Canon Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of EOS Camera System

My readers know I am The Wildlife Ho-tographer and have used Canon equipment for over a quarter of a century. Throughout the years, I have embarked on many worldwide photo tours testing numerous pieces of Canon equipment. I recently came back from a Wildlife Photo Tour of Japan with the EOS-1D X Mark II camera. You can follow my travels on Facebook and Twitter. See my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com

This year, Canon is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its Electro Optical System (EOS), which includes EOS-series interchangeable-lens cameras and a diverse range of system accessories. The system debuted in March 1987 with the launch of the EOS 650 SLR camera and EF lenses, making EOS cameras the World’s first to incorporate an electronic mount system, representing a new generation of auto focus SLR cameras.

EOS is an acronym of “Electro Optical System” and is also fittingly the name of the Greek goddess of dawn. A total of 98 EOS models have been produced since 1987 (35 film cameras and 63 digital).
Currently, the EOS system, including the Cinema EOS system, comprises 24 models with a selection of 97 EF lenses.

To mark this milestone, Canon is displaying a range of cameras and lenses from the EOS archive on its stand at The Photography Show, including the EOS 650 and the EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM, the world’s longest focal length and largest aperture lens. Visit Canon on stand D141/E131 at The Photography Show from 18th – 21st March at the NEC in Birmingham.

For what to expect from Canon for the remainder of 2017 and beyond, read my earlier post.

EOS System Milestones

• 1987 EOS 650, EF 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, EF 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5, EF 50mm f/1.8 announced
• 1989 EOS-1 launched, Canon’s first professional Autofocus camera
• 1994 EOS 5 launched with eye tracking AF system
• 2000 EOS D30 Canon’s first in house digital camera
• 2001 EOS-1D launched first Canon in house digital professional camera
• 2003 EOS 300D launched first consumer DSLR for under €1000
• 2005 EOS 5D first low cost full frame DSLR announced
• 2008 EOS 5D Mark II first DSLR to feature Full HD movie recording
• 2012 Launch of Cinema EOS range of professional digital video cameras
• 2012 Launch of EOS-M range of mirrorless cameras
• 2015 80 million EOS cameras produced milestone achieved
• 2016 120 million EF lenses produced milestone achieved

Canon Milestone - 80 millionth EOS Camera Produced

TOKYO, November 18, 2015 - Canon Inc. announced today the achievement of a new camera-manufacturing milestone as combined production of the Company’s film and digital EOS-series interchangeable-lens cameras surpassed the 80-million mark on November 10, 2015. The 80 millionth EOS camera produced was an EOS-5DsR, which boasts the world’s highest pixel count in its class.1

Production of Canon EOS SLR cameras began in 1987 at Canon Inc.’s Fukushima Plant (now Fukushima Canon Inc.), later moving to such production bases as Oita Canon Inc. and Canon Inc., Taiwan. Production rapidly increased following the spread of digital SLR cameras in the early 2000s and the Company is now commemorating a new milestone: the production of its 80-millionth EOS camera.

EOS, which stands for “Electro Optical System,” is also the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn. Introduced in March 1987 as a new generation of AF SLR cameras, EOS cameras were the world’s first to incorporate an electronic mount system enabling complete electronic control not only between the lens and body, but throughout the entire camera system.

Canon manufactures all key components employed in the EOS series, enabling the Company to achieve an even more robust product lineup by selecting the optimal sensor for each model. Drawing from this strength, Canon has helped to pioneer a new age for cameras by launching such innovative products as the compact, lightweight EOS Kiss (EOS Rebel XS or EOS 500 in other regions), which succeeded in expanding its user base, and the EOS 5D series, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year.

As a result, the Company has successfully maintained the No. 1 share worldwide within the interchangeable-lens digital camera market for the 12-year period from 2003 to 2014. Furthermore, thanks to the strong backing of users over the years, Canon’s EF interchangeable lenses, launched alongside the EOS SLR camera system, celebrated a new manufacturing milestone in June 2015 with the production of the 110-millionth EF-series interchangeable lens for EOS cameras, setting a new world record for the most interchangeable lenses produced.2

Canon will continue to refine its diverse imaging technologies based on its core optical technologies, striving to produce exceptional and reliable lenses and cameras that cater to the varying needs of photographers—from first-time users to advanced amateurs and professionals—while contributing to expanding the culture of photographic and video imaging.