1508 da Vinci

FE   The arrival of the Nikon FE was an eagerly awaited event. Following the Nikon FM launched in 1977, it seemed to be the natural progression, with the same compact body as the FM, electronically controlled shutter, and aperture priority AE. In fact, the development of the FE started long before the commercial launch of the Nikon FM and Nikon EL2. As mentioned earlier in "Nikon EL2," the planning of the Nikon FE was already underway, investigating the clever idea of providing a wide power supply voltage so that the same control microchips could be used. I, the author, was also a member of the FE development team and felt somewhat strange that the previous model, the EL2, had not yet been released when the FE development was in full swing. The Nikon FE went on sale in June 1978, about one year after Nikon switched to the AI (Automatic Maximum Aperture Indexing) system. On the surface, it appeared to be an orthodox and simple camera, but this, along with the Nikon FE2, garner...

Nikomat ELW / Nikon EL2  The Nikomat ELW was introduced in early 1976 as a minor change model from the Nikomat EL (released in 1972). In April of the same year, the "Canon AE-1" was released alongside the "Power Winder A". This camera, marketed in Japan with the slogan "Continuous Shooting SLR", swept the camera market, selling over 9 million units. The author of this article, who used to work in the design department at Nippon Kogaku, recalls feeling bitter when a sales representative from an electronic parts company asked, "Isn't Nippon Kogaku going to make a 'Continuous Shooting SLR'?" This was because the sales representative was unaware that Nippon Kogaku had been a pioneer in auto film advance and continuous shooting since the Nikon S2 and SP eras. At this time, winders and motor drives were available as accessories for SLR cameras, and auto film-advance became a popular feature. Nippon Kogaku’s solution to the market demand at ...

FM  The Nikon FM is a mechanically operated, interchangeable lens, 35mm film, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was manufactured in Japan between 1977 and 1982 by Nippon Kogaku K. K. (now Nikon Corporation). Released in 1977, the FM was introduced as the successor to the Nikkormat FT3, which had been launched only a few months earlier. It featured a completely new compact but rugged copper-aluminum alloy (duralumin) chassis, which would become the basis for Nikon's highly successful range of compact semi-professional SLR cameras. These cameras were designed as a more reasonably priced alternative to Nikon's professional F-series cameras, such as the Nikon F2. They were all-new successors to the Nikkormat F- and EL-series amateur-level SLRs, but despite the lower price, they continued Nikon's reputation for high-quality construction, impressive durability, and technical innovation. The FM has proven to be an exceptionally long-lasting and reliable camera. Over the next twe...

F2   The Nikon F2 is a professional-level, interchangeable lens 35mm film SLR camera. It was manufactured by the Japanese optical company Nippon Kogaku K.K. (now Nikon Corporation) in Japan from September 1971 to 1980. It features a horizontal-travel focal plane shutter with titanium shutter curtains and a speed range from 1 to 1/2000 second (up to 10 seconds with the self-timer). It also offers flash X-sync at 1/80 second. The camera's dimensions are 98mm in height, 152.5mm in width, 65mm in depth, and weighs 730g. It was available in two colors: black with chrome trim and all-black. The F2 became popular among both casual and professional photographers, particularly photojournalists covering the latter half of the Vietnam War. The F2 is the second model in Nikon's F series of professional 35mm SLR cameras, following the Nikon F (manufactured from 1959 to 1974). Subsequent models in the series included the F3 (1980–2001), F4 (1988–1996), F5 (1996–2005), and F6 (2004–2020). Th...

AF35M  This was the world’s first Lens-Shutter 35mm autofocus camera at the time. It used a triangulation system with a near-infrared emitting diode (IRED). The active AF system had the IRED emit a near-infrared beam so its reflection was received by a pin photo diode. When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the IRED emits a near-infrared beam on the subject. The beam reflected by the subject was received by the pin photo diode. A triangulation was thereby created in the same way as with an optical coincidence rangefinder. The lens draw is adjusted automatically to match the subject distance for focusing. The near-infrared beam also enabled focusing under low-light conditions, making the camera a hit product. The name “Autoboy” became synonymous with AF compact cameras. Type : 35mm Lens-Shutter autofocus camera with program EE and built-in flash Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm AF System : Triangulation system with near-infrared beam. Prefocus enabled. Lens : 38mm f/2.8 (4 elements in...

AV-1  Even though the camera would cost more, shutter speed-priority AE cameras were important to Canon since users could comprehend shutter speeds easier than aperture settings. However, in America and other overseas markets, aperture-priority AE 35mm cameras were in the majority. Overseas distributors also clamored for an aperture-priority AE model. Canon responded with the AV-1. When this camera appeared, a new type of FD lenses featuring instant mounting/demounting was also introduced. A low-cost FD 50mm f/2 lens was made available for the AV-1. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon New FD 50mm f/1.8, New FD 50mm f/2 (Quick mount/demount type) Lens Mount : FD mount Shutter : Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. All speeds stepless and controlled electronically. Built-in self-timer (with adjustable delay and blinking LE...

