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Canon’s EOS System made its debut on 1 March 1987 with the launch of the EOS 650 SLR camera and EF lenses, 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 system 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 autofocus (AF) SLR model. It moved away from its FD lens 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, also incorporating the Cinema EOS System, and comprises 24 cameras with a selection of 97 EF lens models. With such a rich product line-up, 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 f5.6L USM, the world’s longest focal length and largest aperture lens. Visit Canon on stand D141/E131 at The Photography Show from 18 – 21 March at the NEC, Birmingham.
EOS system facts
· The EOS series was the world’s first fully electronic mount system.
· The first EOS system camera – the EOS 650 – was released 30 years ago on 2 March 1987, along with the EF 35-70mm f3.5-4.5, EF 35-105mm f3.5-4.5 and EF 50mm f1.8 lenses.
· 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 (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 three current cameras in Canon’s EOS M line-up with seven 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 EF 1200mm f5.6L USM lens is the lens with the world’s longest focal length and largest aperture (among interchangeable lenses for AF SLR cameras).