Canon mengumumkan bahwa mereka telah mencapai angka penjualan lensa EF sebesar 90 juta unit semenjak pertama kali dibuat untuk kamera EOS yang diproduksi oleh Canon pada tahun 1987. Angka ini menunjukkan peningkatan penjualan yang cukup fantastis pada 9 bulan terakhir. Bertambah 10 juta unit dari pengumuman sebelumnya pada bulan Agustus 2012 yang menyatakan bahwa Canon telah melewati ambang penjualan lensa EF sebesar 80 juta unit.
Sejarah Canon EF dimulai pada tahun 1987 bersama-sama dengan diluncurkannya kamera analog pertama Canon EOS SLR. Saat ini, lensa Canon diproduksi secara massal di pabrik mereka yang berpusat di Jepang, Taiwan dan Malaysia. Canon memiliki koleksi Lineup lensa yang cukup besar dan beragam, terdiri dari tidak kurang 84 model, mulai dari lensa fix yang tergolong murah EF 50mm f/1.8 II hingga lensa high-end untuk fotografer profesional seperti yang baru-baru ini diluncurkan EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x - lensa pertama di dunia yang menyertakan teleconverter built-in. Lensa ini mampu memperluas jangkauan zoomnya sampai 560mm.
Berikut adalah timeline angka penjualan lensa Canon :
1995 : Diproduksi 10 juta unit Lensa EF.
2001 : Diproduksi 20 juta unit Lensa EF
2006 : Diproduksi 30 juta unit Lensa EF
2008 : Diproduksi 40 juta unit Lensa EF
2009 : Diproduksi 50 juta unit Lensa EF
2011 : Diproduksi 60 juta unit Lensa EF ( Januari)
2011 : Diproduksi 70 juta unit Lensa EF ( Oktober)
2012 : Diproduksi 80 juta unit Lensa EF ( Agustus)
Dalam siaran persnya Canon menyatakan bahwa Canon akan terus menyempurnakan teknologi pencitraan yang beragam berdasarkan teknologi optik intinya, berusaha untuk menghasilkan lensa dan kamera yang luar biasa dan dapat diandalkan yang bisa menjangkau berbagai kebutuhan fotografer - dari pengguna pemula hingga amatir dan fotografer profesional.
Press release:
Canon Celebrates Significant Milestone with the Production of 90 Million EF Interchangeable Lenses
MELVILLE, N.Y., May 29, 2013 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced its parent company, Canon Inc., has reached a new lens-manufacturing milestone with the production of its 90-millionth EF-series interchangeable lens for EOS cameras. Canon turned out its 90-millionth lens, an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM (released in September 2012), on May 23, 2013.
The production of interchangeable EF lenses for Canon EOS-series AF (autofocus) single-lens reflex film cameras began in 1987 at the Company’s Utsunomiya Plant. Since that time, supported by a wide range of users, demand has steadily increased and production has expanded. Today, Canon produces EF lenses at four of the Company’s manufacturing bases, including Canon Inc., Taiwan; Canon Opto (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.; and Oita Canon Inc. in southern Japan.
EF lens production surpassed the 10-million-unit mark in 1995, doubled to 20 million lenses in 2001, and went on to reach 30 million units in 2006 and 40 million units in 2008. Afterward, due to the rapid spread of EOS digital SLR cameras, production of EF lenses gained further momentum, crossing the 50-million-unit threshold in 2009, reaching 60 million units in January 2011, and hitting the 70-million-unit mark in October of the same year. In August 2012, lens production reached 80 million units and now, a little over nine months later, the company commemorates its latest manufacturing milestone of 90 million lenses.
Canon’s proprietary EF lenses, launched in March 1987 along with the EOS SLR camera system, have continued to evolve since their introduction, leading the industry through the incorporation of a wide range of innovative technologies, including the Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, a multi-layered diffractive optical (DO) element, and Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) anti-reflection technology.
With the introduction in May this year of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x, super-telephoto zoom lens with a built-in 1.4x extender that makes possible a 200-560 mm focal length range, along with EF Cinema Lenses for digital cinematography, Canon’s extensive EF lens-series lineup now comprises a total of 84 models.(*)
Canon will continue refining its diverse imaging technologies based on its core optical technologies, striving to produce exceptional and reliable lenses and cameras that cater to the varying needs of photographers—from first-time users to advanced amateurs and professionals—while contributing to expanding the photographic and video imaging culture.
(*) Including two EF lens extenders and three models available outside of Japan. As of May 29, 2013.
