Postman Cometh: I saw this set on ebay. It is Canon's first serious attempt at AF for a SLR with interchangeable lenses. Having tried it this evening, what a joke. Yes, the thing works...

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I saw this set on ebay.
It is Canon's first serious attempt at AF for a SLR with interchangeable lenses.
Having tried it this evening, what a joke.
Yes, the thing works but I could cook a hamburger while it tries to get good focus.
It does have the concept of in lens motor but still tried to keep the slappy levers.
Thank God they scrapped it and went to the super advanced EOS system rather than to try to adapt old technology to the 21st century.

It does work but it is not impressive.

(Download)

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Architect1776 wrote:

I saw this set on ebay. br It is Canon's first ser... (show quote)

The GASman cometh!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyeMFSzPgGc

I'm very glad that I bought a T90! Great electronics and dependable manual focus lenses. It took a while for AF and digital to make the grade. Like twenty years or so....

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

I remember my first film AF Nikon. They should have called it "The Hunter." It was an avid one. Toss some salt over your shoulder & do a few mea culpa's. Sorry it didn't work out better.

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

The T80 was introduced in 1985 and canceled production in 1986. I don't know much about the camera but don't let the T80 be what you judge auto focus dslr's on.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

cedymock wrote:

The T80 was introduced in 1985 and canceled production in 1986. I don't know much about the camera but don't let the T80 be what you judge auto focus dslr's on.

Fair point, but I don't think that we do....

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

cedymock wrote:

The T80 was introduced in 1985 and canceled production in 1986. I don't know much about the camera but don't let the T80 be what you judge auto focus dslr's on.

I bought this cheap, all is like brand new with all original caps.
I was just curious about this unique bit of Canon history.
I have the EOS system and there is still nothing up to what it can do.
The T80 takes all FD, FL and many R Canon lenses as well as the couple of AF lenses they made for it so they were trying to be compatible but realized it just was a poor way to go.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Architect1776 wrote:

I bought this cheap, all is like brand new with all original caps.
I was just curious about this unique bit of Canon history.
I have the EOS system and there is still nothing up to what it can do.
The T80 takes all FD, FL and many R Canon lenses as well as the couple of AF lenses they made for it so they were trying to be compatible but realized it just was a poor way to go.

Yep

leftj Loc: Texas

Architect1776 wrote:

I saw this set on ebay. br It is Canon's first ser... (show quote)

Yeah, I have the Canon EOS 620 film camera and Autofocus works very well on it.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Canon saw the future, and jumped into it with both feet. Some people complained, and switched brands, but Canon gained much more than they lost. Pentax and Nikon eventually ended up at the same place, following the path Canon rejected, but it took them thirty years to get there, while {in the case of Nikon}, leaving a trail of compatibility charts behind them.

It will be interesting to see how MILC plays out.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

rehess wrote:

Canon saw the future, and jumped into it with both feet. Some people complained, and switched brands, but Canon gained much more than they lost. Pentax and Nikon eventually ended up at the same place, following the path Canon rejected, but it took them thirty years to get there, while {in the case of Nikon}, leaving a trail of compatibility charts behind them.

It will be interesting to see how MILC plays out.

All others have copied the Canon system in every detail.
It has just taken decades for them to figure it out.

I believe Canon is slow in mirrorless for the same reason but hopefully not too slow.

But as to the T80 I never used one, was overseas on deployment for the short time it was out and have always wondered about it.
I like having it in my small collection showing Canon SLR developments over the decades, both successes and abject failures (Though those failures provided a lot of data as to what to do and not to do). I will give Canon credit for trying interesting concepts in the past that were at times questionable.
R2000 with the advance on the bottom, neat idea until you put it on a tripod then pretty stupid.
Lots of fun for me.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Architect1776 wrote:

All others have copied the Canon system in every d... (show quote)

It's interesting as a collector item. I simply don't understand people that consider that Canon doesn't innovate. With innovation, both success and failure can result. Canon seems to be getting more of its share of success from a market perspective.

Although the camera below wasn't exactly a market success, it was quite a useful thing, a lens with a camera built into it. I still have one, and I found it to be a very useful 35mm film point and shoot.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Peterff wrote:

It's interesting as a collector item. I simply don't understand people that consider that Canon doesn't innovate. With innovation, both success and failure can result. Canon seems to be getting more of its share of success from a market perspective.

Although the camera below wasn't exactly a market success, it was quite a useful thing, a lens with a camera built into it. I still have one, and I found it to be a very useful 35mm film point and shoot.

Exactly, that is what makes them successful.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

I think comparing that get-up to current models is sorta like comparing a ‘53 Vette to a current model Z06. Diff animals altogether.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Architect1776 wrote:

I saw this set on ebay. br It is Canon's first ser... (show quote)

I didn't realize Canon made an AF variant of the FD mount. Was the motor in the body??

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

rehess wrote:

I didn't realize Canon made an AF variant of the FD mount. Was the motor in the body??

The AF motor was in the lens as they did for the EOS system.
The difference is they tried to keep the flappy aperture lever and mechanical linkage for meter information.
Fortunately they saw the error of their ways and lost the FD mount and went with the infinitely adaptable all electric mount.
Another little known camera Canon continued to make well after the EOS came out was the T60 (FD mount) primarily for foreign markets.
Glad I was able to add more to your knowledge of cameras.
Have a great evening.