Canon Ships 100 Millionth Compact

Posted by Philip Northeast Aug 21, 2008

Canon’s achievement gives an insight into the extent of the photographic explosion led by clever cameras packed with modern electronics that simplify photography. Canon’s success in this field really took off in May 2000 when they launched the breakthrough PowerShot Digital model. This digital camera featured a compact body with a stylish design. This model spearheaded the digital camera market's later massive growth with its easy portability and simple operation, which won over millions of users worldwide. Canon followed with a string of revolutionary products that drove market expansion while addressing the diversifying needs of users, including the PowerShot A70 digital camera (2003), which sold more units worldwide than any other model that year due to its superb operability and cost performance.

Other notable cameras were the smooth and chic PowerShot Digital SD10 Digital ELPH camera (2003); the PowerShot G7 digital camera (2006), which carved out a position for high-end models in the compact digital camera market; and the PowerShot S5 IS digital camera (2007), which combined a high-power zoom lens with precise image stabilization.

Canon began producing compact digital cameras in 1996 and this experience stood the company in good stead when the digital camera revolution really took off. As one of the leading professional DSLR manufacturers Canon’s had a wealth of technology it could apply in the evolution of compact digital cameras. These include the DIGIC high-performance imaging processor, which processes richly detailed image data at very high speeds; Canon's ultra-compact lens with built-in image stabilizers; and iSAPS technology, which controls exposures with high accuracy based on shooting condition predictions.