Canon TLb's Metering System

[the.ronin]

Apologies in advance for my density here but even after reading the original Canon TLb manual, I still have questions on its metering system. I get that the needle with the circle is the aperture indication and that the needle is the shutter indication. I get that you need to match them up to get an appropriate exposure.

But do they have to be closer to the center between the "coupling limit marks"?

And what is that meter index that seems to be fixed like the limit marks?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[edit] Sorry I did have another question not realted to the meter though. The FD lens (Canon 50mm f/1.8) seems to just screw on without any tactile feedback that is has "locked" in place (like my DSLR). Is that the way it's supposed to be? It is very secure in the socket though.

 

[Greyscale]

As long as the needles match up you are good to go. I think that the second thing you are referring to is for the battery check indicator.

 

[farlymac]

Yeah, there's no real lock for the original FD breechlock mount, and that may be why Canon abandoned it for the FDn bayonet mount. Too many complaints about lenses falling off at inopportune times, or being mis-mounted.

PF

 

[Mackinaw]

.....Too many complaints about lenses falling off at inopportune times, or being mis-mounted.

Lenses falling off? Are you serious?

Jim B.

 

[nikon_sam]

I was waiting for some kind of click when mounting my first real Canon lens on my A-1...I can understand why they would go for another type of mount...good to know they could possibly fall off...something to keep an eye on...

 

[farlymac]

Lenses falling off? Are you serious?

Jim B.

Say you go to make a rapid change on one of the lens settings, and accidentally grab the mount ring instead, especially if it wasn't tight in the first place. It happened to a couple of friends of mine back when these cameras were new. That's why I stuck with Nikon.

PF

 

[the.ronin]

Thanks everyone for the input.

I get concerned that I'm tightening the lens too much. But good to know that there is no tactile feedback on FD lenses.

Thanks Greyscale for clarifying the metering system. I don't think that meter index has anything to do with the battery though. Like the high and low limit marks, it seems to be fixed. It is called out in the user manual but in an exhibit only with no explanation.

 

[Landshark]

The original breech mount was only(?) made from '59 to ~'76 That's a pretty good run for something that was supposed to be a faulty design. The advantage is that the lens didn't rotate and supposedly wear the face of the lens mount. If properly installed, there was no danger of them falling off.

The FDn mount also introduced the physically smaller lenses.

RE the metering, the lollipop and needle give proper exposure when the circle is split evenly and top of bottom of the circle was one stop(1/2?) difference.