The Canon FD 35-70mm 4 AF lens, released in 1981, was
Canon's first attempt at adding
autofocus capability to their range of
single-lens reflex
A single-lens reflex camera (SLR) is a camera that typically uses a mirror and prism system (hence "reflex" from the mirror's reflection) that permits the photographer to view through the lens and see exactly what will be captured. With twin l ...
camera
A camera is an optical instrument that can capture an image. Most cameras can capture 2D images, with some more advanced models being able to capture 3D images. At a basic level, most cameras consist of sealed boxes (the camera body), with ...
s. Canon took their existing, successful
Canon FD 35-70mm f/4 lens and added a box above the
lens
A lens is a transmissive optical device which focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements ...
which housed a self-contained autofocus mechanism, Canon's SST (Solid State Triangulation) system, as used in the
AF35ML compact camera earlier that year.
This lens provided autofocus capability when fitted to any
Canon FD
The Canon FD lens mount is a physical standard for connecting a photographic lens to a 35mm single-lens reflex camera body. The standard was developed by Canon of Japan and was introduced in March 1971 with the Canon F-1 camera. It served as th ...
-mount camera—it did not require any capabilities in the camera body. The photographer simply pushed a button on the lens for it to focus automatically.
Canon used a similar autofocus system for the FD mount
Canon T80
The Canon T80 is Canon's first autofocus 35mm single-lens reflex camera. It was introduced in April 1985 and discontinued in June 1986 and is part of the T series of FD mount cameras. It is not compatible with Canon's later EOS system and i ...
of 1985, which had a range of three lenses with integral autofocus electronics and motors. However, the T80's lenses could only autofocus when mounted on the T80. Canon abandoned further development of autofocus for the
FD mount in favour of the totally new and incompatible
Canon EOS system in 1987.
External links
Canon Camera Museum - New FD35-70mm f/4 AF
Canon FD lenses
{{photography-stub