Another Milestone For Canon: 100 Million EOS Cameras And 160 Million RF/EF Lenses

Canon

Canon press release:

Canon celebrates significant milestones with production of 110 million EOS series cameras and 160 million interchangeable RF/EF lenses

TOKYO, June 29, 2023—Canon Inc. announced today that the company has reached two major production milestones—a cumulative total of 110 million1 EOS Series interchangeable-lens cameras in March and 160 million2 RF/EF series interchangeable lenses in May. An EOS R6 Mark II (released in December 2022) was the 110 millionth EOS series camera produced, while an RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM (released in July 2021) became the Company’s 160 millionth interchangeable lens.

Production of EOS Series cameras reaches 110 million mark through Canon’s pursuit of “Speed, Comfort and High Image Quality”

EOS, or Electro Optical System, is also the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn. Canon’s EOS system debuted alongside the EF series of interchangeable lenses in March 1987 as the world’s first fully-electronic mount system for silver halide film AF SLR cameras. During the dawn of digital SLR cameras, Canon introduced its breakthrough EOS Kiss Digital (EOS Digital Rebel or EOS 300D in other regions) in September 2003. Since that time, Canon has continued to launch a range of groundbreaking products, including the professional-model EOS-1D series and the EOS 5D series, which paved the way for digital SLR video recording. Canon’s desire to further expand the boundaries of visual expression led to its next-generation EOS R System, launched in October 2018. By striving to expand its lineup of attractive products to meet a diverse range of needs, Canon’s EOS series has gained and maintained the support of many users over the years. As a result, the company has maintained the world’s No. 1 share3 of digital SLR cameras over 20 years, from 2003 to 2022. In March 2023, Canon produced its 110 millionth EOS series camera.

Production of Canon RF/EF lenses reaches 160 million unit production milestone on the strength of advanced imaging technology

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 such world’s firsts4 as the Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, and a multilayered diffractive optical (DO) element.

With the addition of the RF Lens—which achieves unprecedented high image quality by leveraging a large aperture and short-back focus, along with a high-speed signal transmission system, that are the hallmarks of the EOS R System launched in 2018—the entire range of lenses has been expanded to include a total of 115 models5, expanding the possibilities of image capture. In May 2023, the Company celebrated the production of 160 million EOS series interchangeable lenses.

Refining its proprietary imaging technologies, Canon will continue to strengthen and expand the EOS series along with its RF and EF lens lineup, striving to push the frontier of imaging forward and to contribute to the further development of photographic and video imaging culture.

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Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II Discontinued?

Canon EF 24mm F/1.4L II

Again, another Canon EF lens that seems to have been discontinued.

The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II has been discontinued, it appears. That’s what Japanese site asobinet.com reports. So far there is no RF mount replacement for it. The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II was announced in December 2008.

You can still find it in stock at major retailers world-wide.

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Are There Only 9 EF-Mount Lenses Left In Canon’s Catalog?

Canon Firmware Updates Viltrox Eos R7 Eos R10 Reuters Canon Cameras Europe Canon Eos R1 Eos R Rf 14-35mm Olympic Games Ef-mount Rudy Winston

We know that Canon is discontinuing EF-mount lenses. It seems it happens at a faster pace than expected.

Photographer Kimio Tanaka (@thisistanaka) on Twitter reports that he found out that Canon reduced the EF-mount lineup from 21 lenses to 9 in one month. Have a look at the image below: the lenses circled in red have disappeared in one month, according to Mr. Tanaka. I guess he did his research on the Japanese market but it is likely that it applies globally.

Canon stated clearly that the future is mirrorless, and that they will discontinue EF lenses. Well, it is happening.

Less and lesser EF-mount lenses on offer.

[via asobinet.com]

It Seems Canon Is Discontinuing EF/EF-S Lenses One After The Other

Canon EF 40mm Canon Rf Lens Rumor

Canon appears to be rather active in discontinuing their EF and EF-S lenses at fast speed. Latest reports state that more lenses have been retired.

asobinet.com reports a tweet by photographer Kimio Tanaka, stating that Canon is discontinuing EF and EF-S lenses (machine translated):

CANON’s EF / EF-S lenses for SLR cameras are “low in stock” and “discontinued” at a tremendous speed (that is, production has been discontinued, and the rest is only in market stock).
Currently, about 70 are “on sale”, but about 25 of them are treated as discons. I don’t want to think of a single-lens reflex camera as a light in front of the wind, but the remaining expectation is PENTAX. I want you to do your best.

Nozomi Tanaka (@thisistanaka) October 12, 2021

The EF 40mm F2.8 and EF 85mm F1.2L II show up as discontinued, according to asobinet.com (the latter is not in stock at B&H). it seems Canon’s stock of EF and EF-S lenses is shrinking pretty quickly. The future is the RF mount, that seems ascertained.

