Improved version of the Canon FTb. Improvements include a shutter speed display in the viewfinder, a larger shutter button , a plastic-tipped film advance lever, and a slimmer combination self-timer and stop-down lever.
| Shutter | Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 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). Multiple exposures enabled. |
| Viewfinder | Fixed eye-level pentaprism. Microprism rangefinder of fresnel matte screen. Metering indicator, exposure match needle, stopped-down metering needle, shutter speed display, and high- and low-light warning provided. |
| - Magnification | 0.85x |
| - Coverage | 94% |
| Power | One 1.3 V HD mercury cell. Battery check provided. |
| Size | 144 x 93 x 43 mm |
| Weight | 750 gr |
Very Sturdy and reliable SLR from Canon, a worthy challenger to Nikon at the time. It's very well featured for a prosumer model of the time, between the spot meter, mirror lockup, ASA range 25-1600, and Innovative film loading that allows up to 39-40 Frames if loaded in the dark. Highly recommend to those who need a workhorse standard SLR, with no crazy gimmicks, just a metal body with a reliable meter.
Speaking of the meter, one will need to send their model to be updated to accept 1.5 volts, as opposed to the 1.5 mercury cell it was designed for, in addition to oiling the shutter mechanism. However after a basic CLA any FTb should be working fine.
a solid, well made, simple to use, reliable, mechanical camera, that can these days be bought very cheaply. Very similar to the earlier FTb, an amateur version of the F1. Can use 675 hearing aid batteries to power the meter. It´s easy to forget to turn the meter off, I have stuck a fluro spot on the top camera plate, which is visible when the meter switch is at the "on" position. I like the 12% partial metering that shows exactly which area is being metered, although it does darken the central picture area. I use the MLU a lot, the only other FD cameras with this are the F1 and EF. The shutter speeds are visible bottom left in the finder, but are difficult to see against dark areas. My camera has a typical FTb shutter curtain problem that at certain slower speeds leaves a darker strip on the RH side of the print. The film Quick Loading system works easily and well, and I like the match needle metering for fine exposure compensation control (although the CdS meter only reads down to EV 2.5). My FTb-N has no split screen focussing, although I have heard rumours that some late production models did have this feature. I like the look of the black version too!