Canon T90

Dennis S · Apr 12, 2010

I have recently picked up a Canon T 90. Everything seemed to work well. The body is in excellent condition. I have shot approximately 28 rolls. The last roll of HP 5 seems to have a problem. I have included several pictures of it. What I was wondering is this this one of the symptoms of the sticky shutter problem ? I had always thought that the shutter works horizontally. I also wondering if this is a MAJOR prob. or something that will not break the bank if I take it for repair.
BTW I used 2 different lenses also.

benjiboy · Apr 12, 2010

Its A not a horizontal shutter, but a plastic curtained vertical running focal plane shutter.

unclemack · Apr 12, 2010

Definitely not the shutter. It's a light leak. Look at the similarity of the shapes of the R/H vertical edges of the overexposed areas of each frame - shadow of the felt trap of the film can. I think you'll find the leak extends into the rebate edge of the film too.
T90 isn't prone to light leaks except for the foam around the film window. Check if it's still there and is still firmly attached to the film door.
I'm betting it's not.
Once in a blue moon the film door latch panel comes loose - but you would have mentioned it.
BrIEfly, that's it! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Dennis S · Apr 12, 2010

Definitely not the shutter

Thanks for the response. I was kind of puzzled by this. I sent it in for a CLA and the internal battery change and putting on an external flash hook-up. With all the engineering on these cameras you would have thought that a few things like; MLU and a vertical exposure button would have been included in such a great camera.

unclemack · Apr 12, 2010

Vertical release button was (maybe still is?) available which screws into the remote release socket.
So the camera is away for CLA at the moment? If I'd known I wouldn't have spent time diagnosing the fault & replying...

AgX · Apr 12, 2010

I never heard of such a (proprietory) release button for vertical use. Any hints?

(There might even be the chance of firmly installing such second switch without diassembling the body, but that would be very, very delicate work.)

Dennis S · Apr 12, 2010

The information is greatly appreciated. I checked the clasp that holds the door shut seemed to be the problem. Around the light seal frame there was a object keeping the door from being closed completely. I just took it after I read your post that it wasn't the shutter. Another thing was the cover to the remote cover was missing so that was probably a problem to. And I usually always send a camera for a CLA after I get them so there is no problems in the future of it. Thank-you for your input.

benjiboy · Apr 13, 2010

There definitely was a vertical release button accessory made by Canon for the the T90 that screwed into the cable switch socket because I used to sell them in my shop when the camera was current in 1986 the only year the T90 was made before autofocus SLR s killed it, I saw one on ebay last year that sold for megabucks. Canon said that a MLU was not necessary because the shutter was so vibration free, but I understand that one firm in the U.S.can modify them to provide the facility, and another company who can make the camera leave the film tongue out on rewind. You should be able to get a replacement remote switch cover from one of the used equipment dealers in the U.S., on ebay, or ask on the Yahoo Canon T90 group website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanonT90users/ if anyone has a spare, or knows where you can get one.
I just want to warn you because if I remember rightly you have a Metz 45 CT1 flash, and mention that you are having a flash sync socket fitted that the cameras trigger voltage is only around 6V for the dedicated Canon 300 TL flash that was made for the T90, the 45 CT1 is very high about 180 to 200V I use a Wein Safe Sync http://www.weinproducts.com/safesyncs.htm with mine that fits in the hot shoe and drops the voltage to under 6V to avoid frying the electronics

Dennis S · Apr 13, 2010

I was also trying to find out what a new Canon T 90 was worth when they were new in 1986. I think the came with the 50mm f1.4 lens. Even Canon History doesn't supply that info. Thanks for the tip on the flash. I thought the voltage would be the same as my A1 & F1n cameras that I use it on. So basically I would have to still find a transformer to fit in the circuit before I could use it ? There is also another flash the Canon 580 ??? that is still supported by the T90 ? I have been looking into getting a 300TL and it looks quite promising on prices etc. Maybe I will just get the CLA on the camera as well as replacing the interior battery without doing the renovation of it. Thank-you for the input.

Dennis S · Apr 13, 2010

Well I ordered one of the hot shoe adapters that you recommended. The Metz flash is a fantastic unit to use. The flash covers a lot more area than a regular flash. I thought that the flash voltage would be the same on all Canon FD cameras. I know about the EOS cameras and the lower voltage.

benjiboy · Apr 13, 2010

You don't need the additional flash sync socket with the Wein Safe Sync, because it has one that provides a contact that's less than 6V, the 300 TL is fully dedicated and you can take advantage of the superb TTL off the film flash metering that does fill in flash for you. I just wanted to warn you about the trigger voltage issue, and this particularly applies to just about all the older type studio strobes.
Best wishes, I hope you enjoy "The Tank" as much as I do.

