The Canon T60 is a manual camera with built in light meter that can be used in manual mode or automatically in an AV or aperture priority mode.
The Canon T60
Going Forward in Reverse
With hindsight I think that Canon’s “T” Series of cameras was largely experimental and a preparation for the coming EOS 650. When introduced in March of 1983 the T50 was a fully automatic camera. It was basically a point and shoot camera with an FD lens mount. Then a year later there was the T70 which was automatic but had more exposure options and it could be operated in manual mode. In April of 1985 Canon released the T80 which offered automatic focusing and three auto focus lenses. And then in February of 1986 the T90 was introduced and that
camera took auto exposure to a whole new level. And the rounded contours and layout of the controls spoke strongly of the EOS cameras right around the corner.
All of the “T” Series can be seen as pointing to the EOS 650, the first of the EOS cameras, which was released in March of 1987. But wait ….. where is the T60? Well, we have not got to it yet. There was the EOS 620 in 1987, the EOS 750 and 850 in 1988, the EOS 630 in 1989 along with the EOS-1, EOS-1 HS, EOS RT. Canon appeared to be finished with the FD lens mount and there was still no T60.
The controls on the T60 are simple and intuitive for anyone familiar with SLR’s from the 1970’s. The button on the left side of the lens (in the image) engages the self timer when pushed. It begins to flash as it counts down.
The back of the T60 is plain with no controls. The window on the left side of the back (in the image) allows the user to see if there is film in the camera without having to open the back and possibly ruin a good film.
However ….. Canon’s marketing people felt that there was a segment of the camera market that presented an opportunity. EOS cameras were pricey and complicated for a novice photographer and they felt there was nothing available for the entry level shooter who wanted a little more than a simple point and shoot, one that could mount quality lenses, but did not cost very much. And so in April of 1990 Canon introduced a lightweight inexpensive SLR for the export market, the Canon T60. This camera was not sold in the home market.
They may have introduced it, but they did not make it. In fact the T60 was the only camera that Canon offered for sale that they did not make in their own factories, at least as far as I know.
The T60 was manufactured by Cosina Co., Ltd. (Kabushiki-gaisha Koshina) in Japan based on their Model CT-1 which was the basis for several other manufacturers cameras such as the Carena CX-300, Chinon CM-7, Olympus OM-2000, Nikon FE10 and FM10, Petri GX-1 and GX-2, and the Ricoh KR-5.
The Newsletter
Yes, we have a Newsetter that we send out every …. whenever we have something to say. We won’t try to sell you stuff, we won’t give your e-mail to anyone else, and we won’t clutter your mailbox. The best part is that you can cancel at any time.
All of the T60’s controls are on the top deck. Starting from the left (in the image) we have the rewind crank and film speed dial, then the hot shoe, the shutter speed dial, shutter button and film advance thumb lever.
On the front of the camera on the left side of the lens there is nothing to note. The design is simple and easy to understand.
On the bottom is the rewind release button, tripod socket and battery holder. Treat the battery holder gently as the plastic is soft and the coin slot for opening it and the threads are easily damaged.
First Impressions
Looking at the T50 and the T60 side by side they look, at first glance, alike. Both are dressed in black plastic, about the same size, the T60 maybe a bit smaller, both with an FD lens mount, and plastics are used everywhere which is unlike the “F” and “A” Series cameras. However, on closer inspection the differences become apparent.
Firstly, the T60 finish looks different. The color is similar to other “T” Series cameras but the finish feels less solid. It seems to have more shine and the corners are more rounded resulting in a “different” appearance. The Canon logo on the front is not in the usual gold color of the other “T” Series cameras but in a stark white. It does not look like a “T” Series camera.
Because it was designed for the beginner and was to be sold at a low price this is a very basic camera. Other than for the light meter it is totally manual. There is a film advance thumb lever and a manual rewind crank. On the
top deck there is a traditional shutter speed dial next to the shutter button, which has a threaded cable release socket in the middle, and under the rewind crank is a large dial to set the film speed.
Overall, the T60 is a simple straight forward SLR right out of the 1970’s.
Camera Characteristics
This is an entry level camera in the traditional SLR style. It is reminiscent of the FT or TX cameras of two decades earlier. All of its functions, except for the light meter, are manual. Film is advanced by a thumb lever, it is rewound with a foldaway crank, and shutter speed is set on a shutter speed dial on the top deck.
Film speeds from ISO 25 to 1600 are set on a large wheel under the rewind crank. The other T Series cameras have simplified film loading but not the T60. The film leader must be tucked into an old style take-up spool like those found on the FX and FP. Definitely low tech.
The shutter is multi section metal blades which travel vertically. It is electronically controlled and so will not fire without the batteries installed. Speeds are from 1 second to 1/1000 plus B. The shutter dial also has an L setting to turn the camera off to conserve the batteries and an A setting for automatic functioning. More about that below.
On the right side of the front of the camera is a round button inside a raised ring. Press this to engage the self timer. Once pressed the button begins to flash and at about eight seconds it flashes more rapidly and releases the shutter at about ten seconds.
Unlike the other cameras in the “T” Series the T60 comes without an eyecup although it has the same plastic frame around the eyepiece. The Eyecup T found on the T50, T70 and T80 will fit the T60 and it looks like it belongs but you will seldom see one with this eyecup. If you do someone added it as an afterthought.
Because there are no powered functions the batteries only have to deal with the light meter which means that button cells are adequate. The camera takes two LR44 alkaline button cells or two SR44 silver cells on a cup that screws into the bottom camera.
The inside of the camera is all plastic. Gone ore the shiny silver rails for the film to slide over on crossing the image capture area as in the “F” and “T” Series cameras. The blades of the vertically travelling shutter are visible in this picture.
