How do I interpret camera model numbers?

[Teralee98]

Can someone please tell me what the numbers on a camera mean? EG: 350D 5D and why they use these numbers? I have been using a camera for a while and thought i would just pick it up...........but i haven't . I feel silly asking and that i should already know the answer to this question!!! Thank you for your help!!!

[McQ]

The numbers are really nothing but marketing terms, and do not necessarily represent any underlying technical value relating to the camera. According to Canon's nomenclature, the number of digits in the model represents the "class" of the camera (entry level, mid range, professional, etc). A 1D is therefore in a higher class than a 40D, which is in turn in a higher class than a 350D. Within a given class, the opposite is true: higher numbers actually represent newer (and more advanced) models within that class. A Canon 350D is therefore an improved iteration on the previous Canon 300D.

[Dave Humphries]

And that's just Canon, although this 'model range' method is quite common, Olympus and arguably Nikon do it too, but other manufacturers may do things differently, or, like Canon, not use numbers at all in some markets (e.g. US), or like Fuji, have different numbers in different continental market places.

[Colin Southern]

Hi Teralee,

Just wondering if this means you're thinking of buying a camera? Anything we can help with?

[Geoff F]

And it gets even more confusing if you include some of the older cameras which had similar letters and numbers. A few years ago Canon were putting the D first and produced a camera which wasn't a great success, I think it was the D30, then more recently introduced the 30D which was (and still is) a good camera.

So when buying a secondhand camera it is necessary to check that you are getting what you expect and not being passed off with a much older version.

[Colin Southern]

A few years ago Canon were putting the D first and produced a camera which wasn't a great success

And to make things worse, a "few" years before that they started life as Kwanon!

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/h...1933_1936.html

[pixel pete]

Colin,
Thanks for posting that link to Canon. Interesting bit of history.

[Colin Southern]

Colin,
Thanks for posting that link to Canon. Interesting bit of history.

LOL - you mean Kwanon?

[Davey]

Learn something new every day. Funny thing is I've just made a Kwanon, not funny thing is it will take me months to get the metal splinters out of my hands hehehe.