2017 is the 30th anniversary of the first EOS camera, the EOS 650. And it’s also the 2nd anniversary of the article I wrote detailing the production life of EOS cameras.
Since then a few things have changed. Or more to the point, some things haven’t changed – which is why the table of the longest production EOS cameras is due for an update. Here it goes!
| Body | Year Introduced | Year Production Ceased | Time | Type |
| EOS 1V | 2000 | 2010 (?) | 10 years | 35mm |
| EOS 3 | 1998 | 2007 | 8.5 years | 35mm |
| EOS 5 | 1992 | 1998 | 6 years | 35mm |
| EOS 50 | 1995 | 2000 | 5 years | 35mm |
| EOS 7D | 2009 | 2014 | 5 years | APS-C |
| EOS 6D | 2012 | 2017 | 4.5 years (so far) | Full Frame |
| EOS 5D Mark III | 2012 | 2016 | 4.5 years | Full Frame |
| EOS 1D X | 2012 | 2016 | 4.25 years | Full Frame |
| EOS 1DC | 2013 | 2017(?) | 4.25 years (so far) | Full Frame |
| EOS 1Ds Mark III | 2007 | 2011 | 4.25 years | Full Frame |
| EOS 100D (SL1) | 2013 | 2017 | 4 years | APS-C |
Note that the 5D Mark III didn’t quite overtake the EOS 7D. We await to see if the EOS 6D Mark II actually comes out before the original EOS 6D reaches its fifth birthday. I’m not quite sure what the status of the EOS 1DC is right now, but I very much doubt that’s going to be produced for much longer, and we know the EOS 100D/SL1 is due for imminent replacement too.
The fact that the EOS 100D/SL1 lasted so long without needing a refresh – the longest lasting entry-level Canon DSLR by a wide margin – is a testament to the fact the camera did everything it needed to do well and filled the specific niche perfectly. We of course all expect the next generation to have a 24mpx sensor, probably being a cut-down version of the EOS 800D/T7i with no flippy screen, slower frame rate and of course the smaller form factor. And it could easily end up lasting another four years in production too.
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