The Canon EOS 620 hit the market in May 1987. At launch, it carried a price tag of 146,000 yen with the EF 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 kit lens, or 108,000 yen for the body alone. Positioned as the upscale sibling to the original EOS 650, the 620 introduced several premium features that the base model lacked: Shiftable Program AE, automatic exposure bracketing up to ±5 stops in 1/2-stop increments, up to 9 multiple exposures, and a beautifully even EL-backlit external LCD panel—making it the first camera in the world to feature an illuminated top deck. ​ I remember my brother becoming a proud owner of this exact camera shortly after it debuted (unfortunately, he walked away from this wonderful hobby decades ago...). At the time, I wasn't ready to jump on the AF bandwagon just yet; I stayed loyal to my manual-focus setups, routinely shooting with my Canon A-1, T90, and Hasselblad 500C/M. But as autofocus technology proved its worth, my skepticism dissolved. A year or two later, I took the plunge, and a Canon EOS 600 became a staple in my own photo kit.

Peer through the viewfinder, and you’re greeted by a clean, informative display showing the most crucial shooting data: shutter speed and aperture. It also features a focus confirmation light, over/underexposure warnings, and an electronic exposure level indicator for shooting in full manual mode. Clean, functional, and clutter-free—just the way I still like it today.