SPRINGING INTO HIGH-GEAR: CANON U.S.A. KICKS-OFF ITS 5TH ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE PARKS PHOTO CONTEST

Canon's Photography in the Parks Contest adds new social networking features to this year's program allowing entrants to learn shooting tips from the pros

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., May 17, 2010 – From the eye of a storm to a flower floating down a stream, Canon U.S.A., a leader in digital imaging, encourages Americans to acknowledge the beauty of nature and explore photography by participating in its fifth annual Canon in the Parks Photo Contest. From May 17 to September 30, 2010, contestants will have the opportunity to submit their best "Nature" image – the theme for this year's contest. The contest invites participants to compete within two divisions; the teen division, for entrants ages 13-17 and the adult division, for entrants ages 18 and older. With the fifth annual Canon in the Parks Photo Contest, Canon U.S.A. highlights all the splendor that nature embodies and invites photography enthusiasts to capture their best photo.

"We are thrilled to announce the fifth consecutive year of the Canon in the Parks Photo Contest," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "From year to year, the entries have increased in quantity and quality, and this year, we look forward to seeing the work of even more talented, aspiring photographers."

Canon in the Parks Contest
All applicants from the teen and adult divisions will be able to submit their photos through the contest page at the Canon Digital Learning Center Web site: www.usa.canon.com/parks. To qualify, submitted photos must be taken at a park or monument in the United States. After entering their photos, entrants will have the chance to forward an e-postcard of their submitted images to friends and family as a fun way of sharing their artistic talents.

The winning photographers from each division will be announced in December and will be awarded with some of Canon's latest photography equipment. Along with receiving Canon products, the Grand Prize winner will also receive a trip to a U.S. National Park of his or her choice, within the lower 48 states. To highlight the creative experience, all winning images and honorable mentions will be displayed on the Canon Digital Learning Center.

Canon Photography in the Parks Program
From June to August, Canon U.S.A. will offer free photography workshops to park visitors in four National Parks – Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Acadia and Yellowstone. Led by a team of acclaimed photography instructors, the program offers participants a hands-on experience to learn various photography techniques, while walking and exploring the park. Canon also provides top-of-the-line camera equipment for participants to use at no charge. Further enhancing this year's program, Canon is offering EOS HD video shooting classes in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Bar Harbor, Maine where each participant will learn about the basics of shooting EOS HD video with a Canon EOS Digital SLR camera.

To increase the buzz and excitement of this year's program, Canon will also create a Canon in the Parks Facebook page. The Facebook page will give information on the workshops and photo tips from Canon's acclaimed Explorers of Light photographers. For information and schedule of workshops, please visit www.usa.canon.com/parks.

Online visitors and Web surfers are encouraged to browse the Canon Digital Learning Center and take advantage of the various educational resources that Canon has to offer for novices and advanced photographers alike. The Canon Digital Learning Center provides a schedule for a wide variety of Live Learning classes across the country with renowned photographers as well as online resources and tips. The site also features online tutorials for beginners and professionals to learn their way around a digital SLR camera and inkjet printer and unlock the full creative control of digital photography.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2009†, with global revenues of US $35 billion, is listed as number four in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies 2009 list, and is on the 2009 BusinessWeek list of "100 Best Global Brands." Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – "all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future" – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyosei. 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/rss.

About Canon U.S.A.'s Environmental Programs and Alliances:
Canon U.S.A. protects future generations by helping to preserve nature's most valuable resources through the support of a wide range of environmental education and conservation initiatives, including the Canon Envirothon, one of North America's largest high school environmental education competitions; the PBS Nature series; and scientific research and educational programs at Yellowstone National Park. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com/environment.