Canon FTbn Test With Four Lenses

[farlymac]

I've put together a kit for my oldest brother, and wish I had tested the camera body earlier. Seems the metering isn't quite on in most of the photos. I ran them through the PS Elements 10 "Smart Fix", and it helped a bit. But there were some that didn't need this treatment, so I think it's a matter of what I aimed at when taking a reading.

Some samples below on Kodak Gold 100 (not my favorite). If you want to see the rest of the roll, and find out what lens was used on each shot, use the link on the bottom to the set on Flickr.


Gnarly Pumpkin by br1078phot, on Flickr


MACK by br1078phot, on Flickr


N&W M2c 1151 1 by br1078phot, on Flickr


Airpoint Road Barn 3 by br1078phot, on Flickr


1937 Nash Sedan 2 by br1078phot, on Flickr


Blue Ridge Vista 2 by br1078phot, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/72157631694456614/

PF

 

[David Murphy]

Very nice set! Be sure you are using a Wein Cell (MRB625) in the Ftb since it requires a 1.3V battery if it has not been converted to use 1.5V cells. If not you may well get erroneous meter readings.

 

[bgb]

I use a hearing aid battery of 1.4v in my Ftb seems to work ok. Mine is the first model but they used the same evil mercury battery.
What did you think of the camera? I find it huge and heavy compared to my OM-2 but it's ok.

 

[elmarman]

I bought an FTBn outfit from a Camera Club member for £150 -00 many years ago -- 50mm f1.4, 24mm f2.8, 200mm f4 Canon lenses -- sold the 24mm to another Club member, then I have been GIVEN another FTBn with a TOKINA 28-85mm AT-X lens !! They ARE heavy but I still use them in rotation with my other gear -- I am lucky -- I found a dealer in a Market who had some 'Under-The Counter' Mercury Batteries for £2-00 each so I bought a supply !

Canon FTbn by pentaxpete, on Flickr

 

[farlymac]

Thanks, Dave. I think I can get them locally at one of those battery stores. If not, I'll order some.

BGB, anything is going to be huge compared to the OM's. Instead of big and heavy, I prefer the term "solid". It feels good in my hands, and I learned on older cameras such as these when they were new.

Don't know as I could have parted with a 24mm, elmarman.

PF

 

[bgb]

Parting with an FD 24mm is regarded as a NO NO in most civilised societies, I have a Vivitar 24 on mine and it's ok but maybe not as nice as the FD.

" solid " as in don't drop it on your toe of anything else you don't want to break ... it might even be classed as a weapon in some states ;]

The Ftb was my first real camera which i bought back when they were being sold brand new in shops, I got another recently just for old times sake.

I see there is a 50mm f 1.4 on yours elmarman ... very nice indeed.

 

[elmarman]

I was disappointed with the sharpness of the Canon FD 24mm f2.8 lens -- I got £50 for it from a Camera Club member and paid £150-00 for the whole FTBn outfit so I got back £50-00 and can use my 24mm f3.5 SMC PENTAX screw lens on the FTBn with the Canon 'P' adapter and that lens is sharp OK .

 

[farlymac]

I've never had the Canon 24mm, so I'll take your word on the sharpness issue, elmarman. It was nice of Canon to make those adaptors, don't you think?

PF

 

[DNG]

Ahhh, the camera I used in High School for our yearbook mug shots. (1972).

 

[Phothomas]

I also started with a Ftb and a 50/1.8 and now I have two of them, an A1 and a F1n. A few days ago I bought a 24/2.0 and a 35/2.8 shift lens in a thrift store for 85€. I guess I can call myself a lucky man.🙂 I also got a Vivitar 28/2.0 with an oily aperture for 30€. Cleaned it and now it works perfectly. I got a 50/1.4 for free because of an oily aperture and because of these lucky accidents now I have a 24/2.8, 28/2.8 and 50/1.8 which I'm planing to sell because too much is too much. 🙂
Canon FD is a great and cheap system and I love to work with it and how "solid" it feels.
Thomas

 

[farlymac]

What started me on the road to ownership of Canon system cameras was I was looking for a replacement Pellix for my brother. I found an FT in my favorite store, and it had very good charachteristics to it, so I did some research on the Canon line, and determined that my brother would be better off with an upgrade to the FTbn.

In the meantime, after getting his kit together, I'm left with 3 FT bodies; 1 TL body; 2 FTbn bodies (one chrome and wrecked, the other black and worn out); 1 Pellix body; 3 FL 50/1.8's; 1 FL 28/2.8; 1 FL 135/3.5; 2 FD 135/3.5's; 1 Vivitar 90-230/4 FL mnt; 1 Vivitar 75-205/3.8-4.8 FD mnt; 1 Vivitar 2X-4 Teleconverter FL-FD mnt; 1 Canon Meter Booster (missing blind and not properly functioning); various filters, hoods, and other odds-and-ends.

I like the basic build of the FT, and will keep it as a fun way to keep grounded when shooting pictures. The FL lenses assure me that I can get good results using a legacy system.

PF

 

[David Murphy]

The FTb is not a compact or light body, but it is very, very well made and there are an endless variety of lenses available for it, many at very good prices.

 

[farlymac]

Well, they were reasonable until someone started making m4/3 adapters for them. Last week I sent him an AE-1 Program with an A2 winder so he can take full advantage of the FDn lenses while taking pics of the grandkids.

PF