Canon, the company that produces some of the world’s best cameras was started by a gynecologist. Back in 1933, Takeshi Mitarai, a gynecologist worked to develop cameras for medical use.
Mitarai began the Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory for this, but the applications of their first major product extended well beyond the medical field. In 1934, they made Kwanon, Japan’s first 35 millimetre camera.
Years later, they came out with Japan’s first indirect X-ray camera. Though their products were successful in the market, the Second World War hindered their growth. But another war provided an international break-through for Canon. It was during the Korean War that people recognized the quality of the Japanese lenses.
Soon, the company began making huge profits. Its name changed to Canon Camera Company Inc in 1947. Canon continued to grow and in 1959, it became the first company in the world to manufacture an 8-millimetre camera with a built-in zoom lens. The company branched out to manufacture other products including the all-electronic hand-held calculator, electronic typewriter and plain-paper copier.
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