Canon press release:

NBC Olympics’ Production of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi to Utilize More Than 70 HDTV Field, Portable, and Studio Lenses from Canon

Canon Lenses to Help Enable NBC Olympics to Provide Viewers with Outstanding HDTV Picture Quality and Long-Zoom Image Detail During its Coverage of 2014 Sochi Winter Games

MELVILLE, N.Y., February 10, 2014 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., has been selected to provide HDTV portable, field, and studio lenses to NBC Olympics, a division of the NBC Sports Group, during its presentation of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, from February 6-23. The announcement was made today by David Mazza, Senior Vice President, Engineering, NBC Olympics, and Larry Thorpe, Senior Fellow, Professional Engineering & Solutions division of Canon U.S.A., Inc.

More than 70 Canon HDTV lenses in total are involved in the production. Models include the XJ100X9.3B AF long-zoom field lens and the XJ27X6.5B AF studio zoom lens, both of which feature sophisticated Canon auto-focus capabilities based on a proprietary HD implementation of Through-the-Lens Secondary Image Registration Phase Detection Method technology. Also helping to provide steady images from telephoto distances will be the portable HJ40X10B super telephoto HD lens featuring Canon Shift-IS internal Optical Shift Image Stabilization, and the compact HJ15EX8.5B image-stabilized HD lens with Canon’s patented Vari-Angle Prism image-stabilizer (VAP-IS) technology.

Canon press release:

Canon Congratulates the Team of Imaging Professionals Who Captured the Iconic Moments of the Big Game

MELVILLE, N.Y., February 6, 2014 – On February 2nd imaging professionals from across the country gathered in New Jersey to cover the big game between teams from Seattle and Denver. Prepared to battle the potential elements, these professionals provided football fans with images documenting monumental moments and plays that can be watched, enjoyed and relived for years to come.

“We are honored to have seen so many photographers using our equipment to capture images of the big game this past weekend. Canon is committed to ensuring our products and support live up to the needs and expectations of our customers, and it is always humbling to see Canon equipment being used in such high profile events,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. was on site in New Jersey with its Canon Professional Services (CPS) team to provide these professionals with convenient access to support personnel, equipment maintenance, and product loans. “I have personally been impressed with Canon’s proactive, prompt and thoughtful support for professionals,” said Tom Hauck, freelance sports photographer who photographed the game and has shot over 350 professional football games in his career. “Before the game, I sent all my gear to Canon’s Irvine service facility to be cleaned and checked and I got everything back in about two days. And at the game, Canon’s CPS staff was on site providing information on how to better understand and get the most from my equipment as well as peace of mind.”

Canon press release:

Canon celebrates production of 70 million EOS-series interchangeable-lens cameras

TOKYO, February 6, 2014—Canon Inc. announced today the achievement of a camera-manufacturing milestone as combined production of the company’s film and digital EOS-series interchangeable-lens cameras surpassed the 70-million mark on February 5.

Production of Canon EOS SLR cameras began in 1987 at Canon Inc.’s Fukushima Plant (now Fukushima Canon Inc.) with the EOS 650, later moving to such production bases as Oita Canon Inc. and Canon Inc., Taiwan. Following the spread of digital SLR cameras in the early 2000s, production rapidly increased, surpassing the 60-million-unit mark in October 2012 and now, approximately one year and four months later, reaching the 70-million-unit threshold.

EOS, which stands for “Electro Optical System,” also carries the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn. Introduced in March 1987 as a new generation of AF SLR cameras, EOS cameras were the world’s first to incorporate an electronic mount system enabling complete electronic control not only between the lens and body, but throughout the entire camera system.