36370
I am not sure whether it is on-topic here, but the following question was
asked on English Language and Usage.

[What does the word “Canon” (the digicam brand)
mean?](https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/335309/what-does-the-word-
canon-the-digicam-brand-mean)

I searched the word and its company name キヤノン株式会社 on the internet, but I
couldn't find any useful information. Is the brand キヤノン related with キャメラ?

I believe I've always used カメラ before, but are the two words キャメラ and カメラ
completely interchangeable?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-02T16:19:46.553
36365
2016-07-04T10:05:44.637
2017-04-13T12:38:10.367
-1
12259
question
meaning etymology katakana loanwords nouns
Is the word Canon キヤノン (camera brand) related with キャメラ?
The Canon name brand comes from 観音, Kannon, or in Sanskrit Avalokiteshvara.
The Buddhist bodhisattva "Hears the cries of the world." But there is also a
description of her/him have a thousand hands with an eye on the palm of each
hand observing the world. It's kind of a beautiful image for a camera name
since the camera sees all.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-02T18:39:36.353
36366
2016-07-02T18:39:36.353
4875
36365
answer
Searching for `キヤノン 由来` one quickly finds the relevant [official page for the
origin of the name _Canon_](http://web.canon.jp/corporate/logo.html).

It seems that the company name itself was derived from the English word
"canon":

> Canonの語源には、「正典」「規範」「標準」という意味があります。

It was also a welcome coincidence that the pronunciation of キヤノン was close to
観音＝カンノン (Kannon, Kwannon, Avalokiteśvara):

> また「キヤノン」の発音が「観音＝カンノン」と似ているため、名称の交替は違和感なく行なわれました。

In any case, the meaning of _Canon_ was never meant to be directly related to
カメラ.

* * *

As for the difference between キャメラ and カメラ we should first point out that カメラ
is far more common. E.g. the Balanced Corpus of Contemporary Written Japanese
(BCCWJ) gives

```

    カメラ　 5133 results
    キャメラ   57 results
    
```

For the string `キャメラ` there are a number of false positives from words such as
キャメラマン, キャメラ・オブスキュラ. Looking at the results, it looks like キャメラ, if used at
all, is more likely to be used in the context of filming.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-02T19:15:39.810
36367
2016-07-02T22:30:13.113
2016-07-02T22:30:13.113
1628
1628
36365
answer
The name of 「キヤノン」 was the registered brand name of the first camera model
developed by 精機工学研究所 - Seiki Optical Technique Laboratory, which was later
developed into today’s Canon Inc.

The company was founded by Goro Yoshida and his brother in law in 1933. They
named their first camera they developed as “Kwannon” after one of the most
popular Buddhist character, 観音 - Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva in Sanscrit in the
wish that they can send the highest standard and the best ever camera into the
world, supported with the miracle power of 観音 they believe in.

In the printing material of the early period of Seiki Optical Technique
Laboratory, the picture of 千手観音 - Kannon with a thousand hands (actually 24
hands shown on the statue) of relief was featured above the logo of Kwannon.
They registered 「キヤノン」 and 「Canon」 as their official trademarks in 1935

The Laboratory (精機工学研究所) was reorganized into 精機工学株式会社、and then changed their
name into キヤノン株式会社 in 1969. The growth of the company started with two men
thereafter is just as you see it now.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-02T21:57:19.357
36370
2016-07-04T10:05:44.637
2016-07-04T10:05:44.637
12056
12056
36365
answer