Camera type: 35mm SLR
Lens Mount: The rear 3 elements of the lens are fixed, but the front elements could be interchanged. Also available were:
Canon EX 35mm f/3.5,
Canon EX 95mm f/3.5,
Canon EX 125mm f/3.5.
Shutter: 1 - 1/1000 seconds plus bulb
Focusing aid: microprisms
Depth-of-Field Preview: N/A
Metering: center-weighted, shutter priority "EE" mode.
ISO: reminder dial on bottom plate from 25 - 800 ASA (and E)
Self-timer: yes
Flash: P.C. socket, built-in cold shoe.
Manual: Butkus
More info: Canon camera museum
Ken Rockwell's review of the similar Canon EX Auto
Comments: Interesting camera. Well built. This is my first experience with the Canon QL quick load feature, which seems to work okay but I don't like. One just pulls out the leader the appropriate length and closes the back without slotting it into the take-up reel. There are two very unusual things about this camera. First, you adjust the aperture via the knob under the rewind knob (there's a read-out in the finder). The second, and more distressing, is that the viewfinder image is always sharp. You can't see the depth-of-field the lens sees at all, which makes focusing weird and defeats the purpose of an SLR IMHO, which is WYSIWYG. Have I used enough acronyms yet?
Here's a (bad) picture of the camera with the 95mm f/3.5 mounted. In front are the 35mm f/3.5 and 50mm f/1.8.
Filter size: 48mm (I think? unlabeled
Close focus distance: 1.5 feet/0.45 meters.
Aperture range: f/1.8 - f/16
Depth of field scale for f/4, f/8 - f/16, IR mark.
Made in: Japan
I like this lens! It is quite sharp and has very nice tonality. I'm quite impressed since the front lens elements are interchangeable. The rear 3 elements are fixed, and the front elements are interchangeable. You can also find 35mm, 95mm, 125mm f/3.5 Canon EX lenses. I am curious if they perform as well at the 50mm.
More photos from this camera
do 'we' (i.e., does Mankind) understand the viewfinder depth-of-field conundrum? I cannot figure it out; if the image is bright, shouldn't the depth-of-field be limited if it is a TTL image at wide aperture?
ReplyDeleteI own one of these, it was the product of a fight for inheritance, it's just beautiful to have it right next to my Canon T5i
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at purchasing this camera but this review made me quite concerned learning about the lack of depth seen through the view finder. this hasn't seem to have affected the focusing of your photos, they look great
ReplyDelete