In March 2017, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Company’s EOS System, which includes EOS-series interchangeable-lens cameras and a diverse range of system accessories, beginning with interchangeable EF lenses.
EOS, which stands for “Electro Optical System,” is also the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn. Canon’s EOS System debuted in March 1987 with the launch of the EOS 650 single-lens reflex (SLR) camera and EF lenses,1 making EOS cameras the world’s first to incorporate an electronic mount system, representing a new generation of Auto Focus SLR cameras.
Featuring the essential components of a digital camera, the CMOS sensor, image processor and interchangeable lenses, the EOS system was developed in-house and set the foundation for a product lineup that saw increased performance as new technology was developed. As a follow up, with the essential components in mind, in September 2003, Canon took another step forward, introducing the first entry-level DLSR, the EOS Digital Rebel, ushering in a new digital era. As the EOS Digital Rebel began to garner praise for its compact, lightweight design, user-friendliness and affordable price-point, Canon achieved an overwhelming portion of the interchangeable-lens camera market that year, taking the No.1 share, which it has held for 13 consecutive years through 2015. Thanks to the long-term support from Canon customers, in November 2015, cumulative production of EOS-series cameras reached 80 million units, and in August 2016, the total number of EF lenses produced surpassed the 120 million-unit mark.
Since its debut in 1987, the EOS System has consistently aimed to expand the boundaries of photographic expression, and with Canon’s optical technology at its core, the Company continues to refine its imaging technology and strengthen and expand the EOS System. In 2008, the Company released the EOS 5D Mark II, the world’s first digital SLR camera equipped with a Full HD video function, helping to facilitate the widespread adoption of digital SLR cameras as a tool for capturing video, and in 2012, that video technology was transformed for the Business-to-Business sector in the form of the Cinema EOS System, introduced to the world in Hollywood, California. Now, the EOS System, including the Cinema EOS System, comprises 24 models2 with a selection of 97 EF lens models. With this rich product lineup, the EOS System meets the various needs of different users.
Canon will continue to refine its diverse imaging technologies based on its core optical technology, combining still-image, video and network capabilities to expand and create an even stronger EOS System that meets the needs of increasingly diverse users to promote the spread of the photo and video culture. In addition, thanks to advances in imaging technology, Canon is opening up new expressive avenues, where texture, three-dimensionality and a sense of realism can be recreated in both still images and videos, to support appealing imaging experiences.
