Canon FTb Focus Screen(s)

gone · Dec 27, 2013

I have a Canon Ftb camera coming, which I assume will have the central, circular fresnel focus screen. I seem to remember, or misremember, that the later ones had a split prism screen. True, or am I confusing the FTb w/ the F1?

dynachrome · Dec 27, 2013

I have seen FTbN models with the split image screen. Even though I have many FTbNs, they all have a plain microprism screen. I bought a split image screen from an eBay seller but so far I haven't had it transplanted into one of my FTbNs. I have been told that it would also fit into an FTb. At about the same time that Canon offered te split image screen as an option, Nikon sold the Nikkormat FTNK wth the K screen. It was the later FTN with the black plastic covered selt fimer lever.

Les Sarile · Dec 27, 2013

Possible that a later version may have gotten the split prism but my FTB, the manual and the Canon Camera Museum - FTB show a "Microprism rangefinder at center of fresnel matte screen."

dynachrome · Dec 27, 2013

I have never seen an original FTb with anything other than the plain microprism. The FTbN has the blastic tipped film advance lever and shows the shutter speed in the corner of the viewfinder.

gone · Dec 27, 2013

As I figured, my memory is a little "creative". Thanks everyone. I used to have a FT QL (big!) and really enjoyed the build quality, so this FTb should be fun a lot of to shoot too.

Mackinaw · Dec 27, 2013

Back in the 1970's at a Canon demo I was at, they had a few FTb's on the display that had split-image screens installed. I recall the factory rep telling me that Canon U.S.A could change a microprism screen FTb to a split-image screen if a person wanted. All you had to do was send it in. I suppose a good repair tech could do the switch today if he had the proper screen.

Jim B.

elcabezagrande · Dec 27, 2013

I had an FTBn, and it did not have a split prism screen.

AgX · Dec 27, 2013

momus said:
I have a Canon Ftb camera coming, which I assume will have the central, circular fresnel focus screen. I seem to remember, or misremember, that the later ones had a split prism screen. True, or am I confusing the FTb w/ the F1?

You mix up fresnel- and microp-lens.

Nikon Collector · Dec 28, 2013

I had a FTbQL in 73 that had the split ring

Nikon Collector · Dec 28, 2013

I bought it at the PX in Germany

Jeff Kubach · Dec 28, 2013

Nikon Collector said:
I had a FTbQL in 73 that had the split ring

Me too. I like that camera!

Jeff

Charles Wass · Dec 29, 2013

I have two FTbs and one FTbn, and all have microprisms, which fortunately I prefer to split prisms.

gone · Dec 29, 2013

Yes, micro prism, not fresnel. I still haven't received the camera (seller had an unfortunate, unexpected visit to the emergency room right after I bought it), but it's shipped now, and should be here soon. Looking forward to shooting it. I miss my old FT QL. It had a dead meter, so it will be a change having an in-camera meter. The FTb will replace a very nice A-1 that I just couldn't get on with for some reason. Too many electronic features that just confused the shooting experience.

dynachrome · Dec 30, 2013

As has been mentioned elswhere, the Canon Camera Museum website has many errors. I'm happy to have it as an extra reference though. A split image focusng screen from a Konica Autoreflex T3 can be transplanted into an Autoreflex T2 body but the T2 was never sold wth a split image screen. Once equipment leaves its manufacturer anything can happen to it. If you really like usng different screens the a Canon F-1 is very convenient. Cameras like tha AE-1 Program and the Nikon FE2 have interchangeable screens but changing them is more fiddly and there aren't as many choices.

Canon FTb Focus Screen(s)

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