September 27, 2008

Photographers might have a few questions about these new levels of service being offered. What comes to mind is if CPS Silver members will have to wait longer for their equipment to be repaired. The new CPS levels seem to indicate the more you pay, the faster your turn-around time. This will probably separate the casual photographers from the professionals who routinely have their equipment serviced. However, CPS is for professionals, so the new precious metal nomenclature is a little nebulous. Maybe Canon is looking for a way to include more photographers into their CPS program.

Overall, this could be a win-win for all photographers who have a CPS membership. If you're a busy professional, and need a quicker turn-around time for your equipment, the CPS Platinum status is for you. If you don't really shoot that much, but occasionally send your equipment in for repair, then the CPS Silver level is probably to your taste.

- DigitalDingus

Canon U.S.A., Inc., , a leader in digital imaging, announced today that it will be instituting a new Canon Professional Services (CPS) program beginning in the first quarter of 2009. The new CPS program, which will require all existing members to reapply, will offer three levels of membership – Silver, Gold and Platinum – to qualifying members, with each level receiving better and more extensive service benefits. The new CPS program is designed to provide the appropriate level of service for each professional demographic and to support members with faster service, loan equipment, and a range of other benefits to be announced in the coming months.

"A day without a camera is a day without revenue. It is with this sense of urgency that Canon U.S.A. is upgrading the level of service provided by our CPS program to better support our Canon professionals in the field," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "We recognize that our responsibilities to full-time professional Canon photographers extend beyond providing them the tools they need to support their livelihood. As a company, we must also provide an exemplary service and support structure for professionals, indicative of our commitment to the art of photography."

CPS Silver level membership will be offered free-of-charge to qualifying photographers. This level of membership includes a welcome kit, access to the CPS phone hotline and a 20 percent discount on repairs (i). For professional photographers requiring a higher level of Canon support, CPS Gold level membership additionally includes access to loan equipment for a two week trial period and an expedited three-day turnaround on service items (ii). Along with a 30 percent service discount, CPS Gold level membership includes two free Check & Clean vouchers. CPS Gold level membership will have an annual fee of $100*.

The CPS Platinum membership level will include priority access to loan equipment for two-week trial periods, 60 percent discount on repairs (iii), expedited two-day turnaround on equipment service and backup equipment loans if service is longer than two days (iv). CPS Platinum level membership will have an annual fee of $500*.

The current CPS program is no longer accepting new members. All current members, regardless of when their existing membership term expires, will continue in the current program through the launch of the new program, and all current memberships will then effectively terminate as of the new program launch date. The new CPS program will begin accepting membership applications via the CPS website, www.usa.canon.com/cps, sometime during the 1st quarter of 2009. Existing members may reapply as soon as the new application process becomes available.

For more information on Canon U.S.A., Inc.'s new Canon Professional Services program including qualification requirements and benefits for Silver, Gold, and Platinum level memberships, please check the CPS web page at: www.usa.canon.com/cps.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked third overall in the U.S. in 2007†, with global revenues of $39.3 billion, is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is on the 2007 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." 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/pressroom.

† IFI Patent Intelligence Press Release, January 2008
All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.
Specifications, benefits and availability of the program are subject to change without notice.
* Pricing subject to change at any time.
i Discount applies only to items listed on the CPS Service Items list
ii Three day turnaround will be subject to certain conditions and limitations which will be announced when the new CPS program launches
iii Discount applies only to items listed on the CPS Service Items list
iv Two day turnaround will be subject to certain conditions and limitations which will be announced when the new CPS program launches