What does the Canon F, T, and A series prefix mean?

ORUSHCRUSH · Feb 25, 2023

I understand from the Canon Camera Museum that 'F' in the F series means 'Flex'.

However, the A and T series cannot find the meaning of each alphabet A,T.
I think A,T means 'Automatic' and 'Technical' or 'Test'.

What word does the alphabet in the A and T series officially stand for?

benjiboy · Feb 25, 2023

I doubt that that they mean anything in English, Canon is a Japanese corporation and they are probably just letter designations for different series of their camas. I do know that when Canon were first going to bring out the Canon F, since Nikon had already copyrighted their F model, Nikon threatening to sue them, so Canon added a 1 to the designation to avoid a legal action.

Ian Grant · Feb 25, 2023

It's probably not a coincidence that the Canon F1 was their first SLR aimed at the professional market and their first system camera aimed to rival and equal the then dominant Nikon F professional camera system.

The A series brought in Programmed Auto exposure, the T series cameras all had built in film advance and rewind.

Ian

benjiboy · Feb 25, 2023

Ian Grant said:
It's probably not a coincidence that the Canon F1 was their first SLR aimed at the professional market and their first system camera aimed to rival and equal the then dominant Nikon F professional camera system.

The A series brought in Programmed Auto exposure, the T series cameras all had built in film advance and rewind.

Ian

That's all true Ian, and I'm well aware of that, but it doesn't explain why Canon's first shutter priority auto exposure S.L.R didn't have the "A" designation, because it was the E F, not the "A" F.
I really doubt that the letters refer to the functions or abilities of the cameras , I think it's just a way of identifying different series of their products.

Les Sarile · Feb 25, 2023

Actually, Canon's first slr system was the Canonflex . . .

First SLRs from each company by Les DMess, on Flickr

Finally got Minolta's first SLR so I can add to the grouping . . .

SR-1 & SR-2 by Les DMess, on Flickr

If you didn't know, their first was the SR-2 and not the SR-1 . . .

M-88 · Feb 26, 2023

benjiboy said:
That's all true Ian, and I'm well aware of that, but it doesn't explain why Canon's first shutter priority auto exposure S.L.R didn't have the "A" designation, because it was the E F, not the "A" F.
I really doubt that the letters refer to the functions or abilities of the cameras , I think it's just a way of identifying different series of their products.

I think "E" in EF was to emphasize Electric operation. Those who came before, were fully mechanical, whereas EF had electronically controlled speeds from 1 second all the way down to 30 seconds.

And what about FT/FTb? What does that stand for?

benjiboy · Feb 26, 2023

And what about FT/FTb? What does that stand for?

That's my whole point, they don't have to " stand for" anything, they are just. letter designations.

Ian Grant · Feb 26, 2023

According to Canon adverts the 1976 AE1 was the first camera with a microprocessor controlled auto exposure and a fully electronic shutter, the EF was a mechanically controlled shutter except from 1 to 40 seconds. The A series Canons were also a complete overhaul of Canons production, more modular, and designed to be easier and cheaper to build with fewer parts, Canon claimed 300 less parts than a camera like an FTb. There were manual metering A series models but the shutter speeds were still electronically controlled.

The T series Canons were designed to be far easier to use, with a higher level of automation for less advance users. They were definite series of cameras but I agree with you Ben we don't know why they chose the A and T designations.

Why the F - the first was the FX, in 1964, - The model designation’s “flex” (for single-lens reflex) suffix was replaced with an “F.” - Canon's own wording. The F series had the new FD lens mount incorporating aperture control, different to the Canonflex R cameras.

Ian

benjiboy · Feb 26, 2023

The strong and light laminated polymer camera bodies, advanced electronics and and highly automated manufacturing techniques at a reasonable price provided by the Canon A and T series proved to be an absolute financial winner for the Canon Corporation, because none of other major leading manufacturers were producing anything like them.

Jude the Obscure · Feb 27, 2023

Ian Grant said:
It's probably not a coincidence that the Canon F1 was their first SLR aimed at the professional market and their first system camera aimed to rival and equal the then dominant Nikon F professional camera system.

I never understood why Canon and Nikon equipment shared almost the same names as each other. I believe Canon started this nonsense when they named the F-1 when Nikon already had an F. Did Canon hope that buyers in a camera shop would assume the F-1 was a Nikon? Like piano makers use brand names that sound a bit like "Steinway"?
Nikon then leapfrogged from their F to their F2 etc. That hemmed Canon in so their next one of their pro line was the "New F-1" or F-1n, and the one after that was the F-1N (upper case "N" this time). The two of them are still at it today with their digital camera names.
Anyway, back on topic, don't the different Canon letters reflect different lens mounts?

benjiboy · Feb 27, 2023

Jude the Obscure said:
I never understood why Canon and Nikon equipment shared almost the same names as each other. I believe Canon started this nonsense when they named the F-1 when Nikon already had an F. Did Canon hope that buyers in a camera shop would assume the F-1 was a Nikon? Like piano makers use brand names that sound a bit like "Steinway"?
Nikon then leapfrogged from their F to their F2 etc. That hemmed Canon in so their next one of their pro line was the "New F-1" or F-1n, and the one after that was the F-1N (upper case "N" this time). The two of them are still at it today with their digital camera names.
Anyway, back on topic, don't the different Canon letters reflect different lens mounts?

Jude the Obscure said:
, don't the different Canon letters reflect different lens mounts?

No they don't, all the Canon F, A, and T series cameras have the FD lens mount.

Ian Grant · Feb 27, 2023

I have 3 copies of the Focal Press books, CAMERAS, The Facts, HOW hey work WHAT they will do, HOW they compare, 1957, 1960, and 1963/4. There are no Japanese SLR cameras in the 1975 copy and on;y the Canonflex in the 1960 version, However I know that other Japanese cameras were biung imorted her in the UK. These books reflect the small Focal Press Camera manual as the camera details etc are taken from them.

Many SLRs used Flex at the end of their name, Contaflex, Canonflex, Focaflex, Periflex, Rectaflex, Wrayflex, the first being Praktiflex for a 35mm camera, Roleiflex being older for a 120 TLR. Others used Rex to denote reflev Exacta Varex, Contarex, Nikkorex.

The first SLRs to use F were the Nikon F and the Nikkorex F, trivia we can only guess why.

Ian

What does the Canon F, T, and A series prefix mean?

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