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Canon T80 (1985)

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Canon’s first autofocus 35mm SLR camera. The AF system uses a linear CCD array for TTL image contrast detection. The picture-taking mode can be selected with the pictographs on the external LCD panel.

For metering and exposure control, TTL multi-program AE and preset aperture AE with centerweighted averaging metering are provided. Lenses for autofocusing with the T80 were called AC lenses. These lenses had the FD mount and signal transmission capability. Three such lenses were available: AC 50mm f/1.8, AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, and AC 75-200mm f/4.5.


Name: Canon T80
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°: 233023
Production Date:  
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter AF SLR camera with built-in winder and multi-mode AE
Series: T Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, others
Lens Mount: FD mount (with AC signal transmission capability)
Focus: CD for TTL focus detection with dedicated AC lenses. One Shot AF and continuous AF modes provided. AF locks during continuous shooting. AF detection range at ISO 100 and f/1.8: EV 4 – 18.
Shutter: Vertical-travel, focal-plane electronic shutter. With multi-program AE and preset aperture AE: 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. For manual: B and 1/60 sec. X-sync at 1/90 sec. (hot shoe). Built-in electronic self-timer (with beeper and LCD to indicate countdown).
Dimensions & Weight: 141 x 102 x 55 mm, 555 g
Production Period: April 1985 - 
N° Produced:  
Original Price: 128,000 yen (w/AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5)
Indexed Price (Approx.): 1.260 EUR
Avg Ebay Value:  
Source: Canon Camera Museum, flynngraphics.ca, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com
Manual: PDF icon T80.pdf

Canon T90 (1986)

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Developed as the top-of-the-line T-series camera, the T90 is a multi-mode SLR with built-in motor drive. The form of the pentaprism hump is a distinct characteristic. Instead of being sharp-edged like on previous cameras, it is rounded with smooth curves. The camera was designed to lessen the picture-taking burden on the user via automation. It aimed for seamless operation to respond to the user’s will. A lot of top-notch technology and thought went into the camera.

The camera has three metering systems to suit diverse shooting conditions. Eight autoexposure modes and two manual exposure modes also make the camera highly versatile. Drive operations are divided among three small coreless motors to consume less power. With four size-AA batteries, the built-in motor drive can shoot at a maximum of 4.5 fps. It was truly a top-of-the-line camera. In Japan, the camera’s nickname was “Tank.”


Name: Canon T90
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°: 1065922
Production Date: F A0504 
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera with built-in motor drive and multi-mode AE
Series: T Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: FD 50mm f/1.4
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Vertical-travel, focal-plane electronic shutter. With multi-program AE and preset aperture AE: B, 30, 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.7, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/15, 1/20, 1/30, 1/45, 1/60, 1/90, 1/125, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000 sec. X-sync at 1/250 sec. Second-curtain synchronization enabled. Built-in electronic self-timer (with blinking LCD). Shutter speeds settable in whole-or half-stop increments.
Dimensions & Weight: 153 x 121 x 69 mm, 800 g
Production Period: Feb 1986 - 
N° Produced:  
Original Price: 180,000 yen (w/FD 50mm f/1.4)
Indexed Price (Approx.): 1.750 EUR
Avg Ebay Value:  
Manual: PDF icon T90.pdf

Canon T70 (1984)

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The Canon T70 was a 35mm FD-mount single-lens reflex camera introduced in April 1984 as the second in Canon's T series. The T70 started with the concepts explored in 1983's T50, took them further, and applied them to a more sophisticated camera. While the Program AE-only T50 was intended as a beginner's camera, the T70 gave the photographer a lot more control over the camera's operation while keeping the T-series philosophy of simplicity in control and operation intact.

The large LCD panel and key-touch buttons had a major impact on 35mm SLR cameras that followed. The T70 features shutter speed-priority TTL AE, TTL multi-program AE, and preset aperture AE. The dual metering system gives a choice of centerweighted averaging metering and partial metering at the center. In 1984, the camera won the Good Design Award (from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry) and the European Camera of the Year Award.

