Canon is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its Electro Optical System (EOS), which includes EOS-series interchangeable-lens cameras and a diverse range of system accessories. The system debuted in March 1987 with the launch of the EOS 650 SLR camera and EF lenses, making EOS cameras the World’s first to incorporate an electronic mount system, representing a new generation of auto focus SLR cameras. Currently, the EOS system, including the Cinema EOS system, comprises 24 models with a selection of 97 EF lenses. To mark this milestone, Canon is displaying a range of cameras and lenses from the EOS archive on its stand at The Photography Show, including the EOS 650 and the EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM, the world’s longest focal length and largest aperture lens. Visit Canon on stand D141/E131 at The Photography Show from 18th – 21st March at the NEC in Birmingham.

Canon Press Release

Canon celebrates 30th anniversary of the EOS System

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 1 March 2017 – Today, Canon is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its world renowned EOS System. 

Canon’s EOS System made its debut on 1st March 1987 with the launch of the EOS 650 SLR camera and EF lenses1 at a time when visiting your local pharmacy to develop your camera film was the norm.

Thirty years on, the world has changed but the EOS systems remains a staple in the world of photography. Technology featured within the EOS system has helped create and inspire changes in the way people take photos.

The EOS system came to life in 1987 after Canon announced its aim to develop a highly-refined AF SLR model and moved away from its FD system to create the world’s first fully electronic mount system. From then the EOS range has included the first affordable consumer DSLR, the EOS 300D, which ushered in a new era of digital photography in 2003. Five years later in 2008, the EOS 5D Mark II revolutionised filmmaking by offering Full HD movie recording on a DSLR.

The EOS System is one of the most recognised systems in the world and now incorporates the Cinema EOS System, and comprises of 24 cameras2 with a selection of 97 EF lens models. With such a rich product lineup, the EOS System has been designed to meet the various needs and desires of different users.

To mark this milestone, Canon is displaying a range of cameras and lenses from the EOS archive on its stand at The Photography Show, including the EOS 650 and the EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM, the world’s longest3 focal length and largest aperture lens. Visit Canon on stand D141/E131 at The Photography Show from 18th – 21st March at the NEC, Birmingham.

EOS system facts

The EOS series was the world’s first fully electronic mount system
The first EOS system cameras, the EOS 650 was released 30 years ago, in March 1987, along with the EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, EF35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 and EF50mm f/1.8 announced
EOS is an acronym of “Electro Optical System” and is also fittingly the name of the Greek goddess of dawn
A total of 98 EOS models have been produced since 1987 (35 film cameras and 63 digital)
Canon’s first professional Autofocus camera, the EOS-1 launched in 1989
EOS 300D was the first consumer DSLR for under €1000 when it launched in 2003, ushering in a new digital era
The EOS 5D Mark II was the first DSLR to feature Full HD movie recording. It was released in 2008 and has since been followed by the EOS 5D Mark III (in 2012) and the EOS 5D Mark IV (2016)
2012 saw the launch of Cinema EOS range of professional digital video cameras, the C300 was the first camera to be launched in the range and has since become the workhorse camera for a number of production companies
Canon launched its first mirrorless camera, the EOS M, in 2012. There are now 3 cameras in Canon’s EOS M line up with 7 dedicated EF-M lenses
80 million EOS cameras have been produced (as of November 2015)
120 million EF lenses have been produced (as of August 2016)
The EF1200mm f/5.6L USM lens is the world’s longest3 focal length and largest aperture

1 The EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, EF35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 and EF50mm f/1.8 were released alongside the EOS 650.

2 Includes digital cinema cameras, compact-system cameras and film cameras.

3 Among interchangeable lenses for AF SLR cameras

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