post after seven years.

Ryan will finish on 26 April as general manager of marketing – Canon Consumer Imaging. A search for a replacement is already “well underway” according to Canon."

Read the entire article here.

On February 6, we highlighted a Canon Forums moderator's response acknowledging the Canon EOS-1D X and 5D Mark III cameras were slow to acquire focus when using a Speedlite's AF Assist Beam. Now, Canon has published an official product advisory regarding the issue:

From Canon:

Thank you for using Canon products.

Affected Products
EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera
EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera

Details
Depending upon the shooting conditions, it may take slightly longer for the EOS 5D Mark III and EOS-1D X digital SLR cameras to acquire focus when using the Speedlite's AF Assist Beam, compared with that of the EOS 5D Mark II and EOS-1D Mark IV digital SLR cameras using the Speedlite's AF Assist Beam.

We are developing a solution to enhance the focusing feature for the EOS 5D Mark III and EOS-1D X and plan to release a firmware update based on following estimated schedule:

• EOS 5D Mark III: (estimated) Late April, 2013
• EOS-1D X: (estimated) Late May, 2013

Support
This information is for residents of the United States and Puerto Rico only. If you do not reside in the USA or Puerto Rico, please contact the Canon Customer Support Center in your region.

If you have not already done so, please register your Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera or your Canon EOS-1D X. Digital SLR Camera. By registering, we will be able to notify you via email about future service upgrades.

Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Contact Information for Inquiries
Canon Customer Support Center
Phone: 1-855-246-3367 (toll free)
TDD: 1-866-251-3752
Email: CinemaEOS@cits.canon.com

From Canon:

MELVILLE, N.Y., February 18, 2013 - – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to announce the new address of its new Americas headquarters. One Canon Park, located in Melville, New York will consolidate nearly 1,400 Canon employees into one central location. Nearly half of all Canon U.S.A. employees have relocated to the Melville headquarters while the remaining employees will complete the move in March. The new headquarters will serve all North and South American countries and will be one of Canon's three worldwide headquarters, with the other two located in London and Japan.

"We are so proud to be moving to our brand new, state-of-the-art headquarters at One Canon Park," said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A. "One Canon Park will be a symbol of not only our dedication to our employees, but also our dedication to the Long Island community we have called home since 1971."

Remaining on Long Island was always a top priority for the company to help retain the highly skilled and dedicated workforce. One Canon Park is a 700,000 square-foot facility and is located approximately 16 miles east of the current headquarters in Lake Success, New York.

The mailing address will be: One Canon Park, Melville, NY 11747.

When a Canon Forums user "Kronie" asked the following question:

"Does Canon honor the USA warraties if it's purchased from a non authorised dealer?

If I buy a new 5D MKIII from a non authorized dealer do I have a Canon 12 month warranty or not?"

Canon Forum Moderator "Naomi" responded:

"Hi Kronie!

As long as the EOS 5D Mark III was purchased New, In box, you should have the same warranty coverage. To help you out, we've included a link to the Service and Support page on our website for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera. Click "Warranty Terms" under "Service & Repair", and you'll find a link to the full camera warranty on this page.

http://bit.ly/ZCIMZn

Hope this helps!"

Note: We have no official documentation from Canon substantiating this moderator's claim that Canon will honor warranty repairs for purchases made from non-authorized dealers; however, there are numerous reports that Canon is relatively loose when interpreting its own warranty repair policies.

Update: According to a visitor to the site, the moderator's comment was deleted from the original thread (even though the reply still appears in search queries). Therefore, it's likely safe to assume Canon did not feel the moderator's comments represented its policies correctly. (Thanks Timothy)

From Canon:

Canon Reaches a New Record With More Than 3,000 Patents Issued

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 14, 2013 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, has announced that for the 27th consecutive year its parent company, Canon Inc., has ranked among the top five United States patent holders. Topping the 2011 figure of 2,813 patents, Canon reached a new high for 2012, obtaining 3,174 patents. In addition, Canon Inc. ranked first among Japanese companies and third overall in the United States for patents granted according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services.

Maintaining a dedication to research and development has enabled Canon to remain a leader in patents held, year after year. These patents have allowed the Company to expand into new product categories while continually improving on core technologies.

"The patents registered today will help lead to the innovations of tomorrow," said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A. "Making research and development a top priority has enabled us to continually provide customers around the globe with advanced products spanning various technology segments."

Canon puts great emphasis on providing advanced technology that is ever-changing. Through close cooperation between Canon's technology and intellectual property divisions, the Company aims to improve its technological capabilities while further enhancing its intellectual property rights.

For more information on Canon and its products, please visit: www.usa.canon.com

A thread on Canon's forums regarding Canon EOS 5D Mark III and 1D X DSLR cameras being slow to acquire focus when using a Speedlite's AF Assist Beam prompted this response from a moderator (Stephen):

"Canon has confirmed that, depending upon the shooting conditions, it may take slightly longer for the EOS 5D Mark III and EOS-1D X digital SLR cameras to acquire focus when using the Speedlite's AF Assist Beam, compared with that of the EOS 5D Mark II and EOS-1D Mark IV digital SLR cameras using the Speedlite's AF Assist Beam. We are developing a firmware update to enhance the focusing feature for the EOS 5D Mark III and the EOS-1D X. The schedule for release of this firmware update will be announced shortly."