A-1  The A-1 was the top-of-the-line A-series camera. (The AE-1 was the first in this series.) It was a sophisticated electronic camera with all-digital control. Besides the shutter speed-priority AE and aperture-priority AE modes, it featured the first fully automatic program AE mode, preset aperture-priority AE, and Speedlite AE mode. The viewfinder information was also easy to read with a 7-segment red LED readout. The control settings were displayed at the same time which made it very useful. Besides Power Winder A, developed at the same time as the AE-1, accessories for the A-1 included the compact Motor Drive MA which attained a maximum shooting speed of 5 fps. This Motor Drive had a convenient vertical-grip shutter button. Also, there was the Speedlite 199A which had bounce flash capability. The A-1’s body had a fine black finish. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 SSC, FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC Lens Mount : FD moun...

A35F  This camera is the same as the A35 Datelux except for the date imprinting function. It was marketed in the U.S. and China. Type : 35mm Lens-Shutter rangefinder camera with program EE and built-in flash Normal Lens : 40mm f/2.8 (5 elements in 4 groups) Shutter : Pario mechanically controlled. 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 and correction marks. On the right within the image area are the aperture scale and meter needle, battery check position, overexposure and underexposure warnings. Date imprinting position is displayed 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 : One 1.35 V H-D mercury cell. Battery check p...

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 wi...

110ED20    The Canon 110ED20 was designed for both ISO 80 and ISO 400 film. It succeeded the 110ED camera, with improvements mainly in the shutter mechanism. The Canon-developed electronic shutter offered stepless speeds from 2 seconds to 1/1000 second, alongside a mechanical shutter speed of 1/125 second. The camera size was nearly the same as the 110ED, with a slight increase in height by 0.8 mm and a weight increase of 45 g. The price also rose by 2,000 yen. The 110ED20 was Canon’s last Pocket Instamatic camera. Type:  Pocket Instamatic Lens-Shutter camera for 110 film cartridges Picture Size:  13 x 17 mm Normal Lens:  26mm f/2 (5 elements in 4 groups) Shutter:  Canon-made electronically-controlled stepless shutter from 2 sec. to 1/1000 sec., Mechanical shutter at 1/125 sec. Viewfinder:  Reversed Galilean with projected frames, 0.61x magnification, 84% coverage at 3m, parallax correction marks, overexposure (red LED), underexposure & camera-shak...

AT-1  The AE-1 with shutter speed-priority AE and TTL metering became wildly popular in Japan and overseas. However, in a few overseas markets, the AE-1 had a high price tag. There were also many users who still preferred manual metering. In response to these people, the AT-1 was developed. It had the same body as the AE-1. It featured match-needle metering and TTL center-weighted averaging metering with a CdS photocell. The camera could use the same accessories as the AE-1. Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 SC Lens Mount: FD mount Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. All speeds controlled electronically. Built-in self-timer (with blinking LED). Flash Sync: X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts with German socket and hot shoe. Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.82x magnification, 93...

F-1 An F-1 with a few improvements. The film advance winding stroke was reduced from 180 to 139. The ready position of the film advance lever was widened from 15 to 30, which made film advance faster. The film advance lever also had a new plastic tip. The film speed range was increased from ISO 2000 to ISO 3200. The PC terminal had a fastener to prevent the PC cord from disconnection. In total, thirteen improvements over the old F-1 were made. The Canon OD F-1 (released in March 1978) is a color-variation model of the F-1 (later model) released in 1976. OD stands for Olive-drab, the camera's body color, which was reminiscent of the U.S. army and a color popular with young people. Its specifications are the same as the F-1 (later model). Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens: Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 SSC, FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC Lens Mount: FD mount Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal curtains. X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/...

TLb   The TLb was marketed overseas in September 1974 as the cheaper version of the FTb. It was later sold in Japan in April 1976. The basic specifications were the same as the Canon TX except for the omission of the hot shoe. X-sync was possible only with the PC terminal. Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 SC Lens Mount: FD mount Shutter: Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 sec. No self-timer. Flash Sync: FP- and X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts with German socket and hot shoe. Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.85x magnification and 94% coverage. Microprism rangefinder at center of fresnel matte screen. Metering match needle, stopped-down metering needle, and incorrect exposure warnings provided. Exposure Control: CdS cell for TTL full-aperture, match-needle center-weighted averaging metering. M...

AE-1  Introduced in April 1976, the AE-1 was a very successful camera worldwide. When the AE-1 came out, TTL manual-metering models (such as the Canon FTb and FTb-N) were still the mainstream in the 35mm SLR market. Auto-exposure models were still at the very top end of the SLR market, expensive, and produced in small numbers. However, the AE-1 was designed from the ground up with five major units and twenty-five minor units, centrally controlled by a microcomputer. By incorporating electronics, the parts count was reduced by 300. The manufacturing of the camera was also highly automated. This made it possible to produce a low-cost camera with high-end features. Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC, FD 50mm f/1.8 SC Lens Mount: FD mount Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. All speeds controlle...

