canon FTb good or PITA?

[it'sawhat?]

Have a question since I'm not familiar with using old canons. I can pick up a claed FTb with a 50mm 1.8 for 80 bucks us and a 28mm 2.8 for another 50. the meter has been recalibrated for silver oxide batteries. Sound like a good deal or should I pass?

 

[former member]

Whi did the CLA? A professional CLA can easily run more than $80 by itself.

It's a good camera, on par with the Nikkormats.

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

The FTb that I had was a real workhorse! It got me safely and happily thru my Master's program in B/W photography, using those lenses and a few others. As Brian posed, was the CLA a pro job? If so, it's well worth it in my book. I still have mine, but it needs a CLA itself; if your guy did a good job maybe I'll send him mine!

Mark

 

[Pickett Wilson]

They are fine cameras. Big and heavy as was usual in the 1970's, but a good, solid camera.

 

[E.M]

I am a Nikon user since early seventies , but late seventies I worked a few years as a beach-photographer and the company gave m a Canon Ftb ( QL I think ) to use . 4 months on the beach every day ( about 5-10 rolls ) and never had any problem . Fantastic camera imo .

http://www.etiennemichiels.com

 

[pagpow]

+1 on Ftb as great camera. My first camera and built to pound nails -- along with the F1 it was Canon's challenger to the Nikon FTN and was responsible for a resurgence in Canon gear.
I particularly liked it's film loading system, quick and foolproof, it's integral meter, quick control match needle exposure setting system which let you bias exposure with control, and it's delimited central sensitivity (as opposed to center weighted), which made it easier to know just what you were metering.
Only issue I ever had with them -- replacing the foam, and replacing a shutter curtain when I stuck my thumb through as I caught it in mid air after dropping. Some would say the latter was not the machine's fault.
Liked their glass, too -- a lot.
Haven't followed their prices though.
Giorgio
No relation to the company and not a stockholder, either.

 

[David Murphy]

Yes it's a reasonable deal for the camera and standard lens. The 28/2.8 is a little over priced however.

 

[xayraa33]

Great camera, built like a tank and not as costly as the F1 and those Canon FD lenses are really superb.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I personally never took to Canons other than the P. For SLRs I prefer the Nikon F3hp. Having used both and still own both I prefer the Zen of the F3Hp. That's just my personal opinion. I know that Canons have great reputations and Mr. Puts thinks highly of their lenses.

 

[Frontman]

The FTB is an excellent camera with a fully mechanical shutter. It is heavy, but that is due to the quality of the materials used in it's construction, you won't find any plastic in an FTB. The match-needle meter is easy to use, and intuitive, and these cameras can easily go decades without requiring a CLA. I have had 4 FTB cameras, none of which had been serviced, but all of them worked perfectly. The FTB does everything the F1 will do, minus the removeable finder and higher price.