Canon notches up 80-millionth EF lens

Sydney, 21 August, 2012: Canon has today announced the achievement of a new EF lens-manufacturing milestone with the production of the company’s 80-millionth lens on August 3. The 80-millionth lens – an EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM – was produced just over nine months after the 70-million mark was reached at the end of October 2011.

"This is a significant achievement and a powerful illustration of the global popularity of the Canon EOS camera system, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year," said Jason McLean, Director – Canon Consumer Imaging, Canon Australia. "Canon EOS is synonymous with world-first innovations to deliver the very best image quality and creative performance, whether it is stills photography, EOS DSLR movies or Cinema EOS broadcast and motion-picture applications."

In Australia, the strong uptake of the Canon EOS System has seen the brand achieve an overwhelming No.1 share of the total interchangeable lens camera category, accounting for more than one in every two dollars spent*1. In July 2012, Canon announced the latest phase of EOS evolution with the development of the EOS M compact system camera, an ultra-compact EOS camera that offers complete EF-lens compatibility (via an optional EF mount adapter) as well as a new range of specifically designed EF-M lenses.
"We are thrilled that Australian consumers and professionals have embraced Canon EOS so convincingly, and as a global company we will continue to prioritise investment in R&D to ensure that we remain the best choice in the market at all levels," continued McLean.

Canon's EF lens series was first introduced together with the EOS SLR camera system in March 1987, and has over the years led the industry through the incorporation of a number of innovative technologies, including such world’s firsts*2 as the Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for use in lenses, Image Stabilizer (IS), a multi-layered diffractive optical (DO) element, and Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) anti-reflection technology. Most recently, the EF series newly added the EF Cinema Lens series for digital cinematography and the EF-M series for the EOS compact system cameras. As a result, Canon’s current EF lens lineup comprises 76 models*3.

1995 10-millionth EF lens (10 million units in 8 years)
2001 20 millionth EF lens
2006 30-millionth EF lens
April 2008 40-millionth EF lens
Dec 2009 50-millionth EF lens
Jan 2011 60-millionth EF lens
End Oct 2011 70-millionth EF lens
3 August 2012 80-millionth EF lens (10 million units in just over 9 months)

*1 No.1 market share by value at 55.6%. Source: GfK Retail Tracking, Digital Cameras – DSLR (including Compact System Cameras), Jan to May 2012 v Jan to May 2011 (excludes online channels)
*2 Among interchangeable lenses for SLR cameras
*3 Including two EF lens extenders and models available outside Japan