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.
| 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). |
| Viewfinder | Fixed eye-level pentaprism. Laser Matte with cross split prism rangefinder. |
| - Magnification | 0.83x |
| - Coverage | 93% |
| Power | Four 1.5 V size-AAA batteries |
| Size | 141 x 102 x 55 mm |
| Weight | 555 gr |
This is a fun camera that should get a little more love. It is not in the same area code as the T90 in terms of features, but it is solidly built and fairly compact. In many ways it is a considerable jump up from a T50. Certainly, a lower prosumer model. Creative control only so far as choosing one of five shooting modes and no ability to set the aperture or shutter speed. Basically, there is program, shallow depth of field, greater depth of field, movement blur, and movement no blur. The 50mm f1.8 focuses well and fairly fast for an early autofocus model. Cannot handle multiple vertical or horizontal lines but can be manually focused. Also has a Servo function but not good for fast objects moving towards the shooter. I like using it as a snapshot camera for dogs and people. Would you be better off buying a cheaper EOS model and using EF lenses? Absolutely, but for $20 US with the lens, I could not walk away.
The FD-mount Canon T80 can be considered as as Canon's first auto focus 35mm SLR camera. The AF system in the T80 uses a linear CCD array for TTL image contrast detection (Compared with earlier Canon AL-1 with electronic rangefinder). The picture-taking mode can be selected with the pictographs on the external LCD panel. You can select to shot either in One Shot AF, Servo or reverting back to use manual focus (on each of the AC lens, there is a setting for you to alter any of this shooting preference.
Marketed: April 1985
Discontinued: June 1986
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 "L" lenses were available: AC 50mm f/1.8, AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, and AC 75-200mm f/4.5 (these original FD-mount AF lenses are scarce in numbers).
This was (almost) the first Canon with Autofocus. to use the autofocus possibility you would have to use one of the dedicated three autofocus AC lenses that canon designed for this camera (AC 50mm f/1.8, AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, and AC 75-200mm f/4.5 ). the autofocus is slow, but still reliable. It needs contrast though. I took it out one day to take pictures of a snow covered winter landscape, and it had trouble finding its focus. but put in a small tree or bush and its back on track. Also bad lighting was not its cup of tea. I think you hvae to look at it respectively. for 1985 it probably was a revolution, for modern standards, my Canon s45 outruns it by a couple of miles :o)
Of course you can use normal FD lenses on this camera and focus manually.
It is a basic camera, with a few settings with Pictograms in the LCD display to make it “foolproof�? to make pictures.
I tried out the T80 for a while, but the autofocus was something I could miss. compared to the T70 it also lacks a bit more „Manual Influence“ I found. and I went back to using my T70.
The balance of the T80 is a bit better as the T70 though, because it is a bit higher and is easier to hold. also the battery port is a better solution whereas the T70 could have problems with broken of clips at the battery door.
The metering system provided in the T80 is Centerweighted average metering. The T70 has a dual meteringsystem: Centerweighted average or Selective Area metering.
Overall a interesting camera put on the marked by canon to counter the Minolta 7000 autofocus camera at that time. (1985, pre T90 and pre EOS). As a collector of Canon FD gear I like having one to join my T models.
For use as a quick, no setting, no thinking point and shoot camera even with a sometimes slow but okay autofocus a good choice. Finding the dedicated AC lenses could be hard, because there are not so many around. I only have the AC 50mm f/1.8, one because it was on the camera, but hardly used it due to having an FD 50mm f1.4 in the collection ;o)
It might be fun using the AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 and the AC 70-200mm f/4.5 but also having better FD counterparts there, it would only be interesting for the collection.
for people wanting to actively shoot film I can only say that for starting and not making it to complicated, buying a T80 could be fun, but my personal opinion is that the T70 would be a better choice. See my review at theT60, T70 and T90 to compare.