I have several T90 cameras and quite a collection of early EOS cameras. They’re all excellent cameras but, my favourite FD camera is the A-1. Many years ago I was a camera service technician.
Thanks for your comment. I've never used an A-1 (but I own an AT-1) and know a couple of people that love them. They were only available in black which was a bold choice at the time. In many ways their selection dials for aperture and shutter were precursors to the T90 and EOS film cameras that followed.
Outstanding video. I've grown around the 630 after I migrated from the Minolta X-700. To this day i am fascinated at the incredible industrial design of the first EOS range of cameras. Especially the undercut. Nearly 40 years on and this camera can give lessons in form and function. Thanks for taking the time and sharing.
Interchangeable focusing screens were also available for the T90. There were 8 different focusing screens available. I seldom hear that customization mentioned. The other option was the power back that could imprint time, date, frame number and other information on the film frame. It could also be used for interval shooting. All things I rarely remember hearing about in reviews. I loved my T90 and excellent lens kit: 17mm-35mm Sigma, 35mm-210mm Sigma, and Canon FD 55mm 1.2 lens with a Canon A1 second body. Recorded years of travels around Asia. I was never unable to find those AA batteries even in the deap heart of Asia. The data power back had its own battery. All lost in the Camp Fire that burned 19,000 structures in my hometown of Paradise late in 2018. I did add a pocket camera, the Olympus XA-2 twin rangefinder with Aperture priority. I caught many excellent photos with this camera when I was not hauling my slr around.
You make an excellent point. One of the innovations (if it can be called that) that Canon made with the T90 was it NOT having interchangeable prism viewfinders, unlike the F1 models that preceded it and unlike the pro-bodies from Nikon and Pentax. The top Olympus bodies had fixed prisms, but it's arguable whether they were really considered to be in the same pro league: I say that having owned an OM1, OM2 and OM4 back in the day.
The T90 is a great camera with a solid, competent feel. The grip feels good in the hand. I just need to watch it's not set to fast continuous winding mode, otherwise I can rattle off a couple of exposure when I only meant to take one. 🤡
I had one of those Cosina-made T60s. I chuckled when I put it into manual mode and saw that it actually had the set shutter speed and suggested shutter speed both visible, something I had wanted in the automatic FDs for so long. (I'm speaking about open aperture metering here, not stopped down.) I currently shoot FTb, AT-1, T-90, AL-1. I actually like the AT-1 the best, and that camera is almost off the radar with people. Nice and light like the AE-1 (it's almost identical), and the match needle system will always be faster for me than fussing with exposure compensation dials.
> I chuckled when I put it into manual mode and saw that it actually had the set shutter speed and suggested shutter speed both visible... The Canon T60, Nikon (FM10), Olympus (OM2000), Konica (TC-X) and Yashica (FX-3) were all made by Cosina and based on the Cosina CT-1.
@@VonBromPhoto Yes. Also Carena CX-300, Chinon CM-7, Nikon FE10, Petri GX-1, Petri GX-2, Revue AC2, Revue SC3, Ricoh KR-5 SUPER II. I've heard that the FX-3 was not based on the CT-1.
It's interesting that time hasn't treated the cameras equally well. The T90 can be considered the BEST FD-mount body, while the 650 can be considered the WORST film EOS body, despite the 650 being arguably better in every way. I guess it's because one you have autofocus you expect it to be better than what the 650 delivered at the time (despite it being best-in-class at the time).
Hey @Vaughan Bromfield, Nice video, though, I think you're mistaken in regards to the pre EOS cameras not having automatic aperture or not showing the apperture values on the viewfinder. Even though I didn't have experience with the T90 in particular, I had an A1 for many years which was much older than the T90 and it had it already (both Automatic aperture and displaying it on the viewfinder), but the lens needed to support it, as some older FD lenses don't have the Automatic setting. I have some recollection though, that the A1 was cumbersome in that respect when you'd be in full manual mode. If I recall well, there wasn't a needle of sorts, or a +- indicator to tell you if you'd have the exposure set correctly (I can't recall it anymore). By I have clear recollection of being able to see in the viewfinder both the speed and aperture. Granted .. that was the A1, but I doubt the T90, being much more advanced, wouldn't have the same indication on the viewfinder.
The A1 was an amazing camera, and was probably the basis of the electronics that went into the T90 and EOS film cameras. The T90 is IMHO a tragic camera for a couple of reasons. The ambitions of its electronics and ergonomic design were severely limited by the FD mount, and Canon’s continued preference for shutter priority was a mistake because the market clearly preferred aperture priority. Multi-spot metering turned out to be a technological dead end, as Olympus also discovered, because Nikons evaluative/matrix metering proved to be better and easier to use. The T90 was also obsolete even before it was released because the EOS development program had been underway in secret while the T90 was being developed. The T90 got several really important things right. One was the front control dial that could electronically adjust shutter or aperture. Another was the inclusion of motorised automated film loading, advance and rewind, its 5fps was equal to anything from Nikon. Finally, Canon took the bold design choice to give the T90 a fixed finder (which lowers weight and improves rigidity and weather sealing) with focussing screens that could be changed through the lens mount, because that’s all that most people actually needed.