Stay tuned for more info...

The Canon Camera Museum has published a technical report on the PowerShot SX50 HS digital camera.

B&H carries the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS digital camera.

Camera body bags I mean. Just got a camera back from Canon service and it arrived in a microfiber bag that I have not seen before. Sporting the "White Glove" look, this bag will protect against dust and minor scratches. Little impact protection is provided.

I have to give Canon CPS Gold Service kudos for the fast turnaround on this repair. I shipped the camera on Tuesday, it arrived at Canon's Jamestown service facility on Wednesday, it was repaired and shipped on Thursday - and in my hands on Friday morning. With a free body bag. I couldn't ask for more.

Canon has published a set of online video camera tutorials for the EOS 6D DSLR camera.

Topics include:

• Basic Overview
• The Auto Options
• Image Quality
• Multiple Exposure Shooting
• In-Camera HDR
• In-Camera RAW and JPEG Processing
• Auto Exposure Bracketing
• Low Light Shooting
• Composition Aids
• Auto Focus System Basics
• Basic Video Operation
• Time Code Operation Basics

From Canon:

PARK CITY, UT, January 15, 2013 - Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today that they will support the Sundance Institute as a Sustaining Sponsor of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Held in Park City, Utah from January 17-27, 2013, the Sundance Film Festival is the premier showcase of independent film with a slate of 200 feature films, documentaries, shorts, New Frontier films, installations, performances, panel discussions and music events attended by an estimated 50,000 people.

Among the slate at this year's Sundance Film Festival are Lucy Walker's documentary The Crash Reel and Sean Fine's film Life According to Sam, both shot with the Cinema EOS C300. Additionally, a few of the other projects to be screened at the Festival that were shot using Canon products include A River Changes Course, Blood Brother, Catnip: Egress to Oblivion, Dirty Wars, The Roper, and Who Is Dayani Crystal?

As a Sustaining Sponsor of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, Canon will offer filmmakers the opportunity to touch and try a lineup of its Cinema EOS professional products, including the Cinema EOS C500 4K Digital Cinema Camera, Cinema EOS C300 Digital Cinema Camera, Cinema EOS C100 Digital Video Camera, EOS-1D C4K DSLR Cinema Camera, as well as the EOS 5D Mark III DSLR Camera and select Canon lenses, including the brand new CN-E14mm T3.1 L F and CN-E135mm T2.2 L F lenses. These products–designed to offer storytellers a new set of tools for capturing compelling visuals and emotional reality on screen–will be on display from Thursday, January 17 - Saturday, January 19, 2013 outside of the Film Office at Festival Headquarters located at the Park City Marriott (1895 Sidewinder Dr).

Canon will also host the "Canon Celebrates Cinematography" cocktail event on Sunday, January 20, 2013 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at 614 Main St. Hosted by cinematographer Russell Carpenter, ASC (Jobs) and director/producer R.J. Cutler (The World According to Dick Cheney), the event will bring together established and emerging filmmakers, producers, and talent to honor and recognize the work of the cinematographers of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The event will also feature a special partnership between Variety and Canon to recognize Festival cinematographers through the capture of cinematographer portraits to be shared on Variety.com.

Lastly, Canon will present a special presentation "Canon Spotlights Cinematography" at the New Frontier Microcinema at The Yard (1251 Kearns Blvd) on Monday, January 21 from 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. This event is free and open to Festival Credential holders and the public as space allows. The afternoon will feature a special screening of shorts created with groundbreaking Cinema EOS Technology, including:

• Bart - Directed by Richard Landes and cinematography by Peter Simonite
  The big screen premiere of the narrative short shot on the new Cinema EOS C100
• The Nightshift Belongs to The Stars - Directed by Edoardo Ponti and cinematography by Ferran Paredes
  A short film based on an original story by Erri De Luca and shot on the Cinema EOS C300
• Man & Beast - Directed by Dante Ariola and cinematography by Jeff Cronenweth
  Inspired by true life events, the short was filmed in 4K resolution with a Cinema EOS C500

Immediately following the screening, Canon Film and Television Production Advisor Tim Smith will moderate an in depth discussion with Peter Simonite and Edoardo Ponti, as well as cinematographers Andre Lascaris (Ron & Bryce Dallas Howard's when you find me) and Alex Buono (Saturday Night Live) about their filmmaking process and how Cinema EOS products helped to bring their stories to life.

From Canon:

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 15, 2013 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, has rolled out a consumer-safety initiative that will promote awareness of a consumer electronics industry-wide issue: the risks of using counterfeit accessories for digital cameras and camcorders, especially batteries and chargers. Counterfeit products are fake replicas of the real products, designed to take advantage of the superior value of the real product. These fake accessories are produced in a manner that is increasingly more difficult for average consumers to identify. Purchase of these products can lead to potentially dangerous results. Unlike genuine Canon products, counterfeit accessories may not meet government and industry safety standards and may overheat, smoke, melt, ignite and may cause bodily injury and property damage.

