Everyone knows the bright red Canon logo that we see plastered on the top of every camera or lens we buy. Ever wonder how they came up with that brand name?
Canon initially began as Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory in 1933. When the company began manufacturing cameras on a trial basis, it named them “Kwanon”, which was the name of the Buddist Goddess of Mercy. The name “embodied the Company’s vision of creating the best cameras in the world.”
In fact, the initial Kwanon logo included an image of the goddess with 1,000 arms and flames (seen above).
In 1934, the young company produced Japan’s first 35mm focal-plane-shutter prototype camera. In 1935, the company registered the name “Canon” as a trademark that would be more acceptable to a worldwide market as it started to move toward full-scale production. The name “Canon” still carried with it a very positive connotation via a number of different meanings including, scriptures, criterion and standard.
A designer specializing in advertising created the original Canon logo in 1935. The “C” was unique in that its top end curved inward, ending in a sharp point. This style of typeface did not then exist in Europe or North America. The Canon name and logo were created to reflect the Company’s global perspectives, which it adopted right from the beginning of its history. –Canon.com
The same year, the Hansa Canon 35mm focal-plane-shutter went into production and the Canon brand first landed on a camera.
The company was founded as Precision Optical Industry, Co., Ltd. in 1937 and did not become Canon Camera Co., Inc. until 1947. It wasn’t until 1969 that the company became the Canon Inc. that we know today.
Over the years, the Canon logo evolved from a simple type to the instantly recognizable, bold “Canon” logo we know today. The current logo has been in use since 1956 without further change.
[via Japan Camera Hunter]
One little known fact was that when Germany realized that invasion of its country by the allied forces was imminent, the German government transferred the Leica patents and design data and prototype cameras to the Japanese government for safe keeping. The Japanese government in turn handed over the data and prototypes to the Kwanon Camera Co which copied the classic Leica designs on its first batches of cameras almost to the screw with only the difference in the name logo.
So Canon owes much to Leica for its humble beginnings.
In the 1950s and 60s, German camera and optics reign supreme and scoffed at the imitating Japanese designs which many camera afficiandos consider as second rate.
It was through the Korean War when war photographers such as Douglas who first used Nikkor lenses and discovered that they were indeed good sharp lenses and with the Japanese Camera industry instituting the more or less mandated testing procedures with their stickers of approval that the Japanese margue started to take off.
While the Germans were sitting back on their laurels, the Japanese were experimenting with electronics incorporated in their optical measuring systems and with the advent of through the lens metering first introduced by Pentax, the ensuing years of innovation saw the Japanese Camera and optical industries took off and the rest is history.
Do you know anything about a personalized engraved prototype
Apparently at the anniversary of their camera model introduction, Leica and later Nikon would engrave the personalized names of those who used and make their marques famous.
i hate u
poop
WTF are you referring to?
Hey, this is a website about actual camera manufacturing.
Why are you so objectionable?