Canon Inc.

Who owns Canon Inc.?
Canon Inc. is a publicly traded company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 7751. Ownership is distributed among institutional investors, with no single controlling shareholder. The company does not have a dual-class share structure. Fujio Mitarai has served as CEO since 1995 and is one of the longest-tenured CEOs of a major Japanese corporation.

What is Canon's revenue?
Canon reported FY2025 (ending December 2025) net sales of 4.62 trillion yen (approximately $30 billion), up 2.5 percent year over year. Operating profit was 455.4 billion yen. The company forecasts FY2026 net sales of 4.765 trillion yen and operating profit of 479 billion yen. The Printing Group generated 2.49 trillion yen, making it the largest segment by revenue.

Is Canon still a camera company?
Canon is best known to consumers for its cameras, but cameras are not its largest business. The Printing Group generates more revenue than the Imaging Group. Canon has diversified into medical imaging (through the 2016 Toshiba Medical acquisition), network cameras, semiconductor equipment, and production printing. However, cameras remain Canon's most visible brand asset and a strategic priority for the company.

How many cameras does Canon sell?
Canon sold 2.88 million interchangeable-lens cameras in FY2025 and forecasts 2.95 million units for FY2026. The company also sold approximately 1.31 million interchangeable lenses in FY2025. Canon holds 45.7 percent of the global interchangeable-lens camera market by shipments, according to Nikkei Industry Map 2027 data.

Where are Canon cameras made?
Canon cameras and lenses are manufactured in Japan and Taiwan. The Utsunomiya Plant in Tochigi Prefecture produces high-end L-series lenses. The Oita facility produces camera sensors and components. The Miyazaki plant, opened in 2019, handles automated camera body production. Canon Inc. Taiwan manufactures entry-level and mid-range camera bodies. Canon Opto Malaysia produces selected lens models.

Who is Canon's CEO?
Fujio Mitarai has served as CEO of Canon Inc. since 1995. He is one of the longest-tenured CEOs of a major Japanese corporation. Under Mitarai's leadership, Canon transformed from a camera and printer company into a diversified imaging and industrial technology corporation, acquiring Toshiba Medical Systems in 2016 and expanding into semiconductor equipment and network cameras.

What is the EOS R System?
The EOS R System is Canon's mirrorless camera system, launched in September 2018. It uses the RF lens mount, which has a 54mm diameter and 20mm flange distance. The current lineup includes the flagship EOS R1 ($6,299), the EOS R5 Mark II ($3,999), the EOS R6 Mark III ($2,999), and the entry-level EOS R8 ($1,499), along with APS-C models. Canon offers three EF-to-RF mount adapters that maintain full compatibility with the legacy EF lens catalog.

Canon's origins trace to 1933, when Goro Yoshida and his brother-in-law Saburo Uchida established an optical laboratory in the Takekawaya Building in Tokyo. Their goal was to produce high-quality cameras rivaling German models from Leica and Contax, which dominated the premium camera market at the time. Takeshi Mitarai, a close friend of Uchida and a medical doctor, provided financial sponsorship for the laboratory.

On August 10, 1937, the operation was incorporated as Precision Optical Industry Co., Ltd. with authorized capital of 1 million yen. The company's first camera, the Kwanon, was named after the Buddhist bodhisattva of mercy. The name was later changed to Canon, which means "standard" or "rule" in English, reflecting the founders' ambition to set the standard for camera quality. The company was renamed Canon Camera Co., Ltd. in 1947 and became Canon Inc. in 1969.

Canon's early years were focused on rangefinder cameras that competed directly with Leica. The company began producing its own optics in 1939, reducing dependence on external lens suppliers. After World War II, Canon rebuilt its manufacturing capacity and expanded into international markets, establishing Canon USA in 1955 and Canon Europa in 1957.

The defining moment in Canon's camera history came in 1987 with the launch of the EOS system and the EF lens mount. The EF mount was revolutionary: it used a fully electronic interface with no mechanical linkages between lens and camera, a large 54mm inner diameter, and a 44mm flange distance. The EOS 650, the first EOS camera, introduced autofocus through lens-based motors, a design choice that gave Canon a significant advantage over Nikon, which retained its mechanical F-mount linkage for years.

