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Canon U.S.A. Inc., Lake Success, N.Y., launched the first of two new television commercials to support the Canon EOS Rebel and Canon PowerShot digital camera lines. The first televisionspot, “Journey,” focuses on the EOS Rebel XSi and was shot primarily with Canon EOS-1D Mark III professional DSLR cameras. The Rebel XSi commercial blends individual digital still photographs into a “picture-trail” motion commercial, says the company. After the first few seconds of film footage, the commercial goes through a blending of still images stitched together to give the impression of motion. More than 70,000 still photos taken by 10 different photographers were shot for the commercial.

  The latest PowerShot commercial, set to air in early June, will continue to feature professional tennis player Maria Sharapova and her puppy, Dolce. “Suite,” the new 30-second spot featuring Sharapova follows the “Banter” and “Dolce” commercials that debuted in 2007. The latest spot places Sharapova in a variety of situations where she uses the the Canon PowerShot. “Suite” will launch in early June on a collection of national television outlets, both network and cable.