Canon FT QL User manual

INSTRUCTIONS
English Edition

We are highly gratified that you have selected the Canon FT -a wise
choice that promises you many delightful years of photographic experi-
ences.
Canon is recognized the world over as the foremost pioneer in the
development of photographic equipment of the highest quality and
performance.
Whether your new FT is for the home, laboratory, or for traveling, make
the most of your opportunities!
Before Using ...
Please read this instruction booklet carefully, and master the manipula -
tions of the various parts of the FT completely. Once thoroughly versed
in the correct handling of this camera, you can use the Canon FT to
the fullest extent of its capabilities .

..--- - -- - ----- t-'re-Set Aperture Ring
~----- ----- Focusing Ring
------- - - Flash Socket
J..- -- - ------- Mirror Lock Lever
~------- -A-IM Ring
..------------ Bayonet Mount Ring
;-- - ---- - --- - Film Rewind Crank
~---- Meter Circuit
Switch Lock
-'I, ,--- -E-- -I- - -Film Advance Lever
'--- =,""",===-L... -- -ASA Film Speed Scale
- ", .-c..----
'------ - ---- Film Plane Indicator
'- - --- - ------ -- - Battery Check Lever

Technical Data
Type : 35mm single·lens reflex camera .
Viewfinder : Eye·level using pentagonal prism .
Waist·Level Viewer 2 can be attached.
Focusing Screen : Highly efficient in resolving
power , using Fresnel lens and microprism
screen rangefinder.
Mirror : Shockless quick return system . Mirror
can be fixed upwards .
Standard Lens : Canon Lens FL 50mm F 1.8,
FL 50mm F 1.4, FL 55mm F 1.2 . With
FL (breech·lock bayonet) mount.
Aperture : Automatic pre·set aperture mecha ·
nism built·in . Instant · return diaphragm .
Pre·set is possible to release for preview ·
ing depth·of·field .
Shutter: Cloth focal· plane shutter with speeds
from 1/ 1000 to 1 sec., B(T) and X. Single
pivot dial.
Exposure Meter : Built·in. Using CdS photocell.
Zero·adjustment type coupled to shutter
speed dial and aperture setting . ASA 25-
2000 . With ASA 100 film , EV 2.5 (f/ 1.2
at 1/ 4 sec.)-EV 18 (f/ 16 at 1/ 1000 sec.)
one stage
system . Powered by one 1.3 v
M20 (~625) mercury battery .
Light Measurement: TTL (Through·The·Lens)
system using condenser lens. Exposure
meter functions with the meter circuit
switch . Semi·spot m eter reading system ,
measures 1/3 of the angle· of · view . Con·
tinuous measurement is possible with the
meter circu it switch lock. Battery checker
built ·in.
Measuring of Ultra·Low Illumination : EV 2.5
1/ 4 sec.-
EV - 3.5 15 se c. at f/ 1.2 can be
measured with the atta chm ent of the
Canon Booster (auxiliary meter for ex·
tremely dim lighting) .
Flash
Synchronization : FP and X contacts.
Synchronizing possible for FP , M and MF
flash bulbs and electronic flash units .
Self· Timer : Built ·in.
Film Rewinding : By button and crank .
Film Advance Lever : Single operation 174
0
,
possible to wind with several short
strokes .
Film
Loading : By opening back cover. Accepts
any
standard 35mm film roll in cartridge .
QL
mechanism for quick loading of film .
Interchangeable Lenses : Automatic pre ·set
aperture type Canon FL lenses.
Frame Counter : Self-resetting type .
Size :
144x93x43mm (5% /1 X 3 %/1 X 1 %/1 ).
Weight: 740 grams (1 lb . 10 Ys oz. )-body only .
Subject to alteratio ns.

Contents
Mercury Battery Loading and Checking..... .. ............................. 8
Film Winding ........... . ................ . .. ......... . ...................... ............ 10
Shutter and Aperture Adjustment .. .. ................ .. ......... .. ....... .. 12
Using Built·ln Exposure Meter ................ .. .... .. . .. ........... .. ........ 16
Exposure Settings ..... .. ......... .. .. .. .. . .. ...................... .. ........... .. .. 18
Coupling Range of Built·ln Exposure Meter ............... ............ 20
Focusing ............................. . .... ..... ...................... . .. .................21
Holding the Camera .............. .. ..... .. ................ .. ...................... 23
Film Loading ................ .. .......................... .. .................. ........... 25
Film Rewinding ...................... ............... .. .. .. ............................. 28
Using Self· Timer ................ ........................... .. ....... .. ....... .. ...... 29
Synchronizing Flash Unit ........................ .. .. .......... ...... .. ........... 30
Uses of Lenses ................. .. ........... .. ................. .. ......... .. ..........31
Double Exposures .. .................. ................... ........................... 37
Filters ................ ... .................. .... ........................................... 38
Proper Care of the Camera ...... .. .... .. ..................................... 39
Interchangeable Lenses and Accessories .... .. .......... ................ .40
Canon Booster ............... .............................. ........ .. ............. .. . .43

1 Load the film simply with the QL mechanism . 2 Set
the ASA film speed.
5 Look through the viewfinder . 6 Focus and compose the picture.

