Found a Canon FD 50mm lens....

[Pfreddee]

...and I'm looking for recommendations for a camera to attach it to. I prefer one which didn't need a mercury cell when it was new, since it is a PITA to get an adaptor to regulate the voltage of the newer cells that fit. I think the lens is a survivor from my AE-1. That was a nice camera; got rid of it because of the mirror squeak. I didn't bother to get it fixed at the time.

Thank you to all who reply.

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[Mute-on]

New F-1 or T90 if I was looking for a suitable FD mount body ...

Maybe I'll just find a cheap FD lens so I have an excuse 🙂

 

[johnf04]

Get a mercury cell camera, and use a zinc-air cell, and some packing. A nice FT or FTb would do.

 

[nhchen]

What about a canon EF? You can use regular 1.5v batteries in it.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Canon F-1

Canon F-1

Dear Pfreddee,

I use a hearing aid battery in my Canon F-1 and the meter is spot on with all my cameras and hand held meters. It requires no spacers or adapters on my camera and I doubt you would have any issues on another Canon 1.35 V Mercury cell body. I had an O-ring on the battery that made it fit perfectly but I decided I didn't need it and haven't had any problems since.

The knock on the hearing aid batteries is that they don't last long, but you can buy a dozen of them for about $ 10.00 so that isn't a valid complaint to me.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[PhotoGog]

Agreed. Canon F-1 original (1971) is one helluva body with fantastic meter. I have also used the zinc air hearing aid batteries very accurately. Then I just bought a $50 voltage adapter from Thailand on eBay. Very high quality and fits snug as a bug. Meter is perfect against my Gossen. The F-1 is built as well as any Leica. The A and T series are fine but for amateurs or cheapies but not in the same ball park.

 

[Chubberino]

The A-1 is a good option too.

 

[BernardL]

What about a canon EF? You can use regular 1.5v batteries in it.

+1
Not only one of the few FD bodies that can take available SR44/PX76 batteries, but also possibly the best body short of the F-1.

 

[AlexBG]

I had an AV-1 which I loved but I pretty much always shoot aperture priority.

 

[Fixcinater]

A1 is great, my favorite of everything outside of the New F1.

I have an '84 Olympic New F1 and that is going to be the one that I keep as I clear out my collection of everything else.

 

[johannielscom]

Another vote for the 1973 EF model. The F1's 'electronic' brother, and the one SLR ever produced that has an overhanging shutter dial like the Leica M5. It's the one Canon FD body I own, no need for anything else 🙄 in FD mount that is 😀

Read Mike Eckman's review, scroll down to 'My Thoughts' to skip the Canon factory history
http://www.mikeeckman.com/2017/05/canon-ef-1973/

 

[embee06311]

How about a T70. They are cheap and they are fun to use (as long as the battery door doesn't break open).