Popularity of digital SLR photography sees the latest 10-million units

for cameras and lenses reached in shortest-ever time 

Sydney, 18 October, 2011: Canon today announced the achievement of a new camera-manufacturing milestone with the production of the company’s 50-millionth EOS-series SLR camera in September 2011. In addition, production for Canon EF interchangeable lenses will reach the 70-million mark at the end of October.

“These production milestones are the clearest indication of the strong consumer movement to pursue the highest possible image quality and creative potential in their photography,” said Darren Ryan, General Manager–Marketing, Canon Consumer Imaging, Canon Australia. “Canon EOS continues to dominate*¹ the market with its unrivalled image quality at all levels and the limitless creative possibilities that the EF lens range enables.” 

Production of the Canon EOS-series AF (autofocus) single-lens reflex cameras and interchangeable EF lenses began with film cameras in 1987. The uptake of digital SLR photography has seen the 10-million production milestone intervals for each rapidly shortening: 

–        Canon EOS-series cameras 

• 1997                 10-millionth EOS (10 million units in 10 years)
• 2003                 20 millionth EOS
• Dec 2007          30-millionth EOS
• May 2010          40-millionth EOS
• Sept 2011         50-millionth EOS (10 million units in 16 months) 

–        Canon EF interchangeable lenses 

• 1995                 10-millionth EF lens (10 million units in 8 years)
• 2001                 20 millionth EF lens
• 2006                 30-millionth EF lens
• April 2008         40-millionth EF lens
• Dec 2009          50-millionth EF lens
• Jan 2011           60-millionth EF lens
• End Oct 2011    70-millionth EF lens (10 million units in 9 months) 

The news coincides with the global announcement of Canon’s groundbreaking new EOS-1D X flagship professional digital SLR camera. “Canon aims to maintain its leadership in the digital imaging market and we are continuing our strong investment in R&D to keep delivering exciting new products of uncompromising quality,” says Ryan.

About EOS-series SLR cameras 

The EOS series, which stands for “Electro Optical System” and also carries the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn, was first introduced in March 1987 as a new generation of AF SLR cameras that incorporate the world’s first electronic mount system, achieving complete electronic control not only between the lens and body but throughout the entire camera system. 

With the key concepts of high speed and ease-of-use, the EOS-series cameras, including the top-of-the-line EOS-1 professional model, which was first introduced in 1989, and the compact, lightweight EOS 500, which was released in 1993 and helped to expand Canon’s user base, actively incorporated innovative technologies and gained acceptance from a wide range of users. Following the introduction of the EOS D30 in 2000, a time when the spread of digital SLR cameras was in full swing, Canon developed such advanced technologies as its proprietary CMOS sensors and the high-performance DiG!C digital image processor, as well as an extensive line-up of EF lenses in an effort to fulfil the key concepts of high speed, ease-of-use, and high image quality. 

About EF-series lenses 

First introduced in March 1987, along with Canon’s EOS SLR camera system, the EF lens has over the years led the industry through the incorporation of a number of innovative technologies, including such world’s firsts*² as the Ultrasonic Motor-powered lens (USM), Image Stabilizer (IS) that compensates for the effects of camera shake, Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) anti-reflection technology, and a multi-layered diffractive optical element (DO). 

Canon’s current EF lens line-up, comprising 66 models*³ , ranges from super-wide-angle lenses to super-telephoto zoom lenses. The diverse lens selection offers zoom options ranging from standard to super-telephoto, Image Stabilizer-equipped lenses, large-diameter lenses, macro-lenses and TS-E lenses incorporating a special tilt-shift mechanism allowing manipulation of image perspective and distortion. 

This year, Canon released the world’s first*² fisheye zoom lens that captures circular and rectangular images with a 180°angle of view: the EF8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM, and two large-aperture super-telephoto lenses: the EF300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and the EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM. 

