I have two main unit (one CIB) and lots of MSX stuff.
type computer
country Japan
year 1983
os MSX Basic
cpu Z80A
speed 3,58MHz
ram 64 KB
rom 32 KB
graphic 256 x 192
colors 16
sound AY 8910 3 sounds 8 octaves
ports TV RF, audio, video, casette, centronics, joystics (2), modules (2)
The Canon V-20 — The MSX with a Camera Eye
The Canon V-20 was a first-generation MSX home computer produced by Canon for the Japanese market in 1983. Using a Zilog Z80A processor at 3.25 MHz with 64 KB of RAM and 16 KB of video RAM, it was a fully compliant MSX machine capable of running the entire MSX software library of games, educational programs, and productivity software. What distinguished the V-20 from most of its MSX contemporaries was a unique feature that reflected Canon’s core business: a digital camera interface (T-90/DMB-90) allowing connection to the Canon T90 film camera — one of the earliest examples of a computer designed to interface directly with photographic equipment.
Technical Specifications
The V-20 used the standard MSX hardware configuration: Zilog Z80A at 3.25 MHz (actually a NEC 780C compatible), 64 KB of RAM, 16 KB of video RAM managed by the TMS9918 video processor, and the General Instrument AY-3-8910 sound chip providing three-voice audio. The display offered 40×24 text mode or 256×192 pixel graphics with 16 colours and 32 hardware sprites — capabilities shared across the entire MSX ecosystem, ensuring complete software compatibility. The V-20 came in a dark-coloured case (distinguishing it from the otherwise identical V-10, which had a white case and only 16 KB of RAM).
The Camera Connection
The T-90/DMB-90 camera interface was Canon’s most distinctive contribution to the MSX platform. This interface allowed the V-20 to receive and process images from the Canon T90 camera — a remarkably forward-thinking combination at a time when digital photography was purely a research concept. While the practical applications were limited by the technology of the era, the V-20’s camera interface anticipated by two decades the convergence of computing and photography that smartphone cameras would eventually make universal.
MSX in Japan
The MSX standard was far more successful in Japan than in Western markets, selling millions of units throughout the 1980s. Canon’s V-series machines were well-regarded for their build quality and found homes in schools, families, and the offices of professionals interested in the emerging intersection of computing and imaging. The V-20 is today a sought-after collector’s piece for both MSX enthusiasts and Canon camera historians.