In support of this initiative, a digital campaign, with the tagline, "Play it safe. Power your Canon with Canon Power" was launched on January 8, advising consumers to avoid counterfeits by purchasing products through established retail channels. In addition, the Canon USA Website has been enlisted to educate consumers on the Canon batteries and chargers most frequently counterfeited and to provide helpful tips to spot them.

"Canon takes safety seriously and, as good corporate citizens, we want to inform and educate so that consumers are aware of the risks counterfeit products pose," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. "We will be rolling out an initiative over the next few months, encouraging consumers to help play it safe with genuine Canon power when making an investment in a camera or camcorder and its accessories, so that they may continue to enjoy the quality experience they expect from us."

For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com/aboutcounterfeits.

From Canon:

Mr. Masaya Maeda, Chief Executive, Image Communication Products Operation, Canon Inc., is proud to have Canon acknowledged along with peers, Sony, Red, and Arri in receiving a Technical Emmy award for advancements in CMOS sensor technology for film and television production.

From Canon:

Canon tops among Japanese companies in U.S. patent rankings for eighth consecutive year

TOKYO, January 11, 2013 — Canon Inc. ranked first among Japanese companies and third overall for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2012, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services on January 10, 2013.

Canon actively promotes the globalization of its business and places great value on obtaining patents overseas, carefully adhering to a patent-filing strategy that pursues patents in essential countries and regions while taking into consideration the business strategies and technology and product trends unique to each location. Among these, the United States, with its many high-tech companies and large market scale, represents a particularly important region in terms of business expansion and technology alliances.

Canon U.S. patent ranking among Japanese companies 2005 - 2012

* Number in parenthesis represents Canon’s ranking among all companies

Canon prizes its corporate DNA of placing a high priority on technology. And with regard to research and development results, the company actively promotes the acquisition of patent rights in accordance with the management direction of the Canon Group and technology trends while conducting thorough pre-application searches to raise the quality of applications. Through close cooperation between Canon’s technology and intellectual property divisions, the company aims to improve its technological capabilities while further enhancing its intellectual property rights.

From Canon:

CAPTURE, CONNECT AND SHARE WITH THE LATEST CANON PRODUCTS AT THE 2013 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW

Company Brings to Life “Image Incredible” through Interactive Experiences and Inspired End-User Photographs

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 4, 2013 - At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 8th, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, unveils the vision behind its 2013 lineup of connected digital cameras, camcorders and printers. Visitors to Canon’s booth (#13304) will be invited to explore “Image Incredible” with product demonstrations and on-site experiences designed to unlock creative potential and inspire users to express their individuality using the Company’s exceptional imaging technology products.

Upon entering the Canon booth, attendees will experience “Image Incredible” through inspiring visual displays, celebrity photographer guest speakers, staged performance showcases, interactive product demonstrations and social media activities. Canon’s mission to inspire creativity in customers of all levels will be seen throughout the show as end-user inspired images submitted to the “Project Imaginat10n” program will decorate the Company’s booth as well as adorn on-site advertising and signage as examples of how imaging inspires creativity in us all.

“Consumers are looking for higher performing and functioning products that work exceptionally on their own, as well as together, to push the boundaries of imagination and creativity,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A., “This year, we have created a space where this truly comes to life in unique and exciting ways, just like our products.”

Through interactive on-stage presentations, attendees will be immersed in the true meaning of “Image Incredible” as a series of end-user scenarios play out illustrating the various creative possibilities and wireless connectivity of Canon EOS cameras, PowerShot digital cameras, VIXIA camcorders and PIXMA printer products. Also on the Canon stage will be industry renowned photographers and cinematographers. Canon Explorers of Light (EOL) members, Jack Reznicki, Bruce Dorn, Vincent Laforet and Rick Sammon will be conducting presentations on various filmmaking and photographic techniques throughout the week. To further showcase the Canon booth theme, there will be a special gallery showcasing the works of various members of the EOL program.

Adding to the overall booth experience, attendees can touch-and-try a range of Canon high-performance optics and cameras by entering an in-booth tower that features 15 different EF lenses and DSLR cameras. Throughout the show, the Canon HD Theater will be showing a highlight reel of spectacular footage shot and captured on EOS and Cinema EOS equipment as the Company looks to enable both consumers and professionals to tell their story through video as well as still images.

To help bring the show experience to Canon fans, there will be a dedicated social media counter that will display Canon-related social media engagement through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the Canon Forum. Please visit the following Canon U.S.A. social media sites:

Facebook: facebook.com/CanonUSA
Twitter: @CanonUSAimaging #CanonCES
YouTube: youtube.com/CanonUSA
Canon Forum: forums.usa.canon.com

For more information on all of Canon’s products, please visit: www.usa.canon.com.