Canon T series
Encyclopedia
Canon
's T series is Canon's final series of manual focus 35 mm
single lens reflex cameras. The first camera, the T50
, was introduced in March 1983 while the final camera, the T60
, was released in April 1990. All have a Canon FD
lens mount
compatible with Canon's extensive range of manual-focus lenses.
The T series attempted to update the SLR concept. In the early 1980s, the SLR market share was declining with the increased popularity of highly automated 35 mm compact cameras; the T series introduced much more automation to the SLR camera, making it almost as easy to use as a point and shoot camera
.
The final model, the Canon T60
, was the odd one out; it was introduced after the FD manual lens mount was already obsolete, and while it carried over a few T-series styling cues, it was a manual camera supporting only aperture priority auto-exposure. In addition, it was not even made by Canon themselves; they subcontracted the manufacture to Cosina
, and the chassis itself was based upon that of the Cosina CT-1
.
Canon Inc.
is a Japanese multinational corporation that specialises in the manufacture of imaging and optical products, including cameras, camcorders, photocopiers, steppers and computer printers. Its headquarters are located in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan.-Origins:...
's T series is Canon's final series of manual focus 35 mm
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
single lens reflex cameras. The first camera, the T50
Canon T50
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...
, was introduced in March 1983 while the final camera, the T60
Canon T60
The Canon T60 was the last manual focus FD-mount 35 mm single-lens reflex camera sold by Canon; it was introduced in 1990, three years after the introduction of Canon's incompatible EOS system of autofocus SLRs and their EF lenses. It was the final camera in Canon's T series.It was introduced...
, was released in April 1990. All have a Canon FD
Canon FD
The Canon FD lens mount is a physical standard for connecting a photographic lens to a single-lens reflex camera body. The standard was developed by Canon of Japan and was introduced in March 1971 with the Canon F-1 camera. It was the primary Canon SLR lens mounting system until 1987 when the...
lens mount
Lens mount
A lens mount is an interface — mechanical and often also electrical — between a photographic camera body and a lens. It is confined to cameras where the body allows interchangeable lenses, most usually the single lens reflex type or any movie camera of 16 mm or higher gauge...
compatible with Canon's extensive range of manual-focus lenses.
The T series attempted to update the SLR concept. In the early 1980s, the SLR market share was declining with the increased popularity of highly automated 35 mm compact cameras; the T series introduced much more automation to the SLR camera, making it almost as easy to use as a point and shoot camera
Point and shoot camera
A point-and-shoot camera, also called a compact camera, is a still camera designed primarily for simple operation. Most use focus free lenses or autofocus for focusing, automatic systems for setting the exposure options, and have flash units built in....
.
The final model, the Canon T60
Canon T60
The Canon T60 was the last manual focus FD-mount 35 mm single-lens reflex camera sold by Canon; it was introduced in 1990, three years after the introduction of Canon's incompatible EOS system of autofocus SLRs and their EF lenses. It was the final camera in Canon's T series.It was introduced...
, was the odd one out; it was introduced after the FD manual lens mount was already obsolete, and while it carried over a few T-series styling cues, it was a manual camera supporting only aperture priority auto-exposure. In addition, it was not even made by Canon themselves; they subcontracted the manufacture to Cosina
Cosina
is a designer and manufacturer of cameras and lenses, and a glassmaker, based in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:Cosina is the successor to Nikō , a company set up as a manufacturer oflenses in 1959...
, and the chassis itself was based upon that of the Cosina CT-1
Cosina CT-1
The Cosina CT-1 is a 35mm film SLR camera from Cosina Co..In addition to being sold in its own right, the CT-1 chassis also forms the basis of several SLR bodies including the Nikon FM10, the Canon T60, the Olympus OM-2000 and others...
.
- T50Canon T50The 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...
(1983) - T70Canon T70The 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...
(1984) - T80Canon T80The Canon T80 is Canon's first autofocus 35mm single-lens reflex camera. It was introduced in April 1985 and discontinued in June 1986 and is part of the T series of FD mount cameras, and is not compatible with Canon's later EOS system and its autofocus EF-mount lenses. Instead, three special...
(1985) - T90Canon T90The Canon T90, introduced in 1986, was the top of the line in Canon's T series of 35 mm Single-lens reflex cameras. It was the last professional-level manual-focus camera from Canon, and the last professional camera to use the Canon FD lens mount...
(1986) - T60Canon T60The Canon T60 was the last manual focus FD-mount 35 mm single-lens reflex camera sold by Canon; it was introduced in 1990, three years after the introduction of Canon's incompatible EOS system of autofocus SLRs and their EF lenses. It was the final camera in Canon's T series.It was introduced...
(1990)