From a prototype camera named after a Buddhist deity of mercy to a global imaging and printing leader
QUICK FACTS
Est. 1937 — best known for cameras and imaging equipment.
HISTORY
Canon's origins go back to 1933, when Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory was founded in Tokyo to develop Japan's first high-quality 35mm rangefinder camera and challenge dominant European brands like Leica. In 1934 the lab built a prototype named 'Kwanon' after the Buddhist goddess of mercy, and the business was formally incorporated as Precision Optical Industry Co., Ltd. in 1937 — the year Canon counts as its official founding. The company was renamed Canon in 1947.
Canon grew from cameras into a broad imaging and office equipment maker, launching its influential EOS autofocus camera system in 1987 and expanding into copiers, printers, and medical imaging equipment. It remains one of the world's largest makers of cameras, lenses, and printers.
PRODUCTS
Autofocus camera system launched 1987, still Canon's flagship camera line
1934 prototype camera that gave the company its name
TIMELINE
This page is compiled from publicly available company history and is provided for general reference only. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please consult the brand's official website.