This was the first Canon 8mm movie camera and the third movie camera in Japan, following the Cinemax from Uriu Seiki Co. and the Cine Elmo from Elmo Co., Ltd. The Cine 8-T had six interchangeable lenses for its twin lens turret system. The major specification was the viewfinder, with an automatic parallax compensation mechanism coupling with the lens. It was an innovative viewfinder at the time, having an interchangeable angle of view and magnification coupled with interchangeable lenses.

Together with the L1 still camera, this camera received the first G-mark award, a good design prize awarded by Japan's Ministry of Trade and Industry.

A lower class camera, the Canon 8S with a simpler viewfinder and without a turret, was also designed, but it was not marketed.