Canon History
1933 to now

1933 – 1961: The Precision Optical Instruments
Laboratory was founded by Canon in 1933.
In order to conduct research on high-quality cameras, the predecessor of Canon, Precision Optical
Instruments Laboratory, is established in Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Production of the Kwanon, the
country of Japan's first 35 mm focal-plane shutter camera, is in prototype form. The business submits a
trademark registration application for "Canon.“ A 35 mm focal-plane shutter camera called the Hansa
Canon is unveiled. The establishment of Precision Optical Industry, Co., Ltd. The first indirect X-ray
camera is created in Japan. The president of Precision Optical Industry, Co., Ltd. is now Takeshi Mitarai.
The midrange J II focal-plane-shutter camera starts to be produced. The Canon S II is released, to great
acclaim from foreign buyers in Japan and high-ranking officers in the Occupation Forces. In 1947, the
company becomes Canon Camera Co. Inc. When Japan resumes export activities, the government
names Canon cameras as a priority export. The first speed-light synchronised 35 mm flash-and-shutter
camera, the Canon IVSb, is unveiled. The first products to be given the Good Design product designation
by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry are the Canon L1 still camera and Canon 8T
8 mm cine-camera. The Toride Plant, the company's primary manufacturing facility, has been completed.

1962 – 1975: In order to fully enter the business
machine market, Canon created its first five-year plan
in 1962.
In preparation for a full-fledged entry into the business machine market, Canon creates its first five-year
plan. Canon begins developing optical fibre. The introduction of an X-ray mirror camera. The first 10-key
electronic calculator in the world, the Canola 130, is released. By releasing the Canofax 1000, Canon
enters the market for copy machines. "Cameras in the Right Hand, Business Machines in the Left" will
be the theme for the 30th anniversary. The first electro-photography technology, the Canon NP System,
is unveiled, and Canon enters the plain-paper copier (PPC) market. In 1969, the company changed their
name and was known as Canon inc. Canon starts to sell personal calculators. Canon Sales Co., Inc. is
formed by the merger of Canon Business Machines Sales, Inc. and Canon Camera Sales Co., Ltd. The
NP-70, the first liquid-dry PPC in the world, is unveiled. The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences has awarded a macro zoom lens for cinematography with an Academy Award in the
science and technology category. Introduced are the office computers Canonac 100 and 500. Laser
printer development by Canon is successful.

1976 – 1987: Canon introduced its Premier Company
Plan in 1976 with the goal of becoming a top-notch
international company.
Launch of the first Premier Company Plan. A committee is formed to talk about the systems for Canon's development,
manufacturing, and sales. As a base for optical apparatus, the Kosugi office opens. The Canon (U.K.) Ltd. company is
founded. Canon enters the market for facsimile machines. An AE boom is launched with the introduction of the AE-1
SLR camera with an integrated microcomputer. The first nonmydriatic retinal camera in the world, the CR-45NM, is
unveiled. The U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bestows an Academy Award on the K-35 series of
lenses for cinematography. It introduces a structure for business divisions based on products. The company Canon
Australia Pty. Ltd. is founded. Canon starts providing services for colour copying. Introduced is the LBP-10, which
employs a semiconductor laser. A fully automatic AF compact camera called the AF35M is unveiled. There is now a
mini floppy disc drive. An automatic refractometer called the Auto Ref R-1 is unveiled. The Ueno Plant debuts as a
factory producing chemical products for laser printers and copiers. Launch of the Second Premier Company Plan. The
first personal copying machines in the world with replaceable cartridges, the PC-10, and PC-20, are released. For
Western languages, the AP400 and AP500 electronic typewriters are introduced. A credit card-sized calculator called
MyCard is unveiled. The PC Printer 70 is unveiled as the first plain-paper reader/printer for COM in the entire world. A
zoom lens for high-definition television called the PV14 x 12.5B HD is unveiled. With the American Eastman Kodak
Co., a tie-up agreement encompassing advanced medical equipment has been reached. The EOS autofocus SLR
camera and a selection of EF lenses are unveiled.

1988 – 1995: With the introduction of the First Global
Corporation Plan, Canon announced the start of its
second inauguration in 1988.
In the UK, Canon Research Centre Europe Ltd. is founded. In the UK, Canon Research Centre Europe Ltd. is
founded. The largest CCD in the world, the 600,000-pixel RC-760 still video camera, is unveiled. Introduced is the Q-
PIC floppy disc camera. The colour laser copying device CLC-500 is unveiled. Launch of Canon's system for recycling
toner cartridges. The notebook-sized inkjet printer BJ-10v is unveiled. Establishment of Canon Information Systems
Research Australia Pty. Ltd. Canon introduces the Canofile 250, a magneto-optical disk-based electronic filing system.
The National Geographic Society presents the first Chairman's Award to Canon for starting the toner cartridge
collection and recycling programme. Canon is successful in creating the first ferroelectric liquid crystal display (FLCD)-
based display in history. An 8 mm video camcorder with interchangeable lenses that complies with the VL-mount
standard is introduced as the L1 (EX1Hi in other regions). Production of laser printers tops 10 million units. Production
of toner cartridges tops 100 million pieces. The eco-friendly NP6030 copying machine sales have started. The BJC-
820, Canon's first full-color inkjet printer, is unveiled. The EOS 5, the first eye-controlled autofocus SLR camera in the
world, is released. Introduced is the EOS REBEL XS (EOS 500 in other regions), a portable, compact SLR camera
with an integrated flash. Launch of the Second Global Corporation Plan. Using the PowerPC family of chips, Canon
and IBM Corp. of the U.S. have partnered to develop and produce small computers. Introduced is the eye-controlled
focusing and optical image stabiliser Movie Boy E1 video camcorder. EOS DCS 3, Canon's first digital SLR camera, is
unveiled. In Virginia, United States, Custom Integrated Technology, Inc. is founded as a copy machine
remanufacturing facility.

