Canon FTb

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title: "Canon FTb" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["canon-fd-cameras", "cameras-introduced-in-1971"] description: "1971 35mm single-lens reflex camera" topic_path: "general/canon-fd-cameras" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_FTb" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1971 35mm single-lens reflex camera ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox camera"]

Field	Value
camera_model	Canon FTb
image	Canon FTb.jpg
image_size	300px
manufacturer	Canon
camera_type	35 mm Single-lens reflex still camera
date	1971 Canon FTb; 1973 Canon FTbn
production	1971-1976
recording_medium	135 film
sensor_type	135 film
sensor_size	24×36 mm
lens_system	Canon FD-mount interchangeable
focus_type	Manual
shutter_speeds	X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec.
f_numbers	On default 50 mm lens: 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16
dimensions	144 x 93 x 43 mm
weight	750 g
::

|camera_model = Canon FTb |image = Canon FTb.jpg |image_size = 300px |manufacturer = Canon |camera_type = 35 mm Single-lens reflex still camera | date = 1971 Canon FTb; 1973 Canon FTbn | production = 1971-1976 | recording_medium = 135 film |sensor_type = 135 film |sensor_size = 24×36 mm |lens_system = Canon FD-mount interchangeable |focus_type = Manual |shutter_speeds = X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. |f_numbers = On default 50 mm lens: 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 | dimensions = 144 x 93 x 43 mm | weight = 750 g The Canon FTb is a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera manufactured by Canon of Japan from March 1971 replacing the Canon FT QL. It features a Canon FD lens mount, and is also compatible with Canon's earlier FL-mount lenses in stop-down metering mode. Launched alongside the top-of-the-line F-1, the FTb was the mass-market camera in the range.{{cite web |url = http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/film/data/1966-1975/1971_ftb.html?lang=us&categ=crn&page=1966-1975 |title = Canon FTb |work = Canon Camera Museum |author = Canon Inc. |author-link = Canon Inc. |accessdate = 2007-10-04 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120212094813/http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/film/data/1966-1975/1971_ftb.html?lang=us&categ=crn&page=1966-1975 |archive-date = 2012-02-12 |url-status = dead

History

The FTb was primarily intended to be a camera for the advanced amateur photographer, offering many of the same features and same build quality as the F-1, but without the option of interchangeable prisms, focusing screens, or motor drives. The Canon FTb was released in Japan at a retail price of for the camera body, and in the United States.

When the FTb entered the US market, it was only available through Sears.

In 1973, the FTb design was revised slightly. The camera was given a plastic tipped film advance lever. The stop down lever was changed to the same style as that found on the F-1. The PC sync socket was given a spring-loaded plastic cover. The ring around the outer edge of the shutter speed dial was changed from a scalloped design to a diamond textured design. Finally, a shutter speed display was added in the lower left hand corner of the viewfinder. This model was marketed as the FTb-N, although the camera's nameplate did not reflect this.

Specifications

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Canon_FTb_analog_camera_with_original_50mm_lens.jpg" caption="Canon FTb in silver."] ::

The FTb has an all-mechanical horizontally traveling focal plane shutter with timed speeds from 1/1000 to 1 second and bulb. The FTb has rubberized silk shutter curtains rather than the more durable but more expensive titanium curtains found on the F-1.

It offers a 10-second self-timer, as well as mirror lock-up. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Canon_FTb_with_50mm_F-1.8_lens.jpg" caption="Canon FTb with 50mm F/1.8 lens"] ::

The meter is of the 12% (1/9) partial type with the metering area indicated by a slightly darkened box in the center of the finder area. It is fully coupled to shutter speed dial and aperture ring on FD lenses in the match needle style. The meter was designed to be powered by a single 1.35 volt 625-type mercury cell, specifically the Mallory PX-625 and the Eveready EPX-625. While these batteries are obsolete, modern replacements include the Wein zinc-air cell PX625, available at large online retailers. Alternative options for replacement are to use a 1.5 volt silver battery either through a voltage dropping adapter or recalibrating the meter. Using modern zinc air batteries provide the original voltage, but have a relatively short life.

References

References

1. (October 13, 1976). "The Calgary Herald". The Calgary Herald.
2. "FTb-N - Canon Camera Museum".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::