3 Wind
the film advance lever. 4
Remove the lens cap .
7
Determine the exposure with built ·in meter . 8 Press the shutter release button gently .

Mercury Battery Loading and Checking
The built-in exposure meter of the Canon FT
functions only when the mercury battery is
properly loaded.
1
2
3
Press thumb against the battery compart -
ment cover and turn to the left to remove.
Face
the central contact of the mercury
battery inwards and insert.
Replace the cover by turning it to the right.
• Before inserting, wipe all battery poles clean
of fingerprints or stains with a dry cloth. Un-
clean poles may cause corrosion and damage
the contact points of the camera .
• A 1.3 v M20 (# 625) mercury battery should
8
e
Central Contact
be used-equivalent to Mallory RM-625R,
Eveready
E625N, Burgess Hg-625R.
• Be sure the battery is inserted in the correct
direction by referring to the diagram on the
compartment cover. Otherwise, the meter will
not function properly and the cover cannot be
screwed in.
• When the camera is not to be used for a
long period, remove
the mercury battery and
keep in a
dry place.

Battery Check
Check the mercury battery after loading it.
Especially when loading a new battery, be sure
to check the voltage .
1 Set the film speed scale at ASA lOO /DIN 21
and
the shutter speed di al at " X ". For
the film speed setting , lift up the outer ring of
the shutter speed dial and turn . See page 16.
• An accurate check cannot be made if set·
tings other than those ment ioned above are
used.
Sufficient Power
Meter Needle _O. ______ t .. ____ _
t
Insufficient Power
( Must be replaced )
Turn the battery check lever on the outer
side of the film rewind crank to "C" index .
If the meter needle inside the viewfinder
2
3 swings
up to or over the " 0" index, the
battery has sufficient power. If the needle stays
below the edge of the "0" index, voltage is
insufficient and the battery must be replaced.
• Life of the battery in normal use is appro xi·
mately one year.
• The battery releases current only when the
meter circuit switch is pressed.
9

Film Winding
The film advance lever winds the film , cocks
the shutter , and prepares the aperture and
mirror for the next shutter release all in one
motion .
1
Turn the film advance lever until it stops.
The film will be advanced one frame and
the shutter cocked. The frame counter is
simultaneously advanced to the next number.
2 When
the shutter release button is pressed,
the mirror flips up, the diaphragm simul ·
taneously closes down to the pre-set f/stop
and the shutter operates. After the shutter is
operated , the advance lever can be wound for
the next frame .
10
• Be sure that the safety lock lever is set at
"A",
• Winding may be done by moving the lever
with several short strokes .
• After loading the film, make another wind,
since
the first winding may not be completed.
• The shutter will not function when pressing
the shutter release button unless the winding
is completed . In such a case, check the wind-
ing once more.

Frame Counter
Each winding will advance the number of the
frame counter, indicating the number of pic·
tures taken. When the back cover is opened,
the indicator automatically returns to starting
position "S".
Safety Device for Shutter
When the safety lock lever around the shutter
release button is turned to the" L" position,
the shutter is locked and will not move. This
device may be used when the camera is carried
in a wound
condition.
Attaching the Cable Release
Separately available Canon Release can be
attached to the FT by screwing it into the
threaded hole in the center of the shutter
release button. Even if the safety lock lever
is
at "L" position , the shutter will operate by
using the release.
11

Make reverse turn
when it stops at "X ".
Make r eve rse tu rn
when it stops at •• B ".
The dial cannot be turned
between" B" and" X ".
Shutter and Aperture Adjustment
Exposures are adjusted by the shutter and
aperture . The shutter controls the exposure
time and the aperture controls the amount of
incoming light. The Canon FT uses the zero·
adjustment coupled meter, a very simple
method of obtaining proper exposures.
Shutter Speed Dial
Adjust the shutter speed by turning the shutter
speed dial to the desired index number . The
index on the dial shows the denominators of
1/ 1000 sec., 1/ 500 sec ., etc .
• The shutter speed dial does not revolve be·
tween the indexes " X" and "B".
• Be sure to set the index at a position where
12
the click· stop catches. In case of "B" index,
adjust it to the white dot just below the" B "
index.
II "B" indicates bulb exposure, and is used
when
making exposures of more than one
second. When
the shutter speed dial is set at
" B ", the shutter remains open as long as the
shutter release button is pressed.
• When time exposure is necessary to make
an
exposure over an extended time, first set the
shutter speed dial at "B" . Keep the shutter
release button pressed, and turn the time lock
lever
to "L". The shutter remains open even
if the finger is removed from the button. When
the lever is returned to "A", the shutter closes.