1996 – 2005: The Excellent Global Corporation Plan,
which was introduced in 1996, marked the beginning
of Canon's innovation efforts.
Launch of the Excellent Global Corporation Plan. A 2x zoom compact camera with the Advanced Photo System is
unveiled as the ELPH (IXUS in other regions). With the OPTURA, Canon enters the market for digital video camcorders
(MV1 in other regions). Production of cameras tops 100 million units. American Depositary Receipts issued by Canon
Inc. are listed on the New York Stock Exchange for the first time (NYSE). A new digital compact camera called the
PowerShot S100 DIGITAL ELPH (DIGITAL IXUS in other regions) is released. The digital SLR camera with a CMOS
sensor, the EOS D30, is unveiled. Canon releases the first "camera direct" products, allowing users to print digital
photos directly from cameras on inkjet printers. The Excellent Global Corporation Plan's second phase has begun. The
Management Strategy Committee is created by Canon. In order to strengthen regional operations, Canon Europe Ltd. is
established in London in partnership with Canon Europa N.V. in the Netherlands. The establishment of Canon Vietnam
Co., Ltd. in Hanoi as an inkjet printer manufacturing facility. The 11.1-megapixel full-frame 35 mm CMOS sensor-
equipped EOS-1Ds pro-model digital SLR camera is unveiled. The DIGIC imaging processor-equipped PowerShot
S400 DIGITAL ELPH (DIGITAL IXUS 400 in other regions) is unveiled. The REALiS SX50, also known as the XEED
SX50 in other regions, is a multi-media projector that features the recently created AISYS optical system. In recognition
of its development of a large-screen sensor for real-time X-ray imaging systems, Canon is given the Imperial Award for
Innovations. A high-definition video camcorder called the XL H1 is unveiled.

2006 – 2015: Phase III of Canon's Excellent Global
Corporation Plan is introduced in 2006.
With DIGIC III and Face Detection Technology, the PowerShot SD800 IS DIGITAL ELPH (DIGITAL IXUS 850 IS in other regions) is unveiled.
Canon launches the Canon Global Management Institute, a centre for developing world leaders. With Kyoto University, Canon begins
collaborative research and development on the High-Order Biological Imaging Leading-Edge Technology Hub project. An optics education and
research centre will be established, as agreed upon by Canon and Utsunomiya University. Introduced is the MPAsp-H700 LCD lithography
apparatus with a new platform for 8th-generation substrates. The EOS-1Ds Mark III digital SLR camera, featuring a 35 mm full-frame, 21.1-
megapixel CMOS sensor, and a maximum shooting speed of 5 frames per second, is released. Canon and the Kyoto Culture Association launch
the Cultural Heritage Inheritance Project also referred to as the Tsuzuri Project. Introduced is the EOS 5D Mark II, the first camera to ever feature
full HD video. The sixth Prime Minister's Award for Industry, Academic, and Government Collaborations goes to a Canon ANELVA researcher.
Introduced is Canon's first digital compact camera with a proprietary CMOS sensor, the PowerShot SX1 IS. Canon Europe's headquarters
operations are centralised in London. A new alliance agreement in the area of solutions is signed by Canon and HP. Introduced is the 8 fps
continuous shooting, ISO 12800, EOS 7D digital SLR camera. The world's slimmest digital compact camera with 10x optical zoom and Full HD
video, the PowerShot SD4500 IS DIGITAL ELPH (IXUS 1000 HS), is unveiled. Canon has introduced the Cinema EOS System of cinema
cameras and lenses, which marks the company's entry into the motion picture production industry. Introduced is the top-of-the-line EOS-1D X
digital SLR camera, which provides the best possible image quality and speed performance. For the tenth year in a row, Canon wins the top
market share for interchangeable lens digital cameras. The 64th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards present Canon with a
Technology & Engineering Emmy® Award for improvements to large format CMOS imagers for use in High Definition broadcast video cameras.
Canon creates a full-size 35 mm CMOS sensor with high sensitivity and low noise to enable low-light video shooting. Canon creates a full-size
35 mm CMOS sensor with high sensitivity and low noise to enable low-light video shooting. To meet the demands of users looking to broaden
their photographic horizons, Canon introduces the EOS 70D digital SLR camera, equipped with ground-breaking Dual Pixel CMOS AF
technology. Canon introduces the high-resolution EOS 5DS/EOS 5DS R digital SLR camera with a 50.6-megapixel CMOS sensor.

2016 – Now: Phase V of Canon's Excellent Global
Corporation Plan is introduced in 2016.
Launch of Canon's flagship EOS-1D X Mark II digital SLR camera. To grow its healthcare
business, Canon creates a wholly-owned subsidiary called Toshiba Medical Systems. Canon
introduces the cutting-edge EOS 9000D digital SLR camera, designed for enthusiasts. Canon
Medical Systems replaces Toshiba Medical Systems as the company's name. Introduced is the
mirrorless EOS M50 camera. The Canon Institute of Software Technology is now open for
software training. Canon releases the EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera and RF lens with a
newly developed lens mount as part of the EOS R System, a new imaging system. Starting a
collaborative research project with Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and
Application. The 71st Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards went to the ME20F-SH
ultra-high sensitivity multipurpose camera. The Excellent Global Corporation Plan, Phase VI, is
launched by Canon. The full-frame mirrorless EOS R3 camera from Canon features a back-
illuminated stacked CMOS sensor. There is a Human Rights Policy for the Canon Group.