@@VonBromPhoto Yeah. I have the 1V. I didn't have it back in the day. But a few years ago I wanted to dabble in film again and found a 1V in mint condition for only a few hundred bucks. I don't use it all too often, but every now and then it's fun to put some B&W rolls though it.
@@VonBromPhoto I was in the military in Germany when I got the 650 and 620, purchased at the PX. After buying the 650 and then seeing what they were selling for on the German economy, I realized I could make a profit. I sold the 650 for $75 more than I paid for it, and bought the 620.
Yes, Canon made some lovely FD lenses. Many of the best, particularly the zooms, were made into EF lenses with only minor changes to the optics. One of the reasons many older lenses are better is that the EU banned the use of lead in optical glass in the 1990s, so all the designs needed to be recalculated using different glass. The leaded glass was difficult to replace and some say the lenses have never been the same...
Though I still enjoy shooting on film, I wouldn't get a body that relies on FD glass, simply for financial and practical reasons. Since my EF glass works on my film body, dslr bodies, and mirroless (with adapter.
@@RhettAnderson some of the late 80's lenses are quite good and full of character. The 50 1.8 wasn't changed for ages. The 50 1.4 was apparently the same optics as the FD, so I heard. Sometimes I like putting the 1987 50 1.8 on my DSLR and sometimes I like an ultra sharp 24-105 f4 L on my film camera for landscapes or such.
Two things on the ‘T90 fails’. No great shakes to use stop down metered manual for DoF preview, manual metering older cameras like the AE-1 were a pain yes but the T90 in manual you can use the spot metering scale on the right side of the viewfinder effectively as an old style manual metering centred needle a bit like my OM-1
Absolutely. I bought a broken/parts T90 just for the battery tray, which was in good condition. I put the try onto another T90 I bought that was cheap because it didn't have a battery tray...
I have several T90 cameras and quite a collection of early EOS cameras. They’re all excellent cameras but, my favourite FD camera is the A-1. Many years ago I was a camera service technician.
Thanks for your comment. I've never used an A-1 (but I own an AT-1) and know a couple of people that love them. They were only available in black which was a bold choice at the time. In many ways their selection dials for aperture and shutter were precursors to the T90 and EOS film cameras that followed.
Outstanding video. I've grown around the 630 after I migrated from the Minolta X-700. To this day i am fascinated at the incredible industrial design of the first EOS range of cameras. Especially the undercut. Nearly 40 years on and this camera can give lessons in form and function. Thanks for taking the time and sharing.
Thanks for your comments.
Wow ! Loved this video!
Glad you liked it!!
Interchangeable focusing screens were also available for the T90. There were 8 different focusing screens available. I seldom hear that customization mentioned. The other option was the power back that could imprint time, date, frame number and other information on the film frame. It could also be used for interval shooting. All things I rarely remember hearing about in reviews. I loved my T90 and excellent lens kit: 17mm-35mm Sigma, 35mm-210mm Sigma, and Canon FD 55mm 1.2 lens with a Canon A1 second body. Recorded years of travels around Asia. I was never unable to find those AA batteries even in the deap heart of Asia. The data power back had its own battery.
All lost in the Camp Fire that burned 19,000 structures in my hometown of Paradise late in 2018.
I did add a pocket camera, the Olympus XA-2 twin rangefinder with Aperture priority. I caught many excellent photos with this camera when I was not hauling my slr around.
You make an excellent point. One of the innovations (if it can be called that) that Canon made with the T90 was it NOT having interchangeable prism viewfinders, unlike the F1 models that preceded it and unlike the pro-bodies from Nikon and Pentax. The top Olympus bodies had fixed prisms, but it's arguable whether they were really considered to be in the same pro league: I say that having owned an OM1, OM2 and OM4 back in the day.
I still shoot with my T90 to this day
The T90 is a great camera with a solid, competent feel. The grip feels good in the hand. I just need to watch it's not set to fast continuous winding mode, otherwise I can rattle off a couple of exposure when I only meant to take one. 🤡
that foam hack just blew my mind 😮
Thanks! The fix is trivial it’s a wonder Canon didn’t add a piece themselves.
I had one of those Cosina-made T60s. I chuckled when I put it into manual mode and saw that it actually had the set shutter speed and suggested shutter speed both visible, something I had wanted in the automatic FDs for so long. (I'm speaking about open aperture metering here, not stopped down.)
I currently shoot FTb, AT-1, T-90, AL-1. I actually like the AT-1 the best, and that camera is almost off the radar with people. Nice and light like the AE-1 (it's almost identical), and the match needle system will always be faster for me than fussing with exposure compensation dials.
> I chuckled when I put it into manual mode and saw that it actually had the set shutter speed and suggested shutter speed both visible...
The Canon T60, Nikon (FM10), Olympus (OM2000), Konica (TC-X) and Yashica (FX-3) were all made by Cosina and based on the Cosina CT-1.