110E   A sister model to the 110ED and marketed at the same time, the 110E targeted the mass market. It differed from the 110ED in three ways: 26mm f/2.7 lens with 4 elements in 4 groups, zone focusing, and no date function. Otherwise, the camera was the same as the 110ED. Although the film emulsion was new to improve image quality, the picture size was so small that the image quality of enlargements was not good. A model for the new ISO 400 film was developed. However, Canon later withdrew from the Pocket Instamatic market. Type : Pocket Instamatic Lens-Shutter camera for 110 film cartridges Picture Size : 13 x 17 mm Lens : 26mm f/2.7 (4 elements in 4 groups) Shutter : Canon-made electronically-controlled shutter for 8 sec. to 1/500 sec. X-sync with hot shoe. EV 0 (f/2.7 at 8 sec.) – 17 (f/16 at 1/500 sec.) Viewfinder : Reversed Galilean viewfinder with projected frames. 0.61x magnification, 84% coverage at 3 m. Zone focusing marks, parallax correction marks, overexposure war...

TX   This was a stripped-down Canon FTb for the mass market overseas. The fastest shutter speed was only 1/500 sec. The metering pattern was center-weighted averaging instead of 12% partial at the center. The stop-down lever had no locking feature. A PC terminal and hot shoe were provided for flash. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 SC Lens Mount : FD mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 sec. Self-timer available. Flash Sync : FP- and X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts with German socket and hot shoe. Viewfinder : Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.85x magnification and 94% coverage. Microprism rangefinder at center of fresnel matte screen. Metering match needle, stopped-down metering needle, metering indicator, insufficient flash warning, and overexposure and underexposure warnings provided. Exposur...

110ED   In March 1972, Eastman Kodak announced a new film system called the "Pocket Instamatic." Compared to the Instamatic 126 system’s 13 x 17 mm picture size, the Pocket Instamatic was much smaller. Cautious about entering this market, Canon concluded that the specifications and features had to be good enough to please users. The 110ED had a 26mm f/2 lens with 5 elements in 4 groups. The large aperture boosted focusing performance with a coincidence rangefinder. For exposure control, there was aperture-priority EE. The camera also had a built-in date imprinting function, making it a high-end model. Type : Pocket instamatic Lens-Shutter camera for 110 film cartridges Picture Size : 13 x 17 mm Lens : 26mm f/2 (5 elements in 4 groups) Shutter : Canon-made electronically-controlled shutter for 8 sec. to 1/500 sec. X-sync with hot shoe. EV 1 (f/2 at 8 sec.) – 17 (f/16 at 1/500 sec.) Viewfinder : Reversed Galilean viewfinder with projected frames. 0.61x magnification, 84% covera...

Datematic    A camera for the masses, it featured date imprinting and a body and exterior made of reinforced plastic. Although similar in size as the Canonet G-III series, it was 200 g lighter due to the reinforced plastic. The camera had a 40mm f/2.8 lens, fully automatic program EE exposure control, date mechanism on the lens barrel, and a convenient date on/off switch. The date could also be imprinted on the lower right corner of the photograph. Type: 35mm Lens-Shutter rangefinder camera with program EE and date imprinting (year, month, day) function in lens barrel Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm Lens: 40mm f/2.8 (5 elements in 4 groups) Shutter: Seiko ESF (electronically controlled), EV 1 (f/2.8 at 4 sec.) – 17 (f/16 at 1/500 sec.), X-sync. Built-in self-timer. Hot shoe and German socket for automatic flash. Viewfinder: Coincidence rangefinder integrated with reversed Galilean viewfinder. Parallax correction with projected frames and correction marks. Same lamp for battery c...

EF    This camera’s main feature was the first and last of its kind. It was the Copal Square, a vertical-travel, metal-curtain, focal-plane shutter. The camera’s specifications and ease of use were ideal for aged users. Just press the shutter button for shutter speed-priority TTL automatic exposure. A silicon photocell was used for full-aperture center-weighted averaging metering. Fast shutter speeds from 1/2 sec. to 1/1000 sec. and bulb were mechanically-controlled while slow speeds from 1 sec. to 30 sec. were electronically-controlled. Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens: Canon 55mm f/1.2 SSC, FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC Lens Mount: FD mount Shutter: Vertical-travel focal-plane shutter with metal curtains. X (at 1/125 sec.), B, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. Hybrid shutter (using Copal Square) with mechanical shutter speeds from 1/2 to 1/1000 sec. and B, and electronic shutter speeds...

FTb-N   Improved version of the Canon FTb. Improvements include a shutter speed display in the viewfinder, a larger shutter button, a plastic-tipped film advance lever, and a slimmer combination self-timer and stop-down lever. Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens: Canon 55mm f/1.2 SSC, FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC Lens Mount: FD Mount Shutter: Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. Built-in self-timer (self-timer lever also functions as a stop-down lever). Multiple exposures enabled. Flash Sync: FP- and X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts with German socket and hot shoe. Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.85x magnification and 94% coverage. Microprism rangefinder of fresnel matte screen. Metering indicator, exposure match needle, stopped-down metering needle, shutter speed display, and high- and low-light warning provided. Exposu...