Canon 7 = Canon FT?

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I had been looking for a Canon SLR body recently to use with the FD tilt/shift I'd bought for micro 4/3, when I came across a black FT with 55/1.2 that Tony Rose was selling on eBay. I probably should have held out for an FTb or A1, but couldn't resist--this combo looks almost exactly like the black Canon 7 and 50/1.2 I used to have. I'm really surprised by this, and I wonder if anyone knows the history of these two cameras--is one based upon the other? They seem to be variations on the very same basic body. The apparent similarity in ergonomics between the 50/1.2 and 55/1.2 is also striking.

 

[Sonnar2]

After all, both are CANON cameras, right? All CANON RF and SLR cameras share some basic design ideas, starting with the Canon VI/P series, beginning 1957 for the next 25 years. They are similar in ergonomics but different in detail. The FT is somewhat bigger in size, and started 1966, some years later than the Canon 7.
The SLR lens designs are also different: the SLR lenses are much longer in size than the (very short) RF 50/1.2 and 50/0.95

 

[xayraa33]

They are both fine cameras that feature the Canon styling trend of the 1960s to the early 1970s including the first type F1 Canon flagship.
The AE 1 of 1976 moved slightly way from this type of rugged styling.

 

[Mackinaw]

This may or may not be relevant, but the chief designer of the Canon 7 was Masamichi Kakunodate who I also believe had a major involvement with the first F-1. Maybe his influence carried over to the Canon FX/FP/FT line of cameras.

Jim B.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Canon F1 came out after the Canon FT. The F-1 is closer to the Canon 7 in terms of the metal shutter curtains. My FTb uses cloth curtains. But the control layout certainly seems familiar. About like comparing a Nikon RF with a Nikon F.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I once held a Canon FTb next to a Canon P. I agree with the above that they look really similar. After all they were made by the same company at the same time. Everything looked really similar to each other. Everything down the shutter speed dial.

I'm wondering if a Canon P can be modified to become a "QuickLoad" with a donor slr body.

 

[amateriat]

mabelsound: Somewhat tangential to all this: if the 35 TS is the only lens you have (and especially if it's the only one you plan on having), the FT will be fine. Given that it's not a full-aperture metering body (FL-era, prior to FD), all will be good, since the 35 TS doesn't have a coupled diaphragm anyway.

Looking forward to seeing your results with all this, both with film and digital.


- Barrett

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Barrett, I'll also have the FL 55/1.2! If I ever get serious about FD, I will pick up an A-1 on the cheap, but the FT is so beautiful--I don't mind stop-down metering, honestly.

 

[Benjamin]

The Canon F1 came out after the Canon FT. The F-1 is closer to the Canon 7 in terms of the metal shutter curtains. My FTb uses cloth curtains. But the control layout certainly seems familiar. About like comparing a Nikon RF with a Nikon F.

Was the Nikon F not built up from the basic design of one of the Nikon RF's though?

 

[Mackinaw]

The Canon F1 came out after the Canon FT.

Of course it was, the FX came out in 1964, the F-1 in 1970. My point was that Kakunodate may have a lot of say-so in the design of the FX/FP/FT being that he was chief engineer of a lot of Canon cameras during this era.

Jim B.

 

[Dwig]

Was the Nikon F not built up from the basic design of one of the Nikon RF's though?

Yes, the F was derived directly from the SP. Its basically a late version of the SP with the RF removed, a new lens mount, and a reflex mirror box. Even the motor drive (F-36 and S-36) were nearly identical; so much so that they shared a single repair manual.