Feb. 17, 2005 In an effort to educate the digital imaging market and enhance its overall business, Canon U.S.A.'s Consumer Imaging Group continued its support of dealers and consumers by providing an on-site and online training program.

Canon U.S.A.'s provides specialty stores, mass-market retailers and photo enthusiasts with content and tutorials for camera, printer and video products to strengthen their knowledge of photography, ultimately helping enable consumers to make better, more educated purchasing decisions related to digital imaging solution products.

"Educating consumers starts with the education of Canon U.S.A. dealers," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ). "Associates' keen product knowledge results in a higher level of consumer awareness and understanding of our products versus that of our competition. We are confident that this type of education will continue to lead to sales and repeat purchases."

Dealer Education

Canon is dedicated to providing educational services to its mass-market and specialty dealers. Online training through CyberScholar.com, www.cyberscholar.com, is a widespread online training program used by both dealers and their respective associates to familiarize them with Canon Consumer Imaging Group product.

Associates are encouraged to log onto the Web site each month to review the online content. Upon registering with www.CyberScholar.com, associates become eligible to win a number of Canon products by completing a series of quizzes. Random drawings take place weekly, monthly and quarterly. The lucky quarterly grand prize winner is outfitted with a wide range of Canon photography equipment including:

» EOS 20D digital camera

» PowerShot(R) S70 digital camera

» EOS Rebel(R) T2 Kit

» CP 330 compact photo printer

» EF 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 IS USM Lens

» 256MB CompactFlash card

» Ink/photo paper set, among many other items

Retailers who carry Canon's full product line may also qualify for on-site training.

"It's important for Canon U.S.A. dealers to know what differentiates our brand from the competition," added Hashimoto. "Dealer education provides a better in-store experience for consumers and in turn a more positive experience in using the product at home."

Consumer Education

Photo enthusiasts are often quite savvy. However, they too can benefit from learning about new products and photography techniques. To help users enjoy the full range of features and benefits Canon EOS digital cameras offer, Canon U.S.A. created the Canon Digital Learning Center at www.photoworkshop.com/canon where consumers--primarily EOS Digital SLR users--can use the free tutorials and educational content, much of which is created in conjunction with Canon U.S.A.'s renowned Explorers of Light photographers. Canon U.S.A.'s Explorers of Light program is comprised of 60 of the most influential photographers in the world, each a master of his or her own respective photographic specialty. The Explorers share their photographic passions and technical expertise with eager audiences of photo professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts in a variety of personal appearances, seminars and gallery showings throughout the United States.

To show off skills acquired from the tutorials, consumers can enter EOS Digital Rebel(R) photo contests held throughout the year by submitting their prized photographs to the site. Winners in each of three categories are selected at the culmination of each contest. The winning work is judged and selected by Explorers of Light. Winners can take home prizes including an EOS 20D camera, accessory flash and compact photo printer. Additional EOS Digital Rebel contests are planned for 2005.

As an extension to its consumer education program, Canon will sponsor a number of live, face-to-face seminars in major markets around the country in 2005. The sponsored workshops will be lead by world-renowned photographers who are experts in their individual fields and offer a broad mix of education for various industries and levels. This year's sponsored seminars include The Palm Beach Photographic Workshops, The Rocky Mountain School of Photography, George Lepp Seminars and D65 camera's Digital Workflow Series. More information on these seminars can be found in the Canon Digital Learning Center, www.photoworkshop.com/canon.

Hashimoto explained, "Through these hands-on workshops, Canon can spread useful educational materials in a no pressure, non-commercial environment and teach photography techniques through the professionals' expertise."

Web sites mentioned in this release include www.cyberscholar.com and www.photoworkshop.com/canon.

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 third overall in the U.S. in 2004, with global revenues of $33.3 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.