Canon EOS 650

1987

The EOS 650 was Canon’s first autofocus body. And it was different from the initial handful of other AF offerings from other makers in one very significant way. While all the other manufacturers were busy placing the AF motors in their cameras’ bodies, Canon opted to put the motors in the lenses. Which I think has been proven out over the last 30 years as the best way to do it.

Another major difference that Canon adopted was making the lens/body interface completely electronic. There were no levers to slow down the focusing process.

These two decisions led to the fastest AF response of any AF model available at the time (and for several years after, actually).

I vividly remember the first time I picked one up in a Walmart electronics department back then. I was a Minolta manual focus user, and was contemplating jumping over to AF. I picked up a Maxxum 7000 body to check out and thought it was cool. Then the counter guy told me to try out this new body from Canon. This immediately changed my ideas about the Minolta. The AF speed of the 650 was in a league of its own – even when using lenses with their original AFD (arc-form drive) motors. When they started incorporating the USM motors it just got better.

About a year and a half later I was ready to make the move to AF and went with the EOS system without a second thought. By that time, the EOS 630 had just been released with the upgraded, predictive AF system. So, it was a no-brainer to go with that – a decision I’ve never regretted.

Technicals Specifications:

Original List Price (1987): $570.00 (body)
Price in 2025 Dollars: $1,586.00*
Street Price (1987):
Manufacturer: Canon
Model: EOS 650
Year Introduced: 1987
Film Format: 35mm AF SLR
Lens: Canon EF mount
Shutter: Vertical-travel
Self-timer: yes
Shutter Speeds: 30 – 1/2000
Shutter Release: on top
Built-in Meter: TTL – 6-zone Evaluative or 6.5% Partial
Film Speed/ASA Range: 6-6400
Flash Sync: 1/125
Film Advance: Automatic
Frame Counter: LCD
Exposure Modes: manual, program, shutter-priority, aperture-priority, full auto
Finder: shutter speed, aperture, metering info, and focus confirmation
Focusing Screens: interchangeable, laser-matte
Mirror: quick-return
Battery: One 2CR5

*Based on current information at
in2013dollars.com

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