• Time exposure is also possible by using the
lockable cable release.
•
The" X" index is used for synchronizing an
electronic flash unit such as the Canon Speed-
lite . Although the shutter speed at "X" is
1/ 60 sec., it is equivalent to a very short ex-
posure time during the flash of the flash unit .
Aperture
Incoming light and depth-of-field are adjusted
by turning the pre-set aperture ring to the
desired f/ stop.
• As the f/ stop value gets larger, the amount
of light reaching the film plane becomes cor -
respondingly less. For each f/ stop the light is
reduced one·
half. Accordingly , when the aper -
ture is increased by one f/ stop , the e xposur e
is
doubled, and when it is increased by two
f/ stops the exposure is quadrupled .
• Certain lenses, have no
relation to the
li ghtness being halved between the maximum
and the next f/ stops on the pre-set aperture
ring.
• The pre·set aperture ring can also be s et
between two f/ stops .
• The ratio between the aperture and the
amount of exposure , using f/ 2 as the basis,
is as
follows :
Lens Aperture
1.2 1.4 1.8 2 2.8 3.5 4 5.6 8
11 16 22
Ex posure Ratio
3 2 1. 25 1 112 113 11 4 1/8
11 16 1/ 32 1/64
11 128
13

Index
Pre-Set
Aperture Ring
--:;r- -- A'M Ring
Pre-Setting Aperture and Checking
Depth-of-Field
Lens with A·M Ring
1 Pre-Setting
of Aperture: Set the A-M ring at
" A" _ Then set the desired f/stop on the
pre- set aperture ring to the index_ The dia-
phragm will close down to the pre-set f/ stop
only for the instant that the shutter is released_
2
Manually Operated Aperture: When the A-M
ring is set at "M" the diaphragm closes down
to any desired f/ stop by turning the pre-set
aperture ring and the depth-of-field at the time
of shutter release can be checked. When the
A-M ring is reset at "A" the diaphragm again
returns to maximum opening.
14
Index
Pre-Set
Aperture Ring
Manual
Aperture Ring
Lens with Manual Aperture Ring
1 Pre-
Setting of Aperture: Set the desired
f/
stop on the pre-set aperture ring to the
index. Then set the index of the manual aper-
ture ring to this pre-set f/ stop. The diaphragm
will close down to the pre-set f/stop only for
the instant that the shutter is released.
2
Manually Operated Aperture : When the
manual aperture ring is turned in the direc -
tion of closing down the diaphragm, after set -
ting the desired f/ stop on the pre-set aperture
ring to the index, the diaphragm will close down
to the pre-set f/stop and the depth-of-field can
be checked.
The manual aperture ring can-
not be turned when set at maximum f/ stop.
• Refer to pages 34-35 concerning depth - of -
field_

Relationship Between the Shutter. Diaphragm. and Mirror
o
Press the shutter release button.
Mirror begins to snap up.
o
The s hutter clicks.
The diaphragm clos es
down to pre - set f/ stop _
Mirror is up .
o
The diaphragm returns
to maximum opening.
Mirror returns to
the former position.
15

,....-- -l- -..... l.lL -- ASA Film Speed Indicator
Window
- -'- ---;;::= ~ DIN Film Speed Indicator
Window
'l'iiiiI' '---- Lift up the outer
Using Built-In Exposure Meter
The semi-spot meter reading system of the
Canon FT enables accurate measurement of the
main subject even in counter-light conditions.
The
rectangular frame in the viewfinder re-
presents the light measurement area of the
CdS photocell. Place the main subject within
this frame and measure the intensity of light
so as to obtain the proper exposure.
Film Speed Setting
Set the ASA/DI N film speed scale to the speed
of the film being used. Film speed are shown
on
the film box cover and/or explanatory sheet.
Lift and turn the film speed set ring around
the shutter speed dial. If the film is ASA 1 ~O,
for example. make the correct setting by show-
16
sensitivity set-ring
and turn.
ing 100 in the small window.
• When ASA 25/DIN 15 appears in the window,
this is as far as it turns to the left. White dots
at the right turn extremity read ASA 2000 and
DIN 34.
• The following film speeds may be used:
(32) (40) (64) (80) (125) (160) (250) (320) (500)
ASA 25·· 50· • 100 . • 200 • • 400·
DIN 15 .. 18 .. 21 .. 24 .. 27·
(16) (17) (19)(20) (22)(23) (25)(26) (28)
(640) (1000) (1250) (2000)
• 800· • 1600 •
30 •• 33·
(29) (31) (32) (34)
Figures in parentheses represent intermediate
film speeds.

