Canon announced today that the company has reached two major production milestones—a cumulative total of 110 million1 EOS Series interchangeable-lens cameras, and 160 million RF/EF series interchangeable lenses. The Canon EOS R6 Mark II (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. What’s next?
Canon has reached 110,000,000 EOS cameras
EOS, or Electro-Optical System, is also the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn. Canon’s 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 (EOS Digital Rebel or EOS 300D in other regions) in September 2003. Since that time, Canon has continued to launch a range of products, including the professional-model EOS-1D series (BTW, the 1D X Mark III is still in stock and still preserves its pricing – although it’s the last DSLR flagship) and the EOS 5D series, which paved the way for digital SLR video recording. As a result, the company has maintained the world’s No. 1 share of digital SLR cameras over 20 years, from 2003 to 2022. In March 2023, Canon produced its 110 million EOS series camera.
RF/EF lenses reach 160 million units
Canon 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 such world’s firsts 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 is the hallmarks of the EOS R System launched in 2018—the entire range of lenses has been expanded to include a total of 115 models. In May 2023, the Company celebrated the production of 160 million EOS series interchangeable lenses.
That’s great, but what about Cinema EOS?
As of today, the Cinema EOS comprises 13 models which are: R5 C, C70, C300 Mark III, C500 Mark II, C700 FF, C700 S35, C200, C300 Mark II, C100 Mark II, 1D-C, C100, C500, and C300. The Canon Cinema EOS cameras are considered documentary workhorses and have excellent stamina however, they’re less used in cinema productions. Don’t get us wrong. When paired with the right glass, Cinema EOS can produce stunning imagery. Nevertheless, Canon finds it hard to compete with RED and ARRI in the same spot, focusing on narrative features when the budget is not a limiting factor. If so, what’s preventing Canon from paving the way in the ‘cinematic’ segment? That’s a good question. Although cameras like the C700 succeed very well in Japan, mainly shooting for TV channels like HNK. Furthermore, according to rumors, the subsequent anticipated Cinema EOS would be the C700 Mark II. However, the tales have faded out, since there’re minimal to zero discussions in that regard.
