Melville, NY, June 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., has reached two major production milestones—a cumulative total of 110 million1 EOS Series interchangeable-lens cameras in March and a cumulative total of 160 million2 RF/EF series interchangeable lenses in May. An EOS R6 Mark II Camera (released in December 2022) was the 110 millionth EOS series camera produced, while an RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM (released in July 2021) became the Company’s 160 millionth interchangeable lens produced.
Canon’s production of EOS Series cameras reaches 110 million mark through its pursuit of “Speed, Comfort and High Image Quality”
EOS, or Electro Optical System, is also the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn. The Canon EOS system debuted alongside the EF series of interchangeable lenses in March 1987 as the world’s first fully-electronic mount system for silver halide film AF SLR cameras. During the dawn of digital SLR cameras, Canon introduced its breakthrough EOS Kiss Digital Camera (EOS Digital Rebel Camera or EOS 300D Camera in other regions) in September 2003. Since then, Canon has continued to launch a range of groundbreaking products, including the professional-model EOS-1D Camera series and the EOS 5D Camera series, which paved the way for digital SLR video recording. Canon’s desire to further expand the boundaries of visual expression led to its next-generation EOS R Camera System, launched in October 2018. By striving to expand its lineup of attractive products to meet a diverse range of needs, the Canon EOS camera series has gained and maintained the support of many users over the years. As a result, the Company has maintained the world’s No. 1 share3 of digital SLR cameras over 20 years, from 2003 to 2022. In March 2023, Canon produced its 110 millionth EOS series camera.
Canon’s production of Canon RF/EF lenses reaches 160 million unit production milestone on the strength of advanced imaging technology
Canon’s proprietary EF lenses, launched in March 1987 along with the EOS SLR camera system, have continued to evolve since their introduction, leading the industry through the incorporation of a wide range of innovative technologies, including the world’s firsts4 as the Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, and a multilayered diffractive optical (DO) element.
With the addition of the RF Lens—which achieves unprecedented high image quality by leveraging a large aperture and short-back focus, along with a high-speed signal transmission system that are the hallmarks of the EOS R System of cameras and lenses launched in 2018—the entire range of lenses now includes a total of 115 models5, expanding the possibilities of image capture. In May 2023, the Company celebrated the production of 160 million EOS series interchangeable lenses.
Refining its proprietary imaging technologies, Canon plans to continue to strengthen and expand the EOS series along with its RF and EF lens lineup, striving to push the frontier of imaging forward and to contribute to the further development of photographic and video imaging culture.
The EOS Series Cameras
The EOS camera series, a new generation of AF SLR cameras that adopted the world's first electronic mount system and achieved full electronic control of the entire system, was launched with the EOS 650 Camera, the first of the series, released in March 1987.
As silver halide cameras boomed, Canon launched several models covering a wide range of user needs, including the EOS-1 Camera in Japan in 1989, aimed at professionals, and the EOS Kiss Camera (EOS Rebel XS Camera or EOS 500 Camera in other regions) in Japan in 1993, which achieved a compact, lightweight design and greatly expanded Canon’s user base. Then in 2003, during the early years of the digital camera age, the Company released in Japan the groundbreaking EOS Kiss Digital Camera (EOS Digital Rebel Camera or EOS 300D Digital Camera in other regions), an entry-level digital SLR camera that realized a compact, lightweight body at an affordable price. This move would trigger a massive expansion of the camera market, with Canon claiming the overwhelming lead in market share that same year. With the later release of the EOS-1D Camera Series for professionals and the EOS 5D Camera series, which helped popularize video capture using SLR cameras, Canon has continued to release epoch-making products.
In October 2018, Canon launched the EOS R Camera System, which includes the inaugural EOS R Camera and the EOS R5 Camera —the first camera to feature 8K video recording—released in July 2020 along with the EOS R3 Camera in November 2021, which features tracking of fast-moving subjects and continuous shooting performance, and the compact, lightweight EOS R100 Camera, thus expanding the Company’s product lineup. In addition, Canon launched the EOS VR System, designed to record video for virtual reality content, in December 2021. With the launch of these products and technologies, Canon is tirelessly pursuing new possibilities for visual expression.
Canon RF and EF Lenses
Since the release of the first EF lens, launched alongside the EOS series in March 1987, Canon has produced such EF lenses featuring world-first technologies as the EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM with image stabilization, which was launched in Japan in 1995, the EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM with a DO lens, which was launched in Japan in 2001 and the EF24mm f/1.4L II USM, treated with highly antireflective Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC6), which was launched in Japan in 2008. In 2018, Canon released the RF28-70mm F2 L USM—a standard zoom lens featuring the world’s first fast f/2 aperture across the entire zoom range7—and in May 2023, the Company released the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM large-diameter telephoto zoom lens, that realizes both high image quality and portability.
Today, Canon boasts 115 lenses in its rich RF and EF lens lineup that comprises such lenses as an ultra-wide-angle 5.2 mm focal length lens, a 1200 mm focal length super-telephoto lens, and EF Cinema Series lenses for video production. With a wide selection of lenses for every purpose, including zoom lenses, IS-equipped lenses, fast-aperture lenses, macro lenses, VR lenses, and even the TS-E tilt-shift lenses, Canon is well-positioned to meet the needs of various users.
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 to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.3 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), as of 2022 has ranked in the top-five overall in U.S. patents granted for 37 consecutive years†. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To learn more about Canon, visit us at www.usa.canon.com and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.
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1 Total unit sales of both silver halide (film) and digital cameras. Includes cinema cameras for video production.
2 Includes EF, EF-S, RF, RF-S, EF-M and EF Cinema lenses and lens extenders.
3 In terms of market share by number of units sold. Based on Canon research.
4 Among interchangeable SLR camera lenses. Based on Canon research.
5 The number of types of lenses available for sale may differ depending on regional markets. Includes four lens extenders. As of June 28, 2023.
6 Subwavelength Structure Coating: a specialized lens coating that offers strong anti-reflection properties.
7 Among interchangeable lenses supporting autofocus across the entire standard zoom range and compatible with 35mm equivalent full-frame sensor cameras. Based on Canon research.
† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Eloise Pisano Canon U.S.A., Inc. episano@cusa.canon.com