Meter Circuit Switch
The exposure meter is actuated by pressing
the meter circuit switch towards the lens.
The meter circuit switch can be fixed for con·
tinuous light measurement by pressing it to-
wards the lens after setting the meter circuit
switch lock at "L" position. If the lock is
returned to its original position (white dot) the
meter circuit switch will return to its original
position.
• Be sure to release the meter circu it switch
lock after the continuous light measurement .
• With the fixing of the meter circuit switch,
telephoto lenses can be conveniently handled.
Also when
shoot ing sub jects with different light
intensities, continuous light measurement is
possible.
• Due
to the characteristics of the CdS photo ·
cell,
the movement of the meter needle may
occasionally become slack , owing to changes
in
the degree of light.
How to "Average" Exposures
When measuring a subject with greatly differing
dark and bright parts, take two measurements,
one each of the dark and bright parts. Then
obtain the average value and set the f/ stop or
shutter speed accordingly.
17

Exposure Settings
The built ·in exposure meter, which is of the
zero·adjustment type, is coupled to the shutter
speed dial and pre·set aperture ring . The exact
exposure is easily determined according to the
brightness of the subject to be photogra phed.
There are two ways of determining the exposure
-either by first selecting the shutter speed or
by first selecting the f/ stop of the aperture .
18
Shutter Speed Priority Method
1 Set
the shutter speed dial at the desired
speed.
2 Face
the camera towards the subject , look
into the viewfinder , and press the meter
circuit switch .
3
Either keep pressing the meter circuit
switch or lock the switch and turn the
pre· set aperture ring.
4
Set the meter needle at the "0" index
within the viewfinder for correct exposure .

fj Stop Priority Method
1 Set
the pre- set aperture ring at the desired
f/ stop_
2 Face
the camera towards the subject , look
into the viewfinder , and press the meter
circuit switch_
3 While pressing
or locking the switch, turn
the shutter speed dial.
4 Set the meter needle at the " 0 " index
within the viewfinder for correct exposure_
• Since
the shutter speed dial cannot be set
at the intermediate positions , the shutter speed
priority method is recommended when exposure
accuracy is a
crucial factor _
•
Light measurement at " B " and "X" of the
shutter speed dial is not possible with the
built -in exposure meter because" B" is used
for long exposures over one second, and "X"
is for the electronic flash unit_
• When
the built-in exposure meter is outside
the coupling range, the meter needle will point
to the top of the viewfinder and will indicate
that proper exposure cannot be obtained_ Refer
to "Coupling Range of B uilt-In Exposure Meter"
on the following page_
19

Coupling Range of Built-In Exposure Meter
The built· in exposure meter couples to the
following range of f/ stops and shutter speeds
wi th respective film speeds . When using the
Canon Lens FL 50mm F 1.4 and ASA 100
Film Speed I
ASA 25
1 1/ 2 1/4
DIN
15
1/ 8
ASA 50
1/ 2 1/ 4 1/ 8 1/
15
DIN
18
1 ASA
100
1/ 4
1/8
1/15 1/30
DIN
21
ASA
200
1/8
1/ 15
1/30 1/ 60
DIN 24
ASA
400
1/ 15 1/ 30
1/ 60 1/ 125
DIN 27
---
---
---
ASA 800
1/ 30 1/ 60
1/ 125
1/ 250
DIN
30
---
---
---
ASA
1600
1/ 60 1/ 125
1/ 250
1/ 500
DIN
33
ASA 2000
1/ 125 1/ 250
1/ 500
1/ 1000
DIN 34
f/stops
If /1 -22
f/ 1-22 f/ 1-22
f/ 1-22
20
film, for examp le, the exposure meter couples
ful ly within the range of f/ 1.4 at 1/4 sec. (EV 3)
and f/
16 at 1/ 1000 sec . (EV18).
Shutter Speed
1/ 15
1/ 30
1/ 60
1/ 125
1/ 250
1/ 30
1/ 60
1/ 125
1/ 250 1/ 500
1/60
1/ 125
1/250
1/500
1/
1000
1
1/ 125
1/ 250
1/ 500
1/1000
1/ 250 1/ 500
1/ 1000
1/ 500
1/ 1000
1/ 1000
.
...
f/ 1-22 1 f/
1-22 f/ 1-22 f/ 1-22 f/1-16