Canon is a company that sells cameras. The first product that they created was called ‘Kwanon‘. The Kwanon was Japan’s first 35mm focal plane shutter camera and the first lens named ìKasyapaî. The Camera was first seen in the June 1934 issue of Asahi Camera, which even today remains one of Japan’s top photography magazines. Due to Japan’s high technology the Kwanon was just another example of the nation’s technology prowess. Between 1930’s and the 40’s Japan’s camera companies were outclassed by technologically by Germany’s world-leading precision instruments. Japanese manufacturers were beginning to learn how to imitate cameras like the Leica and Contax, which are both German camera. Japanese products still remained relatively primitive after these two cameras. The big differences is that both leica and contax was extremely expensive, so Canon was able to make inexpensive, high-quality cameras that would equal the best in the world.
To help achieve their goal, Canon had first established a research laboratory to engineer the camera. Even using the technology that was available, it was still extremely difficult to imitate the quality of the Leica and Contax. Intensive efforts using the German cameras as models helped Canon researchers accumulate valuable ideas that led to the Kwanon as the nation’s first 35mm focal plane camera, equipped with a range finder. Back in 1934, Canon researchers seemed to see religious significance in their achievement.Which lead the name ‘Kwanon’ refers to Canon. the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. And the Kasyapa lens is named after Mahakashapa, a disciple of Buddha and the guru of a religious section.
Cannon late on change its logo from the Buddhist Goddess to something more simpler. They changed the logo to only letters, Kwanon. The kwanon was only in printed on the camera, but it was never released as the company’s Logo.Instead, the company had used the thin pencil type text as its logo in 1934.In 1953, Canon had change their logo to a more thicker text to add more of a balance onto the font.By 1956, Canon had changed their logo one more time.The company had made the logo much thicker and added sharper points to the corners of the letters.This became Canon’s logo from there on.
