The FINANCIAL -- Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc. announced today the achievement of a new manufacturing milestone with the production of the company's 80-millionth EF-series interchangeable lens on August 3, 2012: an EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM.

Production of interchangeable EF lenses for Canon EOS-series AF (autofocus) film cameras began in 1987 at the company's Utsunomiya Plant, and has since expanded to a total of four manufacturing centers, 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, doubling to 20-million lenses in 2001. As Canon reported, after reaching the 30-million-unit milestone in 2006, Canon celebrated the production of its 40-millionth lens in April 2008.

Owing to the rapid spread of the EOS digital SLR camera series, production for Canon's EF lenses gained momentum, reaching the 50-million-unit milestone in 2009, followed by the 60-million-unit and 70-million-unit marks in January and October of 2011, respectively. And now, just nine months later, EF lens production commemorates a new achievement with the 80-millionth lens manufactured, all within the same year the EOS System celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Canon's EF lens series was first introduced together with the EOS SLR camera system in March 1987, and has over the years led the industry through the incorporation of a wide range of innovative technologies, including such world's firsts as the Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Image Stabilizer (IS), Subwavelength Structure Coating anti-reflection technology, and a multi-layered diffractive optical (DO) element. Canon's EF lens series has further expanded with last year's introduction of the new EF Cinema Lens lineup for use in cinema and TV production, and dedicated EF-M lenses for the EOS M interchangeable-lens digital camera announced earlier this year, bringing the total EF lens series lineup to 76 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.

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