The T60 was issued without an eyecup but the Eyecup T of the other “T” Series cameras, the T50, T70 and T80, will fit and looks like it belongs on this camera.
The T60 Viewfinder and Auto Exposure System
The image in the viewfinder is large and very simple. In the center is a circular microprism focusing area with split image prisms in the center. The rest of the screen is what Canon calls a laser matte finish.
The T60 has two exposure modes. The camera can be used in fully manual mode with the user setting both aperture and shutter speed by hand. The light meter, which is only activated when the shutter button is pressed half way, indicates the correct shutter speed for the chosen aperture. The User Instructions warn that you not use the green “A” or “o” setting on the lens aperture ring as that will result in the lens defaulting to the minimum aperture for the lens.
Down the left side of the viewfinder are the shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 plus labels such as “Auto”, “M” and “Over”. Beside these are an array of red LED’s, one for each speed and label. It is these LED’s that indicate the correct shutter speed, whether the camera is set to Manual or Automatic, and other aspects of the camera operation. For a complete explanation see the User Instructions below.
A neat feature appears when the camera is set to Manual operation. The correct shutter speed for the selected aperture is indicated by a steady LED. However, if the shutter speed is set to an incorrect setting it too is displayed but by a flashing LED. Adjusting either the shutter speed or aperture setting will bring these two together and when only one steady LED is illuminated exposure will be correct. It is really clever and is more fully explained in the Instruction Manual.
In Automatic mode the camera operates in what we would now call Av mode: you set the aperture and the camera will automatically set the shutter speed. The red LED’s will indicate that the camera is in Auto mode and what shutter speed will be used.
Accessories for the T60
The User Instructions list few accessories for the T60. There were two camera cases, the Case S for use with the FD50mm f/1.8 lens and the Case L for the FD35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 lens.
The only other accessory mentioned is a series of Dioptric Adjustment Lenses which slide over the eyepiece frame. Since this frame is the same as on the “F” and “A” Series cameras the dioptric lenses from those cameras will work on the “T Series including the T60 as well.
But that is not the whole story. Because this camera has an FD lens mount it will accept all of the FD and FDn lenses and even the FL lenses. Canomatic lenses extend back into the mirror box too far and these should not be used on the T60.
There are many accessories that attach to the camera via the FD lens mount such as the Auto Bellows. In fact, any of the bellows units for the earlier cameras will work. So
Refer to the Instruction Manual for the T60 for complete instructions on how to operate this camra.
will microscope adapters and copy stands made for earlier series cameras. In fact, by careful testing there are many accessories to be found in the older catalogues for cameras all the way back to the Canonflex of 1959.
Just remember, when mixing and matching, fit things together carefully and do not force anything. And keep your fingers off the glass!
The Case S is a good looking cover for storing the camera. However I do not like the fact that the camera does not screw into the case by the tripod socket. It is secured (?) on the camera strap which I feel is a poor design.
The T60 cases are marked clearly on the bottom flap of the case top. I never use the top of the case except when the camera is stored, without the batteries, for long periods of time. Out shooting, I keep jus the bottom of the case on the camera.
Using the T60
This is an easy camera to use. It is very intuitive and a few minutes with the User Instructions is all that is required. Considering the market segment it was intended for the T60 has to be considered a successful camera. It is not as complex as other “T” Series cameras but as a simple manual film camera with built in light meter it is excellent.
The T60 is not designed to work with any particular flash unit. It has a hot shoe on the prism housing and it will accept any general purpose flash. Shutter speed should be set to 1/60 and then the aperture determined by the instructions for the flash unit.
A few words of caution are necessary. The plastic the camera is made of appears to be more brittle and thinner than found on other Canon cameras and can be damaged more easily. Care should be taken to protect this camera from being dropped or knocked about.
Secondly, the plastic in the battery cup is soft and the slot in the bottom for screwing it into the body is easily damaged. Not only that, the threads on the cup and in the body itself are plastic and can be injured if you are not careful. Be gentle and do not force the cup into the body.
Those cautions aside, the T60 is a simple camera to use and because of the FD lens mount it can use extremely fine lenses for excellent images. An example of this camera belongs in a Canon collection and, as a shooter, it is a pleasure to use.
However, truth be told, I like the solid feel of the “F” and “A” Series cameras and I would probably prefer to take my Canon TX or TL on a photo walk. They are equivalent in features but I think the feel of them is more pleasurable. That is a pretty subtle reason to chose the one over the other but, if I had a choice, and I do ………
The batteries are under the cap on the bottom of the camera. Be carefull becuse the plastic is soft and the slot in the bottom of the holder is easily damaged if the wrong tool is used or too much force is applied. The slot is designed for a coin such as a 25 or 50 cent piece.
The two LR44 (or equivalent) batteries sit in a small cup which screws into the battery compartment. The cells should be positive (+) side up in the cup which means that I have them the wrong way around in this photo. Don’t make this mistake.
And in Conclusion ….
Considering the user for which this camera was created, it is actually a versatile film shooter and a camera that belongs in any collection of Canon cameras. It is a bit of an outlier when looking at the “T” Series but that does not detract from it’s being a fine camera, given its intended audience and price. In the writing of this page I have had to revisit my T60’s and on closer examination I have found a new appreciation for these cameras.
This website is the work of R. Flynn Marr who is solely responsible for its contents which are subject to his claim of copyright. User Manuals, Brochures and Advertising Materials of Canon and other manufacturers available on this site are subject to the copyright claims and are the property of Canon and other manufacturers and they are offered here for personal use only. Use of this website is governed by the Terms of Service set out on the page by that name.
The True North Strong and Free