March 9, 2001

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ) and market leader in imaging solutions, announced today that it achieved the overall number one market share position for copiers in the U.S. in 2000, for the third consecutive year, according to the final results of market studies completed by Dataquest, a unit of Gartner Inc. The Dataquest research focused on market share for color and black and white copiers of both digital and analog technology, combined, including PC copiers and copiers in Segments 1-6, which range in speed from 11 to 90+ copies-per-minute.

The Dataquest ranking marks the 18th time in the last 19 years that Canon has held the number one position in the U.S. copier marketplace, with 628,910 total black-and-white unit shipments and 32% share in 2000, compared with 490,000 unit shipments and 25% share for Xerox, 199,957 unit shipments and 10% market share for Sharp, and 100,000 unit shipments and 5% share for Ricoh branded products.

In color laser copier shipments, Canon also held the number one position in market share in 2000 with 15,940 unit shipments and 35% share, compared with 13,565 unit shipments and 30% share for Xerox, and 5,115 unit shipments and 11% share for Ricoh branded products. Canon Color Laser Copiers (CLCs) have now held the number one market share position in the U.S. for fourteen years in a row.

"We are extremely pleased with the market share results revealed by the Dataquest study, which clearly demonstrate that Canon's performance and growth in the copier marketplace continues to be strong, particularly in the arena of digital, network connected copiers for the corporate market," said Tod Pike, senior vice president of Marketing, Imaging Systems Group at Canon U.S.A "Our dramatic success in the digital market, combined with our continued success in analog, has resulted in our ability to sustain our number one position for the third year in a row."

Segments 2-4: The Digital Corporate Market

In the critical area of the growing digital corporate office, represented by black-and-white products within Segments 2-4 (21-69 copies-per-minute), Canon ranked number one in total shipments, with 127,880 units and 21.4% share, compared to 68,700 units and 11.5% share for Ricoh branded products, 67,655 units and 11.3% share for Kyocera Mita, and 67,000 units and 11.2% share for Xerox. Canon imageRUNNER digital copiers address Segments 2-4 with several offerings, including the imageRUNNER 210, 330, 400, 5000, 550, and 600 models.

In digital Segment 3, the corporate "sweet spot", which represents devices operating from 31 to 40 copies-per-minute, Canon's placements of 62,000 units and 29% share of imageRUNNER 330 and 400 devices represents more than 17,000 units than that of its nearest competitor, Xerox, with 45,000 units and 21% share.

"The market has responded to Canon imageRUNNER extremely well, and we are very pleased to be acknowledged as number one in the corporate office," said Dennis Amorosano, director of Marketing for Canon U.S.A. Copier and Networked Office Systems Division. "Our continued focus on value-added connectivity and software, document finishing, image quality, and engine durability have all certainly proven to be a winning combination for Canon, its customers, and dealers."

"Our portfolio of products is approaching over 80 percent digital, and Canon has managed to address and drive considerable value to network users while capturing growing page volume in both the distributed corporate and print on demand markets," added Amorosano.

In high-volume Segment 4 Digital (41-69 copies-per-minute), Canon imageRUNNER 5000, 550 and 600 achieved the number one position in 2000, with 36,700 units and 17% share, with Ricoh brand following with 30,700 units and 14% share.

All Canon imageRUNNER digital imaging systems offer considerable advantages over their competition through extensive network connectivity and document finishing options. With intuitive device driver software at the desktop, users can create booklets, three and two-hole punch, Z-fold, and multi-position staple their documents with ease over corporate networks.

The Color Laser Copier Market: 14 Consecutive Years As #1

With increasing competition in the color laser copier market, Canon continued its dominance as number one for the fourteenth consecutive year. Led by the award-winning CLC 1100 Series, 2400, 1000, and 3100 models, Canon's annual success has been attributed to outstanding quality products and systems and service support.

"We are extremely pleased to have once again captured the top spot in color laser copiers," said Mason Olds, director and general manager, Graphic Systems Division at Canon U.S.A. "We look forward to delivering new products such as the CLC 5000 this year to the marketplace, which has historically recognized Canon for bringing the best overall color value proposition to the high-end graphics user."

The Analog Market: PC Copier Dominance

Despite a growing digital customer base, Canon continued its PC Copier market dominance in 2000 at the number one spot among combined analog and digital unit totals, with 328,000 unit placements and 51% share. Looking at the total analog copier market across all segments, Canon's 487,740 unit shipments and 57% share is a figure, according to Dataquest research, that is more than three times its nearest competitor.

"Canon's commitment to delivering the appropriate products and technologies to every level user, at the place of distribution they prefer to acquire them, has continued to pay off well," said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager of the Retailer/Distributor Sales Division at Canon U.S.A. "With 57% market share in analog products overall, and continued strong growth in personal copiers, Canon has succeeded well in addressing a wide range of specific customer needs that continue to exist."

Dataquest Inc., a unit of the Gartner Inc., is the recognized leader in providing the high technology and financial communities with market intelligence for the semiconductor, computer systems and peripherals, communications, document management, software, and services sectors of the global information technology industry. Gartner Inc., the world's premier business technology advisor, was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. Gartner provides unrivaled thought leadership for more than 9,600 client organizations worldwide.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is an industry leader in professional and consumer imaging solutions and, through its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), is a top patent-holder of imaging technologies. The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital and analog copiers (color and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems, and facsimile machines; camcorders, cameras and lenses; and semiconductor, broadcast and medical equipment. Canon employs 12,000 people at more than 30 facilities throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

All referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners.