SUMMARY
Canon's 1985 autofocus SLR, the T80, failed to gain traction against competitors and marked the end of the FD lens mount. Recognizing the limitations of adapting existing technology, Canon engineers embarked on creating a completely new system, the EOS (Electro Optical System), built from the ground up for autofocus. Launched in 1987 with the EOS 650 and the EF lens mount, this electronic system offered lighter weight, lower cost, and better reliability. The EOS system's success led Canon to dominate the SLR market, and its EF mount design remains influential, even seeing a photo taken with an EOS 650 become one of the first images posted to the World Wide Web.
TAKEAWAYS
Canon's T80 autofocus SLR was a commercial failure, leading to a redesign.
The EOS system and EF mount were developed from scratch for electronic control and autofocus.
The EOS 650, launched in 1987, marked a significant shift in SLR technology.
A photo taken with an EOS 650 was among the first images uploaded to the internet.