Canon Announces Enhanced Features on Two New MultiPASS Units for the Small Office/Home Office Market.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2003

Canon MultiPASS MP700 and MP730 Hit the Mark with Faster Print

Speeds, Better Photo Printing Quality, Higher Resolution Scanning,

Faster Copy Speeds and Built-in Memory Card Slots

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) today introduces two new desktop flatbed multifunction products (MFPs) with increased functionality to extend the productivity of small office, home office (SOHO) users, as well as personal and family users. The Canon MultiPASS MP700 and MP730 feature printing, scanning and copying while the MultiPASS MP730 adds faxing capability and a 35-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF). Both products feature a new print engine and print head that increase printing speeds and photo printing quality from their predecessor models. Scanning resolution has also been increased from previous models and the driver software has been improved for greater ease of use.

"With the new MultiPASS MP700 and MP730, Canon is addressing the growing needs of SOHO and personal users who are demanding greater performance and productivity from their MFP devices, and also want excellent photo printing capability," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group. "These enhancements will drive perceived value-add across our consumer MFP line and expand the universe of SOHO user applications."

The Canon MultiPASS MP700 and MP730 use the print engine and print head from the award winning i850 Photo Printer. With this technology, the print and copy speeds(1) increase to 22 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 14 ppm in color based on letter size output. Amazing 4x6 inch borderless and 8x10 inch photos are printed in less than 48 and 90 seconds respectively. Borderless photo quality output is exceptional with up to 4800 x 1200 color dpi(2) printing resolution, advanced MicroFine Droplet Technology(TM) and a print head that produces both five and two-picoliter droplets. The five-picoliter nozzles increase speed by laying down more ink, while the 2-picoliter nozzles increase the detail on fine photos. The MultiPASS MP730 provides additional convenience with a 35-page automatic document feeder that works with the copy, scan and fax operations.

As the sales of digital cameras rise, Canon continues to provide the best end-to-end digital imaging solutions. The MultiPASS MP700 and MP730 both feature built-in memory card slots that will support CompactFlash(TM), Memory Stick(R), SmartMedia(TM), SD Card(TM) and MultimediaCard(TM). Consumers can print edge-to-edge borderless images directly from memory cards with or without using a computer in 4x6, 5x7 and 8.5x11 inch sizes. Canon also provides exceptional software programs with these units including Easy-PhotoPrint and ScanSoft(R) OmniPage(R) SE OCR to help customers print excellent photos and scan text documents for editing. Easy-PhotoPrint supports Exif Print to create photos that match the photographer's original intention.

Advancements to the scanning function have also been realized on both the MP700 and MP730. The scanner operation will now support PDF file format and have Multi-Scan and Dust and Scratch reduce modes. Couple this with an optical scanning resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi and customers will get better scans than ever before on Canon's MultiPASS units. In addition, the MultiPASS MP730 can scan multiple page documents using its automatic document feeder.

The MultiPASS MP700 and MP730 copy speeds have increased to 22 copies per minute (cpm) in black and 14 cpm in color, based on letter size output. Reduction and enlargement features on both units allow for copying documents at 25% to 400% in size with changes in 1% increments.

Super G3 Faxing and the automatic document feeder set the Canon MultiPASS MP730 apart from the MP700. Faxes are sent with the 33.6 Kbps fax modem either from the desktop using computer software or directly from the unit using the convenient ADF and one-touch or keypad dialing.(3)

Both units use the Canon Think Tank System(TM) of individual ink tanks. This is a technology that offers users a cost performance advantage, especially when printing photos. End-users only replace the individual color ink tank they have depleted which eliminates ink waste. In addition, the Canon Think Tank System has an optical ink sensor that triggers an on-screen warning so that users are alerted when the ink has run low.

Software included in the box for both units will be Canon MP Drivers CD, ScanSoft(R) OmniPage(R) SE OCR, Presto! PageManager, Easy-PhotoPrint and Easy-WebPrint. Both products are Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP compatible using a USB interface. The Canon MultiPASS MP700 and MP730 will be shipping in May 2003 with a MSRP of $299.99 and $399.99 respectively. They also both include a limited one-year warranty with Canon's InstantExchange and conform to the ENERGY STAR guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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 $24.5 billion. Canon U.S.A. employs approximately 11,000 people at over 30 locations. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

Specifications subject to change without notice. All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners. Prices are MSRP at time materials were created. Prices subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by individual dealers and may vary.

(1) Print speeds will vary depending on system configuration, software, document complexity, print mode and page coverage. 4" x 6" photo print speed is based on default mode driver setting using Canon Photo Paper Pro For Borderless Printing 4" x 6". 8" x 10" photo print speed is based on default mode driver setting printing an 8" x 10" image on 8.5" x 11" Canon Photo Paper Pro. All other print speeds are based on draft mode.

(2) Ink droplets can be placed with a pitch of 1/4800 inch at minimum. Will vary based on driver setting and paper type.

(3) Super G3 capability (33.6 modem speed) available when transmitting to another v.34 fax machine, and currently available only with DSL. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) currently supports modem speeds of 28.8 kbps or lower, depending on telephone line conditions.