Help! I can't sort out all of these model numbers!

Is there a web page somewhere that lists all of the Canon EOS models by number? I have some confusion reading through a lot of these threads and getting tangled up in D20 and 20D, not to mention the 1D and the ID Mark II and the 1Ds, and the...... Well, you get the picture.


Or do I just need to find each model separately and figure it out from there?

Also, what exactly does "EOS" stand for?

Here you go

dbahn wrote in post #2438472
Is there a web page somewhere that lists all of the Canon EOS models by number? I have some confusion reading through a lot of these threads and getting tangled up in D20 and 20D, not to mention the 1D and the ID Mark II and the 1Ds, and the...... Well, you get the picture.


Or do I just need to find each model separately and figure it out from there?

Also, what exactly does "EOS" stand for?

Here's a timeline that show the order in which the different models came out relative to each other with the models on the right being newer and superceding the ones on the left for the different EOS model lines:

A) 1Ds...1Ds mk II

B) 1D...1D mk II... 1D mk II N

C) 5D

D) D30... D60... 10D... 20D... 30D

E) 300D (DRebel)... 350D (DRebel XT)... 400D (DRebel XTi)

And if you would like more detailed info about the different models, you can take a look here (click on EOS):

http://www.canon.com …mera/digital/f_​index.html

That helps. The Canon page only shows current models, though. I notice much of the discussion here (e.g. the thread about full frame vs 1.6) includes a lot of references to earlier, but similar models, like the D20 for instance, and its comparison to a 20D.

I've got to say, the model nomenclature doesn't seem particularly logical or descriptive to me. Maybe there's some logic in it that I'm missing.

And what about "EOS"?

It seems as though Canon numbered their models with the number of digits, now doesn't it?
1 = Highest
2 = Middle
3 = Entry.

It also looks like they straightened out the D being before the number to avoid confusion with Nikon (gasp) products.

"Electro Optical System"

also named after the Greek Goddess of the Dawn, Eos

dbahn wrote in post #2438552
That helps. The Canon page only shows current models, though. I notice much of the discussion here (e.g. the thread about full frame vs 1.6) includes a lot of references to earlier, but similar models, like the D20 for instance, and its comparison to a 20D.

I've got to say, the model nomenclature doesn't seem particularly logical or descriptive to me. Maybe there's some logic in it that I'm missing.

And what about "EOS"?

There isn't and hasn't been in the past, a 'D20'. Many people transpose the digits and letter since Canon originally had the D30 and D60, using a naming system along the lines of that used everywhere but North America with numbers (using a trailing letter to distinguish variants, but preceding the number with a "D" for Digital), but then changed to "number first" and trailing D, so naming was in line with the 1 series of film cameras. This leads to confusion especially when people are talking about the D30 and the 30D, which are distinctly different models.