Canon A-1

In 1977 the Canon AE-1 marked the shift of cameras from manual and mechanical models to electronic ones. AE-1 is a SLR camera with a CPU which linked the electromagnetic release, self-timer, and electronic flash electronically. A year later in 1978, the Canon A-1 was introduced, the first camera in the world to have all exposure functions controlled by a microcomputer. It enabled aperture-prority and shutter-priority autoexposure. Actually it has five AE modes; A shutter-priority AE, aperture priority AE, programmed AE, stopped-down AE , electronic flash AE and if that is not enough it has also a manual mode.
Canon designed the A-series cameras to use a significant amount of plastic for a lighter and cheaper camera. The injection-molded ABS top and bottom plates are copperplated and then chrome finished or black enameled to give the look and feel of real metal.

Many Canon A-series SLR cameras develop an infamous squeal, which is audible when the shutter is released. The offending mechanism is a mirros damper geartrain and flywheel located on the right hand side of the mirror box. To fix it you only have to lubricate the geartrain. The procedure involves at a minimum removing the top plate to provide an acces to lubricate the mirror damper gears. The procedure is simple, but delicate and if you don't do it right you'll easily end up worse than you started. (How to DIY by Rick Oleson) The other common annoyance is a battery door mechanism/material. Many used examples have broken or taped battery doors.

"Unlike the hardest competitor Nikon, Canon has changed the lens mounting and the current Canon EOS autofocus EF mount is not compatible with the FD-mount. Still it was definitely one of the most advanced contemporary cameras. Canon A-1 is the camera which the popularity of IC circuits for automations in camera design have very much to thank for. The camera is totally dependent on batteries. A feature which is more than a contingency today even on a toothbrush. In many aspects you get much more than you lose. The diversity and easiness of usage and the accuracy of functions got a new level with this beauty.

Some specifications

Type: 35mm Single-Lens-Reflex camera with electronically controlled, multiple-mode AE focal plane shutter.
Format: 24 x 36mm.
Lenses: Canon FD lenses or Canon FL lenses (usable only with stopped-down AE).
Standard Lenses: Canon FD 55mm and 50mm lenses.
Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism.
Viewfinder Information: LED readout includes e.g. a shutter speed, aperture and warning of incorrect exposures indication, Shutter speed and aperture data displayed in 1/2 step increments.

Mirror: Instant-return type with shock-absorbing mechanism
Light Metering System: Through-the-lens (TTL) metering by silicon photocell.
Shutter: Cloth focal plane shutter. Electronically controlled, stepless speeds from 30 sec. to 1/1000 sec.
Shutter Speed Scale: B, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, 1, 2, 4, 8,15 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, 1000 plus P, Tv).
Power Source: One 6V silver oxide battery (Mallory PX28 or equivalent) or alkaline manganese battery ( Mallory 7K34 or equivalent).
Size: 141 x 91.5 x 47.5mm (5-1/2" x 3-5/8" x 1-7/8") body only.
Weight: 620 g (1 lb. 6 oz.) body only, including battery.

Canon AV-1

Canon AV-1 is a focal plane shutter SLR camera with a TTL light metering. Production begun in the first half of 1979. I bought this Canon because I just wanted to have another item of Canon SLR brand. Why then AV-1 ? Because it was relatively cheap and had a good reputation within the cameras of it´s class. It proved very handy and easy to use. It also takes technically excellent pictures.All you need to do is turn the aperture ring on the lens to set an aperture, focus and press the shutter button. Focusing is manual. The camera does all the rest - provided the main control dial has been set to the "A" mark..It has center weighted average light metering with a back light compensation possibility. When shooting your subject under backlighting condition, you just push an extra switch to compensate the exposure. At least in Finland it was commonly bundled with Canon FD 35-70 F 1:4 zoom lens

Specifications

Type : 35mm SLR (Single-lens Reflex) camera with electronically controlled AE (Automatic Exposure).
Format : 24 x 36mm.
Usable Lenses : Canon FD (for full aperture AE) and most FL (for stopped-down AE) series lenses.
Lens Mount : Canon Breech-lock mount.
Viewfinder : Fixed, eye-level pentaprism.
Viewfinder Information : Split-image/micro prism rangefinder, shutter speed scale and meter needle, red over and underexposure warning indices, battery check/ camera shake warning index.
Shutter : Cloth, focal plane shutter with four spindles. Electronically controlled.
Shutter Release Button : Electromagnetic, two-step button. Pressing it halfway activates the meter; pressing it all the way sets shutter in operation. With lock and cable release socket.
Shutter Speed : Step less automatically controlled, from 2 sec. to 1/1000 sec. Manual settings for B (Bulb) and X-synchronization speed of 1/60 sec. with flashes other than Canon Speedlite 133A, 155A, 177A or 199A.
ASA Film Speed Dial : ASA 25 to ASA 1600. With lock.
Light Metering System : Through-the-lens, Central Emphasis metering by SPC (Silicon Photocell).
Exposure Correction : Shutter speed is automatically reduced 1-1/2 steps to increase exposure by pressing back light control switch.
Reflex Mirror : Large instant-return type with shock absorbing mechanism.
Self-timer : Electronically controlled. Ten second time lag activated by pressing shutter button. Red LED blinks to indicate operation; flashing frequency increases two sec. before shutter release. Cancellation possible by pressing battery check button.
Flash Synchronization : At 1/60 sec. Set by switching selector dial to 60 for flashes other than the Canon Speedlite 133A 155A, 177A or 199A. Direct contact at accessory shoe.
Automatic Flash Control : With Canon Speedlite 133A, 155A, 177A or 199A. With selector dial at , shutter speed set to 1/60 sec. automatically. Aperture set manually on aperture ring to same aperture set on flash.
Back Cover : Fixed. Opened by pulling up rewind knob.
Film Loading : Via multi-slot take-up spool.
Film Advance Lever : Single-stroke 120 degree throw with 30 degree stand-off. Winding with several short strokes possible.
Battery: 6V, Mallory PX 28 or comparable.
Dimensions: (W x H x D) 139 x 85 x 48mm
Weight: 512g (body only, without battery)

