Canon celebrates 40 millionth EOS SLR production

The EOS series, which stands for “Electro Optical System” and also carries the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn, was first introduced in 1987. Since its launch, the system has seen a series of groundbreaking advances in technology. Accelerating user demand has resulted in increased production levels, taking total manufacturing to over 40 million units, including 20 million EOS digital models. The milestone also marks the fastest-ever production period in the history of the EOS range:

In 1987, the first-ever EOS SLR, the EOS 650, was produced at Canon’s  manufacturing facility in Fukushima, Japan By 1997, manufacturing of EOS cameras had passed the 10 million mark, reaching the milestone within 10 years. In 2003, the 20 millionth EOS camera was produced, doubling the previous 10million landmark in just six years. In December 2007, the EOS series’ 20-year anniversary, production of EOS SLR cameras rose past 30 million – just four years after passing 20 million. In April 2010, Canon reached its current 40 million production milestone – rising from 30 million units in just two years and four months.

The EOS series was launched as a completely new system of AF SLR cameras, incorporating the world’s first electronic mount that achieved complete electronic control throughout the entire camera system. The series’ high speed and easy-to-use features have continued to evolve ever since, producing landmark products, including the original EOS-1 professional model in 1989, and the compact EOS 500 in 1993 – both of which helped to expand Canon’s appeal to photographers whatever their level of expertise.

Following the introduction of the EOS D30 in the year 2000, Canon has developed a range of advanced technologies driven by the company’s ambition to produce the highest image quality possible. These included proprietary CMOS sensors, high-performance DIGIC digital image processors and an extensive line-up of EF lenses.

Canon also achieved a significant milestone in lens production in 2009, manufacturing the company’s 50 millionth EF lens, following incredible demand that saw over 10 million lenses produced in just under two years.

In February of this year, Canon further expanded its EOS line-up with the launch of the EOS 550D, a revolutionary consumer digital SLR camera with an 18 megapixel CMOS sensor, extended ISO range and Full HD video.

Canon continues to strive to produce innovative products that enable photographers to take more than pictures, providing the technologies and features that allow users to take stories with the best possible image quality.