In March 1987, Canon produced the first EF series lens. In November, they followed up with the industry’s first Ultrasonic Motor powered lens – the EF 300mm f/2.8L USM. Then in September 1989 came the EF 50mm f/1.0L USM. Yes, that right, f/1.0.

Now it has reached the incredible milestone of producing over 40 million of these EF lenses. And the rate of production has accelerated wildy in the last ten years due to the digital boom. Canon produced its 10 millionth lens in August 1995, it hit 20 million at the start of 2001, and 30 millionth in January 2006. Now just over 2 years later, they have hit 40 million. At this rate 50 million will be reached before the end of 2009.

It’s hard to image there are 40 million EF lenses around. Even taking into account the various manners of death a lens can encounter, there’d have to be still 35 or so million still around somewhere… Staggering.

Anyway, congratulations Canon! I have supported the cause with 3, soon to be 5 of your EF lenses, and I find them to be quite lovely. Even Canon’s cheapest most plastic lens, the current 50mm f/1.8, is a lovely little lens that takes fabulous portraits. Now Canon has 64 lenses in its EF line, from ultra wide angle through to super-telephoto models, zooms and primes, and even special tilt-shift lenses that distort the image perspective. It’s a real testament to a tuned in company who keeps improving their products in line with and even above customer expectations.