Canon Celebrates Production of 40 millionth EF lens

TOKYO, April 23, 2008 — Canon Inc. today announced the achievement of a new lens-production milestone as production of the company's EF lenses passed the 40-million mark.
Production of interchangeable EF lenses for Canon EOS-series AF (autofocus) single-lens reflex cameras began in 1987 at the company's Utsunomiya Plant. Canon commemorated the production of its 10 millionth EF lens in August 1995, its 20 millionth in February 2001, its 30 millionth in January 2006 and, a mere two years and three months later, has now surpassed the 40-million-unit mark. This achievement reflects users' high level of satisfaction with the innovative technology and quality offered by EF lenses, as well as with Canon's marketing operations and service.

Canon's proprietary EF lens, born in March 1987 along with the EOS SLR camera system, marked a new direction in the future of AF systems and soon garnered attention for its use of a large-diameter fully electronic lens mount and an internal autofocus motor. In November of the same year, Canon introduced the industry's first*1 Ultrasonic Motor-powered lens: the EF300mm f/2.8L USM. In September 1989, the EF50mm f/1.0L USM, featuring the world's largest aperture*1 of f/1.0, was launched, and in September 1995 the EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, equipped with the world's first*1 Image Stabilizer to compensate for the effects of camera shake, made its debut. Further, in December 2001, Canon introduced the world's first super telephoto lens to employ a diffractive optical element for camera lenses*1: the EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM. Canon's EF lens lineup, through the incorporation of innovative technologies, has consistently led the industry.

In conjunction with the launch in September 2003 of the highly acclaimed EOS Digital Rebel/EOS 300D SLR camera, Canon expanded its EF lens lineup with the introduction of the EF-S series of lenses, optimized for use with digital SLR cameras that incorporate APS-C size image sensors.

Canon's current EF lens lineup comprises more than 60(*2) models, the most extensive selection(*3) in the industry. The company's diverse range of EF lenses include standard and super-telephoto zoom lenses, Image Stabilizer-equipped lenses, large-aperture lenses, macro lenses, and TS-E lenses, which include a special tilt-shift mechanism that permits the manipulation of image perspective and distortion. The comprehensive product lineup effectively caters to the wide-ranging needs of a broad user base, from novice photo enthusiasts to advanced amateur and professional photographers.

This spring, Canon will be adding two new high-performance L-series telephoto lenses to its lineup: the large-aperture EF200mm f/2L IS USM, and the super-telephoto model EF800 f/5.6L IS USM, the world's longest focal length lens(*3) to feature an Image Stabilizer system.

Looking to the future of the total EOS system, including EF lenses, Canon will continue to promote technical innovation, from optical design to electronics and production engineering, with the aim of contributing to the creation of a new photo culture through attractive products to satisfy the needs of all users.

*1 Among interchangeable lenses for SLR cameras.
*2 Including EF-S lenses and EF lens extenders.
*3 As of April 16, 2008.

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The 40 millionth Canon EF lens: a triumph for D-SLR photography

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 23 April 2008: Canon today celebrates a new milestone in the history of D-SLR photography, as production of the company’s EF lenses – which began in 1987 with the birth of Canon’s EOS system – reaches 40 million. Incredibly, a quarter of these were produced within the last two-and-a-half years. With 67 models, the EF series is the world’s most extensive range of D-SLR lenses.

“The production of the 40 millionth EF lens is testament to the soaring popularity of D-SLR photography,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “With the increasing number of consumer-orientated D-SLR models on the market – including Canon’s market-leading EOS 400D and the new EOS 450D – D-SLR has moved from the professional domain to become a truly mass interest”.

“We are delighted that photographers of all levels continue to rely upon Canon EF lenses, and we remain committed to producing the industry’s most extensive, cutting-edge line-up,” he added.

Canon’s comprehensive range of EF lenses benefits from a long lineage of forward-thinking design. In 1987, the first EF lenses rewrote the SLR rulebook with their large-diameter, fully electronic lens mount, and the incorporation of a drive motor within the lens. Since then, innovations have included the first lens with an Ultrasonic Motor, the EF 300mm f/2.8L USM (1987), the world’s fastest aperture interchangeable lens, the EF 50mm f/1.0L USM(1989), and the world’s first lens with Image Stabilizer to compensate camera shake, the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (1995).

2008 will see the addition of two new models to the EF range: the EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, the world’s longest image-stabilised telephoto lens, and the EF 200mm f/2L IS USM, another large-diameter telephoto lens. They join a total of 67 different lenses – ranging from super wide-angle to super telephoto models - which includes standard zoom and telephoto zoom lenses, fast aperture lenses, macro lenses, and "the TS-E lens", equipped with tilt and shift function.