Here is a short history of the creation of the modern DSLR Camera from Canon. Whist all of the information here was found on the Canon website, it should be noted that this website has no association to Canon Inc. or their website.

1933

• Canon’s predecessor, Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory, is founded in Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, to conduct research into quality cameras.

1934

• The Kwanon, Japan’s first 35 mm focal-plane-shutter camera, is produced in prototype form.

1935

• The company files for registration of the “Canon” trademark.

1976

• The AE-1 SLR camera with a built-in microcomputer is introduced, triggering an AE boom.
  The CR-45NM, the world’s first nonmydriatic retinal camera, is introduced.

1979

• The AF35M, a fully automatic AF compact camera, is introduced.

1981

• The New F-1, a professional-use system SLR, is introduced.

1983

• The T50 SLR camera is introduced and wins Japan’s 1983 Good Design Grand Prize.

1986

• The T90 high-performance electronic SLR camera is introduced.

1987

• The EOS autofocus SLR camera is introduced, along with a range of EF lenses.

1989

• The EOS-1, a top-of-the-line autofocus SLR camera, is introduced.

1992

• The EOS 5, the world’s first eye-controlled AF SLR camera, is introduced.

1993

• The EOS REBEL XS (EOS 500 in other regions), a lightweight, compact SLR camera with built-in flash, is introduced.

1995

• Canon’s first digital SLR camera, EOS DCS 3, is introduced.
  The EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, the world’s first camera lens with image stabilizer, is introduced.
  The SURE SHOT DEL SOL (PRIMA SOL in other regions), the world’s first fully solar-powered camera, is introduced.

1996

• The ELPH (IXUS in other regions), a 2x zoom compact point and shoot type camera with the Advanced Photo System, is introduced.

1998

• The EOS-3 SLR camera with 45-point area AF is introduced for professionals and semiprofessionals.

2000

• The PowerShot S100 DIGITAL ELPH (DIGITAL IXUS in other regions), a compact digital camera, is introduced.
  The EOS D30 digital SLR camera is introduced, featuring a CMOS sensor.

2001

• Canon introduces the first “camera direct” products, which allow digital pictures to be printed using an inkjet printer directly from a camera.

2002

• The EOS-1Ds pro-model digital SLR camera, featuring Canon’s 11.1-megapixel full-frame 35 mm CMOS sensor, is introduced.

2003

• The EOS DIGITAL REBEL (EOS 300D DIGITAL in other regions), a high-resolution compact digital SLR AF camera, is introduced.
  The PowerShot S400 DIGITAL ELPH (DIGITAL IXUS 400 in other regions), which incorporates the DIGIC imaging processor, is introduced.

2006

• The PowerShot SD800 IS DIGITAL ELPH (DIGITAL IXUS 850 IS in other regions), incorporating the DIGIC III and Face Detection Technology, is introduced.

2007

• The EOS-1Ds Mark III digital SLR camera with 35mm fullframe, 21.1 mega-pixel CMOS sensor and 5 fps maximum shooting is introduced.

2008

• The EOS 5D Mark II, the first camera ever to incorporate full HD video, is introduced.
  The PowerShot SX1 IS, Canon’s first compact digital camera equipped with its proprietary CMOS sensor, is introduced.

2009

• The EOS 7D digital SLR camera with up to 8 fps continuous shooting and ISO 12800 is introduced.
  The PowerShot S90 compact digital camera with largediameter f/2.0 and 28 mm wide-angle lens is introduced.
  EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens with new Hybrid IS that compensates for both angular and shift camera shake is introduced.

2010

• Canon and Fujitsu agree to collaborate on managed services.

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