Canon's first 35mm SLR camera with TTL metering. A super-thin, semi-transparent film only 20/1000 mm thick was used as a fixed mirror. Since there was no mirror blackout, the user could see the image at the moment of exposure.
A stopped-down, TTL exposure meter used 12% spot metering at the viewfinder center. It was hailed for its accuracy and reliability.
The fixed pellicle mirror reduced the amount of light reaching the film by half. However, since the image could be viewed through the viewfinder even during long exposures, it was a popular camera.
| Shutter | Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal curtains. X, (T), 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, and 1/1000 sec. Self-timer lever also functions as the stop-down lever for metering. |
| Viewfinder | Fixed eye-level pentaprism. (20/1000mm ultra-thin Mylar film pellicle mirror [fixed] with vapor deposition). Microprism rangefinder at center of fresnel matte screen. Metering indicator, exposure match needle, and eyepiece shutter provided. |
| - Magnification | 0.90x |
| - Coverage | 93% |
| Power | - |
| Size | 141 x 90 x 100 mm |
| Weight | 700 gr |