Amstelveen, The Netherlands, August 20, 2003 - Canon, a leader in photographic and imaging technology, today becomes the first company to release a range of products supporting the new vendor-independent PictBridge standard PictBridge allows digital cameras, camcorders and other image capture devices to connect and print directly to photo printers and other output devices - the simplest method of obtaining a print from a digital camera. No PC is required and where both devices bear the PictBridge logo, inter-brand connectivity is now a reality.

The PictBridge standard was officially announced by CIPA (Camera and Imaging Products Association) in February of this year. With its breadth of product range, Canon is well positioned to show strong leadership in support for the CIPA initiative. Canon now has PictBridge compliant digital SLR, digital compact camera, camcorder and photo-printer products.

"With no need for a PC and support for inter-brand connectivity, PictBridge ultimately means more choice for the consumer," explains Hiroshi Komatsuzaki, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. "These new products embody Canon's commitment to producing devices that work together openly, with whatever products our customers might have or choose to have in the future. PictBridge will play an important role in broadening and growing the digital photography market".

Direct photo printing without a PC
The PictBridge standard is independent of the physical connection and communication protocol. This has allowed vendors such as Canon to employ existing industry standard connections such as USB, which are widely used on cameras and printers. Once connected, photo selections and print instructions can be made from the camera's LCD and control buttons. Products newly released by Canon that support PictBridge include the EOS 300D, the PowerShot A80 digital still camera, the Card Photo Printers CP200 and CP300, the MVX3i, MVX10i and MV6iMC camcorders, and the Bubble Jet i560 photo printer.

Functionality
To attain PictBridge certification, products must be capable of basic mandatory functions such as image selection, although the standard supports more sophisticated functions such as cropping, multiple prints, print paper size selection and printing with date stamp. Once connected, the PictBridge communication establishes which features are supported by both devices and the user is presented with only these options. PictBridge supports vendor-to-vendor specific extensions of the standard. Where a camera of one brand is connected to a printer of the same brand, both devices are able to interrogate each other in order to take advantage of vendor specific features. With Canon this may include features such as Vivid Photo and Photo Noise Reduction.

Firmware upgrades for existing Canon devices
Plans are in place to make available firmware upgrades for recently released Canon products, in order to give them PictBridge compatibility. These will be provided via an internet download and will be released for the PowerShot A300, PowerShot A60, PowerShot A70, PowerShot S50 and the PowerShot G5 as well as for the Digital IXUS II, Digital IXUS 400 and the EOS 10D.

Backward compatibility for Canon products
Directly connecting a camera and a printer is not a new concept for Canon, which had already developed its own 'Bubble Jet Direct' and 'Direct Print' standards long before PictBridge was ratified. To reward the loyalty of existing Canon customers, the new range of PictBridge compatible products also supports these Canon proprietary standards.