LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., November 30, 2010 – When veteran cameraman Steve Angel settled in to shoot Game 4 of the 2010 American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium in New York on the evening of October 19, he had no idea that his Canon DIGISUPER 86xs long-field HD zoom lens was about to become the game’s big story. But when the score was tied 2-2, a broken bat flew through the air, shattering the protective filter on the front of the lens and scratching the front element.
TBS’ decision to run select replay shots for the rest of the inning from the damaged, but still operational, HD lens – which showed viewers a clear hole surrounded by blurry, multiple fracture lines – provided vivid evidence of the durability of Canon optics. For mobile production provider Corplex Mobile Television, the incident also confirmed the remarkable customer service and support that Canon provides.
“This was something that people hadn’t seen before,” said Scott West, President of Chicago-based Corplex Mobile Television. “It was a high-level production with a lot of eyes on it, and TBS made the most of the unusual circumstance by showing the replays through the damaged lens. People aren’t always aware of the dangers that are out there. This made the hazards of live sports coverage immediately apparent.”
West had grown accustomed to having Canon personnel onsite for Corplex’s many productions – large or small – and this ALCS game between the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers was no exception. While Corplex’s VP of Engineering Dave Greany oversaw the switch to a spare Canon DIGISUPER 86xs between innings, Canon’s team was already mobilizing for a fast-turnaround repair to the now-famous long-field HD zoom lens, which suffered damage to its hood and protective filter, as well as scratches on its front element.
“Canon had a loaner lens ready for us immediately, but they fixed the damaged lens so quickly that we didn't need it,” West noted. “Our clients expect tremendous service, and on the flipside we expect the same thing from our vendors. Canon really delivered on this, and they’ve been very proactive since we became a Canon house in 2008. Their technicians are constantly calling and checking in on our inventory, letting us know that they’re available for assistance. It’s definitely a step beyond what you would expect for good service.”
Officially designated the XJ86x9.3B IE II-D, Canon’s DIGISUPER 86xs HD lens features Canon’s exclusive Shift-IS, the unique second-generation built-in Optical Shift Image Stabilizer Technology. Canon’s exclusive Shift-IS technology enables television directors to capture dramatic high-impact telephoto shots and deliver this video shake-free to the viewing audience. This advanced HD lens also features Canon’s XS technology for superior optical performance and lighter weight, as well as Canon’s second-generation Digital Servo System, which provides microcomputer compensation of lens focus breathing (the inadvertent alteration of field of view when operating the focus control) as well as a host of other improved digital operational features for focus and zooming control. Precision HD production performance and heightened long-range zoom capabilities are features that have made Canon’s DIGISUPER field zoom lenses the standard of excellence in HDTV sports production.
With the repaired DIGISUPER 86xs HD lens on hand in plenty of time for the next remote venue production, the 2010 ALCS was the latest reminder of the durability and support commitment that Corplex has come to count on from Canon. “When we know a damaged lens will be back in short order, we can plan our business much more efficiently,” West noted. “Canon’s service and support make the difference.”
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 and is listed as number six in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine's World’s Most Admired Companies 2010 list. 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.
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