Canon has now become the world’s largest lens manufacturer by reaching the 120 million units landmark for its EF-series interchangeable lens. The manufacturing of the autofocus lenses started in 1987. Recently it reached the 100 million mark in 2014. They have also held the first position in terms of market share since 2003.
The company’s proprietary EF lenses were launched in March of 1987 with the EOS SLR cameras. The evolution of the lens has led the industry through its evolution and the innovations that came along such the Ultrasonic Motor, Image Stabilizer, diffractive optical and Subwavelength Structure Coating.
The company’s offerings in the EF lens technology has 97 different cameras including the ones used for cinematography. Canon is known for introducing world’s first technologies in cameras. Following are its specialty renderings along with their ground-breaking world’s first technologies:
| Camera Model | World’s first | Special features |
| EF300mm f/2.8L USM1 | World’s first camera to use a lens-based Ultrasonic Motor (USM) | Fast autofocus Smooth AF drive performance |
| EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM3 | World’s first camera to use Image Stabilizer (IS) technology | High precision and stability showing great IS results |
| EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM4 | World’s first camera to use a diffractive optical (DO) lens element | Minimal aberrations in images |
| EF24mm f/1.4L II USM | World’s first camera to use Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) | Minimal reflections |
| EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM | World’s first camera to use Hybrid IS, which compensates both angle camera shake and shift camera shake | An algorithm to optimally adjust camera shakes according to data gathered by two lenses |
| EF8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM | World’s first camera to feature the fisheye lens that delivers 180-degree diagonal angle view and 180-degree circular fisheye | Captures images with dramatic deformations and extreme depth |
| EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x | World’s first camera with super-telephoto zoom lens to employ an internal extender | 1.4x extender |
| EF11-24mm f/4L USM | World’s first camera lens that offers ultra-wide-angle 11mm minimum focal length | Corrects all aberrations associated with wide-angle photography |
The Canon group has been the most iconic name in the field of modern photography, standing alongside the likes of Leica. Such a milestone is an achievement to be celebrated by photographers all over the world. The company’s ground-breaking technology in recent times has effectively redefined photography.
