[Canon] A35 Datelux | October 1977
A35 Datelux
The Canon camera described here was the first to feature a built-in flash. The flash was located on the upper-right corner of the camera and could be manually popped up when necessary. Once raised, the flash would begin charging. The camera also included the Canon Auto Tuning System (CATS), which automatically adjusted the flash aperture according to subject distance, film speed, and flash output.
In addition to the built-in flash, the camera featured a coincidence rangefinder for focusing, fully automatic program exposure (EE), and a date imprinting function (similar to the Datematic, located in the lens barrel). When the shutter button was pressed halfway after advancing the film, the date would appear at the bottom center of the viewfinder and be imprinted on the lower-right corner of the picture.
The camera was popular in Japan, where it was affectionately called “Nighter,” referencing its use for night baseball games.
- Type: 35mm Lens-Shutter rangefinder camera with program EE, date imprinting (year, month, day), and built-in flash
- Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
- Lens: 40mm f/2.8 (5 elements in 4 groups)
- Shutter: Pario mechanically controlled shutter. EV 9 (f/2.8 at 1/60 sec.) – 17 (f/20 at 1/320 sec.) at ISO 100. Built-in mechanical self-timer.
- Viewfinder: Coincidence rangefinder integrated with reversed Galilean viewfinder, parallax correction with projected frames, aperture scale, meter needle, battery check, overexposure/underexposure warnings. Date imprinting at viewfinder bottom center. 0.51x magnification, 82.7% vertical coverage, 85% horizontal coverage.
- EE: CdS cell for full-auto program EE. Metering range of EV 9 – 17 (at ISO 100). Film speed range of ISO 25 – 400.
- Power Source: Two 1.35V H-D mercury cells (battery check included), one 1.5V AA battery for the built-in flash.
- Built-in Flash: Guide No. 12 (at ISO 100), manual pop-up. Fully automatic with Canon Auto Tuning System (CATS) that adjusts flash aperture for subject distance and film speed.
- Film Loading & Advance: Slotted take-up spool. Advances with a 130° single stroke of the camera-top lever (partial strokes not enabled). Ready position at 15°.
- Frame Counter: Counts up and resets automatically when the camera back is opened.
- Film Rewind: Camera-top crank.
- Dimensions & Weight: 122 x 75 x 61 mm, 540 g