When it was introduced, the Canon T70 was considered technologically advanced compared to other SLR cameras. Reviewing the camera in Popular Science, Everett Ortner said that the T70 "could be...too good for amateurs. It is certainly far removed from those other technological wonders designed for amateurs". He praised the high degree of control, coupled with automation, that the T70 allows photographers to use, reducing "the role of the camera from that of master to servant.

The battery tester is excellent! You might want to keep a T70 around just for testing pairs of AA batteries. Just press the BC button with the power on. You'll see four different levels on the top LCD. Two or three bars is fine. One blinking bar, or no bar, means change the batteries. Even with no bar, the T70 may still shoot. There are thus four battery levels displayed, more than most modern DSLRs.


Name: Canon T70
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°: 1779665
Production Date: Apr 1984
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera with built-in winder and multi-mode AE
Series: T Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Vertical-travel, focal-plane electronic shutter. With multi-program AE: 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. With shutter speed-priority AE or preset aperture AE: 2 sec. to 1/1000 sec. For manual: B. X-sync at 1/90 sec. (hot shoe). Built-in electronic self-timer (with beeper).
Dimensions & Weight: 151 x 89 x 48 mm, 580 g
Production Period: April 1984-1987
N° Produced:  
Original Price: 104,000 yen (w/FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5)
Indexed Price (Approx.): 1.050 EUR
Avg Ebay Value: 70 EUR
Manual: PDF icon T70.pdf

Canon T50 (1983)

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In the early 1980s, the SLR still dominated. Metering systems diversified as camera makers competed fiercely to offer the better camera. The confusion may have turned off users as more people began to avoid SLRs.

In 1981, 35mm SLR production peaked at 7.67 million units. Two years later, this amount shrank by more than 30 percent to 5.37 million units.

Amid such market conditions, the Canon T50 was introduced as a wave-of-the-future 35mm SLR camera. It was the first T-series camera. The camera was designed to respond to the user automatically. It was easy to use and anybody could take pictures with it. It had a power winder (which was well received on the Autoboy) and TTL program AE. In 1983, the T50 won the Good Design Award from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

There is the limited model as T5 in only USA.

The Canon T50, introduced in March 1983 and discontinued in December 1989, was the first in Canon's new T series of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras compatible with Canon's FD lens mount. SLR sales were falling in 1983 from the market's 1981 peak, and Canon chose to try greater automation to revive sales and remain competitive. This approach had found favor in compact cameras such as the AF35M "Autoboy" (Japan) or "Sure Shot" (US). The T50 had a power winder built in giving a continuous shooting rate of 1.4 frames per second, as well as an advanced auto-exposure mode, although it was still a manual focus camera. Unlike those compact cameras and the higher-end models in the T series, the T50 did not have power rewind, relying on a manual crank. The camera's electric systems were powered by two AA batteries in the grip, which gave enough power to shoot 75 24-exposure rolls, or 50 36-exposure rolls.

The T50 used a new shutter design. Canon's previous A series cameras used a horizontally travelling cloth shutter, while the T50 (and subsequent T series models) used a vertically travelling metal blade shutter which allowed for faster shutter speeds and higher flash X-sync speeds. Only a modest increase was seen in the T50; more would be available in subsequent cameras.

Only Program AE (Auto Exposure) mode was available on the T50, in line with its role as a simple beginner's camera. A couple of years earlier, Konica had tried a similar approach with their FP-1.

Canon released a new flash unit for the T50, the Speedlite 244T. This simple-to-use flash used an infrared preflash to judge the distance to the subject, and only had two buttons; a power switch and a film speed setting which toggled between 100 and 400 ISO film speed.


Name: Canon T50
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°: 2251139
Production Date: Jul 1986
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera with built-in winder and program AE
Series: T Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Vertical-travel, focal-plane electronic shutter. With program AE: 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. Manual at 1/60 sec. X-sync at 1/60 sec. (hot shoe). Built-in electronic self-timer (with beeper).
Dimensions & Weight: 150 x 87 x 48 mm, 490 g
Production Period: March 1983-1989
N° Produced:  
Original Price: 80,000 yen (w/FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5)
Indexed Price (Approx.): 820 EUR
Avg Ebay Value: 50-100 EUR
Source: Canon Camera Museum, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com