Canon FTb Speedlite 103A

[OilWellWillie]

I am a camera collector, according to the Canon FTb manual Canon made a Speedlite 103A just for this camera. Does anyone know of this Speedlite? The following is a quote from their manual.

Canon Auto'Tuning (CAT) System, using the Speedlite 1O3A (exclusive
type ), and ordinary synchronizing flash photography.

 

[darkroommike]

The only CAT flash I ever used on the F-1 and FTb was the more common 133D which used any of four rings mounted to the lens to "tell" the flash what distance you were shooting at. The 133D also worked on the EF, I think.

 

[AgX]

The CAT system is a distance, not luminance, based autoexposure system. In contrast to the current luminance based flashes it yields good exposures independant of object reflectivity. On the assumption of course that the object to be lighted is in focus.
The flash duration is controlled by a rheostat that is mounted at the front of the helicoid.

 

[ronnies]

You do need the FD lenses with the little tab on the focusing ring that fitted into the flash ring.

Ronnie

 

[AgX]

And you need the apt ring, there are several.

 

[OilWellWillie]

Being a collector, and like to document the CAT system, what was the advantage or disadvantage of this system? I have all the canon 35mm cameras except the "T" line.

 

[AgX]

see post #3

 

[AgX]

There was another system that yielded an objective, distance based flash autoexposure.

You will find it at some compact japanese finder cameras of the pre-autofocus period.
You just set the guide number of your flash of whatever kind at a scale at the lens, set the shutter into the flash mode (what sets a fixed shutter speed) and put your flash onto the hot shoe.

No fuss with adapters and cables as with the CAT system.

Well, both systems gone under...

 

[OilWellWillie]

The Canonet Giii QL 17 rangefinder is like the second system. I am trying to find the Canolite D Flash for that camera.

 

[AgX]

Not quite.
Only the later Canonet models with a hot shoe yield that second flash autoexposure system. And then you can even chose between a non-dedicated flash (and can choose between three guidenumbers) or use the dedicated Canolite D. Via the accessory contact that flash sets the camera automatically in the electronic flash mode. (It may be troublesome using another flash with a respective accessory contact though.)