*1 Canon Number 1 Market Share YTD. 51% volume share, 53% value share. Source: GfK Retail and TechnologyAustralia, Digital Still Cameras – DSLR, Retail Sales Volume/Value Jan to Aug 2011 (excludes internet and online channels)

*2 Among interchangeable lenses for SLR cameras

*3 Including two EF lens extenders and models available outside ofJapan

Related Links

–        Learn more about Canon EOS digital SLR cameras

–        Learn about Canon Professional Photography

–        Enter World of EOS – a world of inspiration that comes with every Canon EOS camera

About Canon:

Canon is the world’s leading imaging brand that actively inspires with imaginative ideas that enable people to connect, communicate and achieve more than they thought possible through imaging solutions for business and consumers. Canon’s Australian R&D company, CiSRA, develops and exports digital imaging technologies for use in Canon products worldwide. Canon has ranked among the top-four US patent recipients* for the past 19 years, and had global revenues of around $US45 billion in 2010. Canon Australia also operates Canon Finance Australia, which offers one-stop shopping for customers wanting leasing or finance services. For more information, visit www.canon.com.au, www.facebook.com/canonaustralia, www.twitter.com/canonaustralia, www.youtube.com/canonaustralia

Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment releases new 360 degree screenshots, giving unhindered views of the new regions of Middle-earth awaiting exploration in the November 2 game, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North.

These interactive screenshots give expansive views of the game, offering full perspective on these unexplored lands and threats of the North. The Fellowship of Human, Elf and Dwarf are surrounded by Agandaûr’s minions – but there is hope while the company is true.

One image shows Mirkwood, lying to the east of the Misty Mountains. This dark, heavily forested area is home to the Elves – but due to its dark, uncultivated landscape it also attracts evil.

View Mirkwood here and Gundabad here.

The second images displays the frozen vista of Gundabad, at the intersection of the two mountain ranges – the Misty Mountains and the Grey Mountains. Previously a sacred land for the Dwarf race, it has fallen to the orcs, and become one of their most powerful strongholds.

Already with seven perfect review scores from seven reviews, Batman: Arkham City will be available nationwide Wednesday, October 19, and to help prepare you for the intense melee combat, sprawling cityscape and dangerous encounters in Arkham City, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment are presenting a new Batman: Arkham City trailer featuring some of Gotham’s greatest villains. Mr. Freeze, Hugo Strange, Two-Face, Penguin and The Joker are just some of the adversaries who are out to stop the Dark Knight in this hotly-anticipated release. Batman: Arkham City is rated “M” and will be available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Sydney, Australia — October 17, 2011 — Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Revelations will be playable in 3D for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ PCs.

For the first time in the history of the storied franchise, players will be able to experience the thrilling, action-packed gameplay and vibrant, breath-taking world of Assassin’s Creed in 3D on all available platforms.

Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 players can take advantage of TriOviz Inficolor™ 3D support and dive deeper into the war between Assassins and Templars with 3D glasses. Assassin’s Creed Revelations is also compatible with all 3DTVs using top/bottom, side-by-side and frame packing via HDMI 1.4. Assassin’s Creed Revelations on the PC is compatible with NVIDIA® 3D Vision™.

In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of the legendary Altaïr on a journey of discovery and revelation. It is a perilous path – one that will take Ezio to Constantinople, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the region.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed Revelations, please visit: www.assassinscreed.com and www.facebook.com/assassinscreed.

Follow http://twitter.com/assassinscreed for regular updates on Assassin’s Creed Revelations.

Pre-order and receive all items for free!

Monday 17^thOctober 2011 – Sports Interactive and SEGA Europe Ltd. announce that from today several Football Manager 2012 items will be available via the Team Fortress 2 store. These items, including football boots, scarves and a vuvuzela sound pack, will be given away free to anyone that pre-purchases Football Manager 2012 from Steam, but will also be in the store to anyone after the much anticipated release of Football Manager 2012

“When Steam and Valve came to us with this collaboration idea, it just underlined to us why we think they’re brilliant”, said Miles Jacobson, Studio Director at Sports Interactive. “Outside the box thinking that just works so well. We hope all the Team Fortress 2 players enjoy using the items inside the game, and apologise in advance for the general annoyance the Vuvuzela sound pack is going to inflict on the world.”

Jason Holtman, Valve’s director of business development, said “GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!”

Football Manager 2012 is developed by the London based award winning developer Sports Interactive for PC and Mac and is available on Steam from 21^st October 2011.

