1984 - 1990

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.

The second T-series camera. The camera kit included an FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 lens or an FD 28-55mm f/3.5-4.5. This camera had two different backs : one is classical; the second is a « command back 70 ».

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.

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.

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."