Canon FT QL (1966)

A reliable basic SLR camera with some advanced features like the Canon QL (Quick Load) loading system. FT QL has a conventional quick-return reflex mirror and stop-down TTL metering. The condenser lens is cut at a 45-degree angle. Twelve percent of the image area surface is semi-silvered with vapor deposition. The incident light which reflected by this semi-transparent mirror is directed to the metering element. The viewfinder has match-needle exposure metering. The distance to the metering element is the same as the distance to the focal plane. Therefore the camera has the same focal plane metering characteristics as the Pellix.
The Canon Booster for low-light metering down to EV 3.5 (23 sec. at f/1.4) was available as an optional accessory attachable to the accessory shoe.

FT QL / Canon Camera Museum

Specifications

Type: 35mm (24x36mm) single-lens reflex camera.
Lens Mount: FL bayonet mount
Viewfinder : Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.9x magnification (FL 50mm), 92% vertical coverage, 94% horizontal coverage. Microprism rangefinder at center of fresnel matte screen. Metering indicator and exposure match needle provided. A diagonally-cut condenser lens block is semi-silvered on the diagonal surface. This beam splitter enables the incoming light to be split for the viewfinder image and metering cell. Waist Level Viewer 2 can be attached.
Focusing Glass: Highly efficient in resolving power, using Fresnel lens and built-in prism screen rangefinder.
Mirror : Shockless quick return type. Mirror can be locked upward.
Standard Lens : FL 50mm F 1.8, FL 50mm F 1.4, FL 58mm F 1.2 with FL breech-lock bayonet mount.
Aperture : Fully automatic preset aperture built in. Preset release possible.
Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. Built-in self-timer (self-timer lever also functions as a stop-down lever).
Built-in Exposure Meter : Zero method CDs meter coupled to the shutter dial and aperture setting. The CdS cell for TTL stopped-down match needle partial metering at center (12% of center). Metering range at ISO 100: EV 3 - 18. Film speed range from ISO 25 to 2000. 1.3 V MD mercury cell power source. Battery check feature provided.
Photometry : Exposure meter functions with the CdS actuating lever. Spot selection system. Continuous photometry is possible with the lock lever. Battery checker built in.
Measuring of Ultra-low Illumination : Optional Canon Meter Booster for metering in low light (down to EV -3.5). (Using ASA 100 film, EV2.5 1/4 sec - EV -3.5 15 sec at f1.2)
Flash Synchronization : Synchronizing possible for FP and X contacts and FP class, M class, F class and electronic Speedlight
Built-in Self-timer : Time-adjusting type operated by shutter release button.
Film Rewinding : Retractable crank
Film Advance Lever : Single operation 174° winding lever, possible to wind with several short strokes.
Film Loading : QL (Quick Loading) and auto loading after camera back is closed.
Interchangeable Lenses : Automatic preset aperture type FL series lens system.
Film Counter : Self-resetting type.
Dimensions : 144 x 93 x 43mm (5-3/4" x 3-3/4" x 1-3/4"). 144 x 93 x 100 mm, 1,095 g (With FL 58mm f/1.2)
Weight : 740 grams (1 Ib. 10oz.) - body only.

Canon FP (1964)

In 1964 Canon introduced a new Canon FL lens serie (a wide range of Interchangeable lenses from 19mm to 1000mm) and two SLR cameras Canon FX and Canon FP. FP is similar to FX except the exposure meter which was sold separately. The FL lens mount is a breech lock mount. The advantage of this type of mount is that to prevent abrasion the contact surfaces between the body and lens do not rotate against each other. The disadvantage is a slower lens change. Both, silver and black versions was made.

After the Canonflex R-series, the Canon FX/FP was the first in a new series having an aperture linkage on a new lens mount.
The new aperture linkage was designed to reduce the film advance torque and to integrate TTL light metering. After the shutter was released, the lens reverted to the maximum aperture regardless of the film advance state.
The Canon FP CdS exposure meter indicated the proper aperture for the selected shutter speed. A lever switched between the high (EV9 to 18) and low (EV1 to 10) metering sensitivity ranges.

FP / Canon Camera Museum