@@VonBromPhoto Yes. Also Carena CX-300, Chinon CM-7, Nikon FE10, Petri GX-1, Petri GX-2, Revue AC2, Revue SC3, Ricoh KR-5 SUPER II. I've heard that the FX-3 was not based on the CT-1.
Great review.Thanks for sharing👍🏻
It's interesting that time hasn't treated the cameras equally well. The T90 can be considered the BEST FD-mount body, while the 650 can be considered the WORST film EOS body, despite the 650 being arguably better in every way. I guess it's because one you have autofocus you expect it to be better than what the 650 delivered at the time (despite it being best-in-class at the time).
Very detailed information again, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Hey @Vaughan Bromfield,
Nice video, though, I think you're mistaken in regards to the pre EOS cameras not having automatic aperture or not showing the apperture values on the viewfinder.
Even though I didn't have experience with the T90 in particular, I had an A1 for many years which was much older than the T90 and it had it already (both Automatic aperture and displaying it on the viewfinder), but the lens needed to support it, as some older FD lenses don't have the Automatic setting.
I have some recollection though, that the A1 was cumbersome in that respect when you'd be in full manual mode. If I recall well, there wasn't a needle of sorts, or a +- indicator to tell you if you'd have the exposure set correctly (I can't recall it anymore).
By I have clear recollection of being able to see in the viewfinder both the speed and aperture.
Granted .. that was the A1, but I doubt the T90, being much more advanced, wouldn't have the same indication on the viewfinder.
The A1 was an amazing camera, and was probably the basis of the electronics that went into the T90 and EOS film cameras.
The T90 is IMHO a tragic camera for a couple of reasons. The ambitions of its electronics and ergonomic design were severely limited by the FD mount, and Canon’s continued preference for shutter priority was a mistake because the market clearly preferred aperture priority. Multi-spot metering turned out to be a technological dead end, as Olympus also discovered, because Nikons evaluative/matrix metering proved to be better and easier to use. The T90 was also obsolete even before it was released because the EOS development program had been underway in secret while the T90 was being developed.
The T90 got several really important things right. One was the front control dial that could electronically adjust shutter or aperture. Another was the inclusion of motorised automated film loading, advance and rewind, its 5fps was equal to anything from Nikon. Finally, Canon took the bold design choice to give the T90 a fixed finder (which lowers weight and improves rigidity and weather sealing) with focussing screens that could be changed through the lens mount, because that’s all that most people actually needed.
In bygone days I had the 650 and then the 620; never owned the T90. Loved the 620 and must have put hundreds of rolls through it.
Back in the day I couldn’t afford an EOS film camera! These days all but the EOS 1v are reasonably cheap.
@@VonBromPhoto Yeah. I have the 1V. I didn't have it back in the day. But a few years ago I wanted to dabble in film again and found a 1V in mint condition for only a few hundred bucks. I don't use it all too often, but every now and then it's fun to put some B&W rolls though it.
@@VonBromPhoto I was in the military in Germany when I got the 650 and 620, purchased at the PX. After buying the 650 and then seeing what they were selling for on the German economy, I realized I could make a profit. I sold the 650 for $75 more than I paid for it, and bought the 620.
Indeed the 1V are very expensive. An amazing device.
Brilliant!
This was one cool video and I loved it!
I got 2 t90's and an eos1n i like the ease of use of the eos system but i prefer the rendition of the fd glass
Yes, Canon made some lovely FD lenses. Many of the best, particularly the zooms, were made into EF lenses with only minor changes to the optics.
One of the reasons many older lenses are better is that the EU banned the use of lead in optical glass in the 1990s, so all the designs needed to be recalculated using different glass. The leaded glass was difficult to replace and some say the lenses have never been the same...
Though I still enjoy shooting on film, I wouldn't get a body that relies on FD glass, simply for financial and practical reasons. Since my EF glass works on my film body, dslr bodies, and mirroless (with adapter.
I m a big fan of being able to use EF lenses for both EOS film and digital cameras, with full compatibility between old and new.
@@michaeltuffin8147 I use my FD lenses mostly on Sony and Canon mirrorless cameras, now. I like the feel of the FDs a lot more than the EFs.
@@RhettAnderson some of the late 80's lenses are quite good and full of character. The 50 1.8 wasn't changed for ages. The 50 1.4 was apparently the same optics as the FD, so I heard. Sometimes I like putting the 1987 50 1.8 on my DSLR and sometimes I like an ultra sharp 24-105 f4 L on my film camera for landscapes or such.
Two things on the ‘T90 fails’. No great shakes to use stop down metered manual for DoF preview, manual metering older cameras like the AE-1 were a pain yes but the T90 in manual you can use the spot metering scale on the right side of the viewfinder effectively as an old style manual metering centred needle a bit like my OM-1
Yeah, that works great.
really apreciate it
The T90 was a great camera apart from the battery tray clip which broke too easily.
Absolutely. I bought a broken/parts T90 just for the battery tray, which was in good condition. I put the try onto another T90 I bought that was cheap because it didn't have a battery tray...
Oh, I haven't had that happen. I'll have to be careful with that. I'm nervous that T-90s are getting old enough to break down now.