Steve's Digicams - Breaking News - Canon 05/02/03 Press Release

Smallest Canon Digital Elph Offers Style, Elegance And Portability For Recording Life On-The-Go

PowerShot SD100 Uses Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card, Miniaturized Optical Lens and Innovative Design to Create World's Smallest ELPH

LAKE SUCCESS, May 2, 2003 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), is announcing the world's smallest and lightest digital ELPH camera. The new PowerShot SD100, with its ultra-compact size and new white-platinum finish crafted in stainless steel, represents the ultimate in portability, durability and elegance. Now, more than ever, consumers can easily and securely carry their ELPH digital camera everywhere they go, and with 3.2 megapixels they are assured the highest quality images for making prints as large as 8.5x11-inches. The size of the PowerShot SD100 was made possible through the process of miniaturization, beginning with its new optical lens design so small it can literally hide under a U.S. dime, to the extremely small built-in flash unit and new condensed battery. In addition, the PowerShot SD100 is the first Canon digital camera to exclusively record all images to a Secure Digital (SD) Memory card, allowing even further miniaturization of the camera for greater portability. And a new waterproof housing for the PowerShot SD100 even allows photographs to be taken up to 130 feet underwater.

Canon is also announcing two new dye-sublimation printers which are approximately 40 percent smaller and 13 percent lighter than current models in the line. The Canon Card Photo Printer CP-200 / CP-300 dye-sub printers allow users to create extremely high quality color prints directly from any current model PowerShot camera with the use of a USB cable.

Three different sized prints from miniature stickers to wallets to 4x6-inch are possible with the new printers. The CP-300, with its optional battery pack and compact size, makes creating beautiful color prints fast and simple from wherever the photographs themselves are created. The combination of PowerShot SD100 and CP-300 takes the entire photographic process and puts it in your suitcase, or briefcase.

PowerShot SD100 Digital ELPH

The PowerShot SD100 Digital ELPH is approximately 15% smaller in volume and 8% lighter than the current PowerShot S230 model. The new SD100 offers the same high quality features and functions as the S230 including Canon's exclusive DIGIC Image Processor which helps achieve higher picture quality and improves existing camera features, most notably its ability to capture up to 3 minutes of video at resolutions up to 640 x 480 pixels. In addition, the new camera uses Canon's exclusive iSAPS technology to enhance the speed and performance of the camera's autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance functions while a 9-point AiAF autofocus system makes focusing quick and easy, even with off-center subjects.

Card Photo Printers CP-200 / CP-300

Canon's two new printers which are smaller and lighter than any dye-sub models previously available allows users to create color prints up to postcard size (approx. 4 x 6 inches) directly from select Canon digital cameras, including the new PowerShot SD100 Digital ELPH, and the recently introduced EOS 10D digital SLR. Using the CP-300 printer's optional battery pack, prints can be made literally anywhere without the need for AC power, making it truly portable and lots of fun at any gathering. In addition, users have a choice of bordered or borderless prints in three print sizes: wallet, 4x6-inch and mini-stickers. Both printers are compatible with DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) to facilitate batch printing, e-mail transfers, and print ordering through online photo labs.

Underwater Housing Certified to 130 Feet

Canon is adding a new underwater housing to its existing line for use with the PowerShot SD100 and has been tested and certified to depths of up to 130 feet. The new housing is equipped with a flash diffusion plate for softer, more evenly illuminated light and the front lens glass is constructed in two separate layers to prevent fogging when submerged under water.

Pricing and availability of the PowerShot SD100, CP-200 and CP-300 printers will be announced at a later date.

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 ranked #41 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 2002, with global revenues of .5 billion. Canon U.S.A. employs approximately 11,000 people at over 30 locations. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.