Canon EOS 620 35mm Camera Body

The Canon EOS 620 35mm Camera Body is Canon’s high-end companion to the groundbreaking EOS 650, introduced in 1987 as one of the earliest cameras in Canon’s then-new EOS autofocus system. With a faster top shutter speed and flash sync than the 650, along with a handful of advanced exposure features, it was positioned as the more capable of the pair at launch.

The camera uses a horizontal-travel, metal focal-plane shutter offering speeds from 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb mode, with flash sync at 1/250 second, the fastest of any film EOS body apart from Canon’s professional EOS-1 series. Exposure control includes Intelligent Program AE with shift, Shutter-Priority (Tv), Aperture-Priority (Av), and full Manual metering modes, along with Flash AE (A-TTL and TTL, through-the-lens metering with dedicated flash units). Metering uses a 6-zone evaluative pattern along with a 6.5% partial-area pattern, with AE lock available in partial metering mode.

Autofocus relies on TTL phase detection with One-Shot AF and Continuous AF (release-priority) modes, with an AF operating range of EV 1-18 at ISO 100. Film speed is read automatically via DX coding across an ISO range of 25-5000, with manual override extending from ISO 6-6400. The 620 adds several features not found on the 650, including shiftable Program AE, autoexposure bracketing up to ±5 stops in 1/2-stop increments, a maximum of 9 multiple exposures, and uniform EL illumination of the external LCD panel, a world-first for a camera at the time. The external LCD displays shutter speed, aperture, AF mode, film-loaded status, film transport and advance-completion indicators, shooting mode, autobracketing and multiple-exposure settings, and more.

Handling includes automatic film loading (align the leader at the mark and close the back) and fully automatic film advance (approximately 3fps) and rewind via a built-in motor, along with interchangeable focusing screens and interchangeable body grips (GR-20 standard). An optional Quartz Date Back E accessory can imprint date information directly onto film.

Build quality centers on a metal body measuring approximately 148 x 108 x 68mm and weighing approximately 700g, powered by a single 6V 2CR5 lithium battery. The camera uses Canon’s EF lens mount, giving it access to Canon’s EF lens lineup, and was commonly sold with the EF 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 or EF 50mm f/1.8 as standard kit lenses.

Key Features
– Canon EF-mount 35mm autofocus SLR (1987)
– Horizontal-travel metal focal-plane shutter, 30 sec to 1/4000 sec plus Bulb
– 1/250 sec flash sync (fastest of any non-professional film EOS body)
– Intelligent Program AE with shift, Shutter-Priority, Aperture-Priority, and Manual modes
– Flash AE (A-TTL and TTL, OTF metering)
– 6-zone evaluative and 6.5% partial metering patterns
– TTL phase-detection autofocus (One-Shot and Continuous AF)
– Auto DX ISO reading (25-5000) with manual override (ISO 6-6400)
– Autoexposure bracketing up to ±5 stops (1/2-stop increments)
– Up to 9 multiple exposures
– Uniformly EL-illuminated external LCD panel
– Automatic film loading, advance (~3fps), and rewind
– Interchangeable focusing screens and body grips (GR-20 standard)
– Compatible with optional Quartz Date Back E
– Metal body construction (approximately 700g)
– Powered by a single 6V 2CR5 lithium battery
– Canon EF lens mount compatibility