The demand for technical service has triggered an increase in the number of service centers nationwide.

In the case of electronic cameras, specifically digital cameras – whether the point and shoot or the single reflex lens types – a visit to the repair and service center is expected to be a frequent activity. Particularly if the camera was acquired from the gray market.

Gray market cameras are items purchased from a source other than the official distributor in the country. For example, reports reaching Canon has it that five out of ten Canon SLR cameras and lens were not officially bought from Canon Philippines.

Investing in testing equipments commands a high price – from P1.5 million to P2 million, said Ramon Arteficio, President and CEO, Canon Marketing (Philippines), Inc. Thus by investing in service centers with these facilities, Canon manifests its commitment to customer service and satisfaction.

From its present service center in Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City, Canon Marketing (Phils) has opened its newest center at the Liberty Plaza in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City. To follow before the year ends are centers in a still undisclosed location south of Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao. Another one is planned next year in either La Union province or Baguio City to serve the Northern Luzon Market.

Arteficio made the assurance of Canon service during an intermission chat with reporters who graced Canon’s launch party to welcome the debut of Canon EOS 1Ds Mark IIII and Canon EOS 40D DSLR models.

Last September 20, Canon broke new ground with its new flagship camera: the 35mm full-frame 21.1 megapixel EOS 1Ds Mark III professional DSLR camera.

A greatly enhanced successor to the Canon 1-Ds range of DSLR cameras, the new Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is the market leader of superior quality high-speed image processing. The coveted DSLR every professional photographer all over the world aspires to own became available in the local market starting September.

The EOS 1Ds Mark III packs in Canon’s most advanced photographic technologies to date, including a 21.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, 14-bit analog-digital (A/D) conversion, new Dual "DIGIC III" imaging processors, a high-speed high-precision 19-point AF system and EOS Integrated Cleaning System, all incorporated into the 35mm format. With the EOS 1-Ds series cameras being the photographic system of choice by most professional studios and photographers worldwide, the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III takes over as the epitome of photographic excellence.

On the other hand, targeted at an increasingly discerning population of serious creative photographers and professionals in the Philippines, the 10.1megapixel professionalgrade EOS 40D continues the legacy of a camera that already claimed a significant share of the Asia Pacific DSLR market. The new EOS40D, which can capture a blazing 6.5 frames per second photograph, is now available.

As the new and improved successor of the Canon’s mid-range of DSLR cameras, the EOS 40D is engineered to meet the needs of the prosumer and professional markets. Following the success footsteps of the highly popular EOS 30D, the EOS 40D is packed with Canon’s most advanced photographic technologies, including an integrated sensor cleaning function, and 14-bit analog-digital (A/D) conversion, to deliver top-notch images and performance.

Along with the processing power of the DIGIC III imaging processor and focusing speed of a high precision 9-point cross autofocus system, Canon’s new EOS 40D DSLR camera raises the bar.