For more information about the game, please visit www.footballmanager.com

Classic Arcade Racer Coming to Home Consoles with Online Multiplayer This Month       

Monday 17^th October 2011 – SEGA® Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. and today announced the triumphant return of the cherished arcade racer, Daytona USA™, coming this month to home consoles. Speeding out of the past from its 1993 debut, Daytona USA will be racing onto Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation®Network. The classic title has been tuned up and overhauled with enhanced graphics, steering wheel support and, for the first time on home consoles, online multiplayer. Daytona USA will be available as a speedy digital download on October 26^th for XBLA (800 Microsoft Points) in North America and Europe and October 25^th for PSN ($9.99) in North America. Daytona will release on PSN late November in Europe and Australia. 

Since its arcade debut, Daytona USA has stood the test of time as one of SEGA’s top racing titles, thanks to its colorful tracks for drivers of all skill levels, breakneck-speed gameplay and competitive, head-to-head multiplayer options. The game’s iconic soundtrack is instantly recognizable to SEGA and racing fans everywhere, and every detail of the original hit has been meticulously preserved, polished and presented for the ultimate version of Daytona USA. 

The re-release of Daytona USA features:

• Fresh Oil and a New Coat of Paint: Experience the classic retro graphics of the original arcade hit in an enhanced,16:9 widescreen format
• Let’s Go Away: Relive your glory days of racing to the sounds of the original Daytona USA soundtrack, also available in Karaoke Mode (admit it, you know you’ve been singing along anyway)
• Pedal to the Metal: Drive like a pro with included support for the Logitech GT Driving Force steering wheel controller on PS3, and all Xbox 360-supported steering wheel controllers
• Reach the Winner’s Circle: Challenge AI opponents in Arcade Mode, race the clock in Survival and Time Trial Modes, and trade paint with up to eight players in online multiplayer to place on the worldwide leaderboard 

For more information on Daytona USA, please visit http://www.sega.com/ 

For more news, follow SEGA on Twitter @SEGA or “like” us on Facebook.

El Caballo Blanco: Dance of the White Stallions Review

Geelong Australia – 15 October 2011, The City of Greater Geelong hosted an amazing, emotional and truly memorable horse spectacular with El Caballo Blanco (Dance of the White Stallions) about the tradition, athleticism and grace of the stallion through the culture of Spain.

Combining traditional Spanish music and dance, El Caballo Blanco is not just a choreographed show involving Andalusian, Friesian, Lipizzaner and Arabian breeds of horses but is also a history lesson on the five thousand year plus relationship between man and horse.

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Seeing the horses perform ancient manoeuvres from the haute ecole, a collection of “air above the ground” tricks which are jumps and balances was visually impressive not to mention the passionate dedication of the trainers and of course, the athleticism of the horses.

Moves such as the Capriole where the horse jumps in the air and kick their hind feet or the Piaffe which was a stiff military march to not only prepare the horse for battle but to intimidate the enemy is quite baffling to watch and makes you appreciate the training that these horses have received.

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However, before the Dance of the White Stallions commenced, the audience were treated to two very talented flamenco dancers in scarlet red Spanish dresses. This helped set the Spanish theme to the event before the horses were introduced such as the magnificent white Arabian Pasha or the warrior-like Andalusian with his jet black hair.

While the dancers performed, the horses rode around them before the flags of the Spain and the host nation Australia were brought out with each of the riders dressed in their respective country outfits such as the classical Spanish outfit or the traditional Australian outback cattle rider regalia with the akubra hat.

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Midway through the show, the audience were treated to the masked man in black and in classic Zorro fashion, he rode two horses around the arena that was nothing short of spectacular. The performer later came back to stun the audience yet again with more acrobatics as he spun around a fast moving horse, achieving some deft-dying stunts.

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The highlight was definitely seeing Renee Gasser in action, this gentleman who used non-invasive training with the horses and treated them with the utmost respect and humanity. Whether it was Renee and his horse performing a dance with a Flamingo dancer or seeing him command horses to stand on two legs, his passion as a trainer was unparalleled.

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It should be noted that each of the horses and breeds had their own personalities with some suited better to perform certain tasks but overall, El Caballo Blanco: Dance of the White Stallions was a highly memorable spectacular that we would recommend to all animal lovers or for those who want to experience something totally unique and highly enjoyable.

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Although El Caballo Blanco are headed to New Zealand in 2012, they will be back in Australia later that year. Definitely do yourself, your family and your friends a favour and see this majestic choreographed show about the tradition, athleticism and grace of the stallion.

For more information, please visit El Caballo Blanco’s official website at – http://www.elcaballoblanco.com.au/

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