Canon's New XL H1S and XL H1A HD Camcorders Provide Advanced Features for Enhanced...

Canon's New XL H1S and XL H1A HD Camcorders Provide Advanced Features for Enhanced Control and Operation

New 20x HD Video Lens, Enhanced Image Control and Other
User-Requested Refinements Serve the Needs of Event Video, Documentary
Filmmaking and Pro Markets
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--
Building on the success of its acclaimed XL H1 High Definition
(HD) camcorder, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging
technology, has introduced the new shoulder mount XL H1S and XL H1A HD
camcorders, which include new advanced features requested by
professional users for improved operation and image control.

Canon's new XL H1S and XL H1A camcorders, which will be on display
at the 2008 NAB Show (Booth #SU3020), feature an updated Canon 20x HD
Video Lens with three independent manual adjustment rings (focus, zoom
and iris), as well as enhanced manual focus and zoom control.
Additionally, the XL H1S and XL H1A incorporate an expanded array of
controls for customizing the image, display, and operation to match
individual needs. Utilizing the industry's most affordable digital
video recording media - HDV tapes - both models are ideal for such
long-form production applications as wedding and event videography,
digital filmmaking, documentary production and media education.

Both the new XL H1S and XL H1A deliver superior HD image quality
with their Genuine Canon XL interchangeable lens system, three 1/3
inch, 1.67 Megapixel CCD Image Sensors, and Canon's proprietary DIGIC
DVII HD Image Processor. Both models also feature a durable six-pin
IEEE 1394 terminal, providing a more robust connection to external
hardware.

The XL H1S model provides expanded connectivity by incorporating
HD-SDI (SMPTE 299M)/SD-SDI (SMPTE272M) output with embedded audio and
time code, providing a raw, uncompressed 1.485 Gbps signal for
demanding live production environments, SMPTE Time Code input and
output terminals, and a Genlock output terminal for multi-camera
shooting situations.

"The new XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders continue to meet the
needs of producers, event videographers, and digital cinematographers
with superior Canon optical and imaging technology, and with the most
cost-effective medium for high-quality HD video capture and storage,
which is HDV tape," noted Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and
general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "Canon's
unsurpassed quality is seen in our broadcast HDTV lenses and the Canon
EOS digital photography cameras. This know-how directly benefits the
quality of Canon professional and consumer HD camcorders. Recently,
our consumer camcorders claimed the number-one position in total high
definition camcorder unit sales above $200 in both January and
February of 2008, according to The NPD Group's Retail Tracking
Service."

New Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III

Leveraging Canon's expertise as a worldwide leader in optics, the
XL H1S and XL H1A feature a redesigned Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom
Lens equipped with Canon's XL lens mount. The XL lens mount enables
users to interchange lenses, such as Canon's optional 6x wide-angle
lens, Canon EF photographic lenses, and many other lenses for
specialized image capture. The XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders' new
Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III offers independent manual
zoom, focus and iris rings, which can operate simultaneously. These
rings have been redesigned for easy access and comfortable operation.
Other innovations of the lens include: three sensitivity settings for
the manual focus ring; fast and slow zoom speeds; smooth movement when
starting or stopping zooms; and selectable rotational angles between
the tele and wide ends of the lens zoom. Simultaneous zoom and focus
control are also possible in either Manual or Auto Focus mode. The new
Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III incorporates aspherical
lenses to reduce flare and fluorite lens elements to minimize
chromatic aberration. Additionally, the lens features Canon's
SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) system, which corrects
camera shake instantly on hand-held shots at full telephoto, shots
taken from a moving vehicle, or other challenging situations.

User-Definable Operation

The new camcorders provide users with an unprecedented range of
image/color settings, camera-control functions, and viewfinder display
choices. Video can be captured and output in multiple frame rates to
meet the demands of diverse production assignments. These frame rates
include: 60i for mainstream production; 30F for perfect frame grabs or
Web delivery; and 24F for emulating the look of motion-picture film.
Canon's Factory Service Center can also provide an optional upgrade to
add 50i and 25F frame rates. The camcorders can be switched in all
frame rates between 1080-line 16:9 aspect ratio HD video and 480-line
4:3 aspect ratio SD video (or 576 lines in 50i or 25F mode).

Both the XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders provide Total Image
Control for customizing image and color settings, with a total of 23
custom presets available for image-quality adjustment, with the range
of image color presets extended from +/-9 to +/-50 steps for
fine-tuning the picture (an important feature for achieving the visual
subtleties favored by cinematographers). Custom image pre-set files
can be stored to an onboard SD/SDHC Memory Card and shared with
another Canon XL H1S, XL H1A, or with Canon XH G1 and XH A1 HD
camcorders for seamless multi-camera production work.

Custom camera functions and operation settings total 21 items and
33 sub-items for achieving creative "looks" for footage. Among these
new functions are: "shockless" white balance for smooth,
color-accurate dissolves between two pre-set white balance values
(adjustable from 2000K to 15000K); the ability to increase gain in
0.5dB increments from 0dB up to +18dB, and there is also additional
-3dB and +36dB settings. A selective noise-reduction function is
available for reducing the noise in targeted color areas, which is
important for blue/green chroma-key applications in special effects
work and for shooting insufficiently illuminated backgrounds.

Using the custom display settings feature, a camera operator can
tailor the display to their shooting style. These include 22 items and
40 sub-items for selection of status information that can be shown in
the XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders' 2.4" combination EVF/LCD monitor.

Audio Capture and A/V Connectivity

User-requested refinements in the XL H1S and XL H1A audio
capabilities include: two-channel audio performance; two built-in XLR
terminals with separate audio-input sensitivity settings; the ability
to simultaneously record sound from an external microphone and the
supplied internal microphone; line output level switching; an audio
(manual) limiter; a new metal headphone jack for reliable
connectivity. Another important new feature is embedded audio (and
SMPTE time code) in the XL H1S HD camcorder's uncompressed
HD-SDI/SD-SDI digital output via an industry-standard BNC connector.

Other improved connections on the XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders
include an external LCD monitor output for critical focus confirmation
on an optional larger monitor simultaneous RCA and BNC video output
for added monitoring and dubbing convenience, and a photo-flash
accessory shoe to support use of Canon EX Series Speedlites.

The new Canon XL H1S HD camcorder is scheduled to be available in
early June for an estimated retail price of $8,999, and the XL H1A,
which will have an estimated retail price of $5,999, is scheduled to
be available in mid-July.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and
industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc.
(NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranking third overall
in the U.S. in 2007(+), with global revenues of $39.3 billion, is
listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is on
the 2007 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." To keep apprised of
the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news
feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/pressroom.

(+)IFI Patent Intelligence Press Release, January 2008.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Availability, prices, and specifications of all products are
subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual
dealers and may vary.

Editorial:
Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Len Musmeci, 516-328-4884
lmusmeci@cusa.canon.com
or
Kevin McCarthy, 516-328-5950
kmccarthy@cusa.canon.com
or
Canon U.S.A. Web site:
www.usa.canon.com
or
For sales information/customer support:
1-800-OK-CANON
ccenter@cits.canon.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008