Canon is set to invest $451 million in a new factory in Japan, which will double the production of its image sensors.

The development will facilitate the incorporation of more CMOS sensors in to its compact range, with an estimated 3 million more set to be produced. Previously, the company?s compact range has used CCD sensors, with CMOS alternatives employed in their range of DSLRs and video cameras.

As the world?s largest digital camera manufacturer, Canon has enjoyed continued success with their compact and DSLR ranges. Canon?s EOS 400D model was launched last year as the successor to the EOS 350D model, widely reported as being the best-selling digital camera of all time.