Canon Is Not Discontinuing EF Lenses But Making Sort Of “Spring Cleaning”, Report

Nab 2023 Canon Eos R5 Mark Ii Canon Eos R8 CP+ 2024 Mark Ii Canon EOS Rf 24-50mm R6 Mark Ii Rf Mount Eos R6 Mark Ii Rf 300mm Rf 35mm Canon Eos R100 Rf 24mm F/1.8 Rf-s Canon Eos R7 Eos R100 Canon High Resolution Eos R R10 Eos C5 Canon Canon Eos R1 Eos R5c Canon Rf 16mm Rf 35mm F/1.2L EF Lenses Tilt-shift Lenses Rumor

Eventually Canon reacted to the ongoing rumor suggesting the company is gradually retiring EF lenses in favor of an RF-mount-only future. However, the answer is somewhat ambiguous.

As Inside Imaging reports, Canon is not so much discontinuing EF lenses but putting some order in the line-up. In other words: Canon is removing redundancy, not discontinuing EF lenses. Sounds weird? Here is Canon Australia’s statement on the issue (emphasis mine):

Canon has around 80 lens options for creators to choose from – only 22 of which are RF at this time. Over the past two years, we’ve been focused on building out our range of RF lenses to expand the creative possibilities of our R-System consumers, however our commitment to supporting our EF lens range is unwavering. It’s true, Canon has recently discontinued select EF lenses in our range, however this is a process of series optimisation, not an indication of us abandoning EF lenses. Lenses that have been recently discontinued are lenses that have multiple versions available; comprise technology that’s been superseded by other available options; or, are low volume lenses. There are still many options for creators to choose from in our EF range, while our RF range continues to expand.

Sounds neither like a clear yes nor like a clear no. Also, keep in mind that for sure Canon has large stocks for most of the lenses rumored to get discontinued, and especially that it does not mean those EF lenses are no longer going to be maintained and serviced by Canon.

Here is the list of the allegedly discontinued EF lenses (release year in parenthesis):

  • Canon EF-S 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 USM (2007)
  • Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L USM II (2007)
  • Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (2009)
  • Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM (2006)
  • Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (2008)
  • Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM (2012)
  • Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM (2012)
  • Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 IS STM Macro (2012)
  • Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM (2012)
  • Canon EF-S 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS STM (2013)
  • Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM (2005)
  • Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM (1995)
  • Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM II  (2018)
  • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM (2010)
  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM II (2006)
  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM (1992)
  • Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM (1991)
  • Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM (1996)
  • Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L USM (1996)
  • Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM (2008)
  • Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM (2010)
  • Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM (2008)

And these lenses are rumored to get retired some time in 2021:

  • Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM (2012)
  • Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM II (2010)
  • Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM II (2014)
  • Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM II (2011)

The future is RF mount, no doubts about that. But EF mount will still be around for a long time, no doubts on that either.

[Inside Imaging via PetaPixel]

Canon Is Discontinuing Large Figures Of EF Lenses, Do They?

Ibis Canon Rumors Canon Full Frame Mirrorless Canon PowerShot G7 X Canon Eos 90d Coronavirus

A report is going around claiming Canon is discontinuing lots of EF mount lenses in favor of upcoming RF lenses. We are not so sure about that.

According to Canon Rumors, Canon is set to discontinue many EF lenses and is planning to cease production of even more EF lenses. The list of EF lenses that allegedly have been or will soon be discontinued in 2021:

  • Canon EF-S 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 USM
  • Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L USM II
  • Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
  • Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS US
  • Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
  • Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM
  • Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
  • Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 IS STM Macro
  • Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM
  • Canon EF-S 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS STM
  • Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
  • Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM
  • Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM II
  • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM II
  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
  • Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
  • Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L USM
  • Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
  • Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM II
  • Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
  • Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM II
  • Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM II
  • Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM

That’s an impressing list. However, with a few exceptions most of the lenses listed above appear in stock and ready to ship at major retailers. Canon USA also lists most lenses as still available, and hasn’t released any communication regarding the discontinuation of EF lenses. PetaPixel contacted Canon about the issue but didn’t get any answer. It’s rather difficult if not impossible to verify the claim of Canon discontinuing all those EF lenses. So far there is only one source for this.

Should you be worried, or even alarmed? By no way. As we wrote above, most of the allegedly discontinued lenses are still available. Even if they get discontinued tomorrow, Canon would for sure still deliver assistance and service for long time. There is no doubt that EF mount lenses will eventually disappear in favor of Canon’s new RF mount standard. It just will not happen that soon.

Any idea about Canon discontinuing all those lenses?