The EOS system became one of the most successful camera systems in history. Canon's EOS-1 series, launched in 1989, established the company as the preferred brand among professional sports and photojournalism photographers. The EOS 5D, launched in 2005, brought full-frame digital photography to a broader audience at a price point below $3,300. The 5D Mark II, released in 2008, added 1080p video recording and became widely adopted by independent filmmakers, effectively creating the DSLR video movement.

Canon entered the inkjet printer market in 1995 with the Bubble Jet technology and expanded into office multifunction devices through the 1990s and 2000s. The acquisition of Toshiba Medical Systems in 2016 marked Canon's most significant diversification move, adding a medical imaging division that now generates hundreds of billions of yen in annual revenue.

Under Fujio Mitarai, who became CEO in 1995, Canon underwent multiple restructuring phases. Mitarai closed unprofitable divisions, consolidated manufacturing, and shifted the company toward higher-margin businesses. He also drove Canon's expansion into network cameras through the acquisition of Axis Communications in 2015 for approximately $2.8 billion, though Canon ultimately acquired a controlling stake rather than full ownership.

In September 2018, Canon launched the EOS R System with the RF mount, marking the company's transition from DSLR to mirrorless cameras. The RF mount maintained the 54mm diameter of the EF mount but reduced the flange distance to 20mm, enabling new optical designs. Canon has since released over 15 EOS R camera bodies and more than 40 RF lenses, establishing the system as the market leader in interchangeable-lens camera shipments.

In FY2025, Canon reported its second consecutive year of record revenue. The company forecast FY2026 net sales of 4.765 trillion yen and operating profit of 479 billion yen, reflecting expectations of gradual recovery in office equipment demand alongside continued growth in commercial printing and imaging.

Canon has committed to achieving net zero CO2 emissions across its entire product lifecycle (Scope 1 through 3) by 2050. The company targets a 3 percent average annual improvement in lifecycle CO2 emissions per product unit, aiming for a cumulative 50 percent reduction by 2030 compared to 2008 levels. Canon reported a 42 percent reduction target for 2030 in a Quocirca sustainability benchmark.

Canon joined the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) in 2019 to demonstrate supply chain sustainability standards. The company publishes annual sustainability reports aligned with recognized environmental frameworks and has implemented product recycling programs in major markets.

Canon's manufacturing strategy includes reshoring some production to Japan. The Miyazaki plant, opened in 2019, was Canon's first new domestic camera factory in nearly a decade. The company has invested in automated manufacturing to reduce labor costs and energy consumption. Canon aims to become a circular business, designing products with recycled materials and end-of-life recovery in mind.

Canon is not a Certified B Corporation. Its sustainability reporting is primarily self-reported through corporate communications and annual sustainability reports, though some targets are aligned with recognized frameworks including the Science Based Targets initiative.

Canon has received numerous industry awards for its camera and printing products. The Canon EOS R5 received the TIPA World Award for Best Full-Frame Camera Expert in 2021. The EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R1, both launched in July 2024, received extensive coverage from professional photography publications including DPReview, PetaPixel, and Imaging Resource.

Canon's RF lens lineup has been recognized by TIPA and EISA for optical innovation. The RF 28-70mm f/2L USM was notable as the first constant f/2 standard zoom for a mirrorless system. Canon's Cinema EOS professional video cameras have been adopted by major broadcast networks and film production companies.

Canon Medical Systems has received regulatory approvals and industry recognition for its diagnostic imaging innovations, particularly in CT and ultrasound technology.

The EOS R5 overheating controversy in 2020 was one of the most discussed product issues in Canon's recent history. Canon advertised 8K internal video recording as a headline feature, but the camera overheated after approximately 20 minutes of 8K RAW recording. Canon published detailed recording time specifications and issued firmware updates but did not issue a formal recall. The incident influenced how Canon and other manufacturers market video capabilities on stills cameras.

Canon faces ongoing tariff exposure related to U.S. trade policy. In its FY2025 earnings, Canon noted that additional tariff impacts affected results, and the company revised its operating profit guidance downward from 460 billion yen to 451 billion yen partly due to tariff-related costs. Canon's diversified manufacturing footprint across Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia provides some flexibility in managing tariff exposure.

Canon's acquisition of Axis Communications in 2015 faced regulatory scrutiny in certain jurisdictions. Canon ultimately acquired a controlling stake rather than full ownership, reflecting regulatory constraints in the security camera market.

Canon's office equipment business faces long-term structural decline as workplaces reduce printing volumes. The company has acknowledged this trend and is pivoting toward commercial printing and managed services to offset declining office hardware sales.