Dennis S · Apr 13, 2010

Well THANK-YOU you saved me a bit of $$$ for your tip. Now I can buy more FD lenses with the money I will save.

benjiboy · Apr 13, 2010

You're very welcome,I've been using the 45 CT1 for more then 20 years with my A1, F1, and other FD bodys and they still work fine, but I checked the trigger voltage on the 300 TL which is around 6v before I used the Metz on it and I thought it safer not to risk it, and I can use the Safe Sync with any studio strobes I use of unknown trigger voltage, and any shoe mounted flash, I have three T90 bodys, and find it a very useful accessory that obviates the need for a sync. socket, and allows me to use them with any flash.

Dennis S · May 20, 2010

I just picked up the flash adapter from my Canon T90 to a Metz 45 CT1. It is a "Nikon AS-15 Hot Shoe Adapter" in case any other Canon T90 owners would need such a thing. It was probably a sought after item in 1986 but now probably not so much..,... Just wonder if ANY of my EOS cameras would still be usable after 25 years ???

Poisson Du Jour · May 20, 2010

The T90 is a fine camera, passing aside its occasional heavy consumption of batteries and rough use over many years. I have seen several very battered models in good working order but with faults varying from a sticky mirror, worn film window foam (resulting in light leak over time), inaccurate shutter speeds and abraded legends around the top panel controls. But what really caught my attention here is... a "vertical release button that screws into the remote release socket." A what?? I'd be interested in seeing such a gizmo. It would have been very useful in my time using the T90.

Dennis S · May 20, 2010

"vertical release button that screws into the remote release socket." A what?? I'd be interested in seeing such a gizmo. It would have been very useful in my time using the T90.

There was such a thing for sale on the Auction site we all love so much. The one I saw had a $50 price on it and it still had 3 days left sooooo I think they were kind of out of my price range. Looked like they just threaded on were that little cap is located. I also noted that with the T90 there is really not a lot of grip in the bottom like the ledge that is on the battery packs with the EOS cameras. BUT if you have a flash frame or ?? that is a totally different solution to that problem. The member Mr,"benjiboy" pointed it out to me.
I know they were made BUT where to locate such an item is questionable. Antique store, very old photograph parts store ? Good luck on your search.

Poisson Du Jour · May 20, 2010

Most educational. But $50.00!? They should come off the glue!
The EOS 1, 1N of course were no better than the T90 in terms of vertical holding when they came out, unless the PDB-E1 was fitted which conveniently added a beefy grip and shutter release, partly answering prayers. But Canon fumbled, initially leaving out an AEL button on early PDB-E1 boosters, then backtracking to include it from 1992. Things got better on the EOS 5 (also in my armoury) and its superb Vertical Grip VG-10, adding a quick control wheel, AEL and focus point selection. But the T90 was always an awkward beasty in vertical mode so mention of that nifty vertical release button accessory certainly caught my imagination. Right now, though, my priority on "the auction site we all love so much" is to secure an Olympus XA. Then maybe I'll track down a decent T90 to add to my collection of "instamatics".

Dennis S · May 20, 2010

Ya I was surprised @ the price. It didn't take me long to convince my self that it really wasn't necessary for my stable. For that price I could pick up another lens or more film.

Trask · May 21, 2010

Just on note on one great attribute of the T90 and other FD-lensed Canon cameras: they have a short lens-mount-to-film-plane distance, so with the appropriate adapter you can use a variety of different-mount lenses AND focus them to infinity. I like using my Pentax SM lenses on my T90, just for the fun of it all.

Poisson Du Jour · May 21, 2010

dances_w_clouds said:
Ya I was surprised @ the price. It didn't take me long to convince my self that it really wasn't necessary for my stable. For that price I could pick up another lens or more film.

For AUD$50 I think I could land an EXC+ Olympus XA!

Some time in the future I will acquire a T90 hopefully in mint condition and ideally sourced locally.

Referencing an earlier post, I paid $870 for the T90 body in May 1987 with an FD 35-135mm f3.5 zoom (both new). Proficient in wielding it everywhere I went, my first winning photographs from Kodachrome 200 to Ilfochrome were run through that camera and lens combo; I did have a 28mm lens later I think but cannot recall what happened to that. The T90 came after trading an Olympus OM4 with motordrive, having at that time a poor understanding of highlight/shadow exposure interpretation. Times (and cameras...) changed after education from 1991.
If I'd held my nerve (what's youth got to do with it!?) I should have kept both cameras, damn it! :rolleyes: .

benjiboy · May 21, 2010

dances_w_clouds said:
I just picked up the flash adapter from my Canon T90 to a Metz 45 CT1. It is a "Nikon AS-15 Hot Shoe Adapter" in case any other Canon T90 owners would need such a thing. It was probably a sought after item in 1986 but now probably not so much..,... Just wonder if ANY of my EOS cameras would still be usable after 25 years ???

The reason I recommended the Wein Safe Sync was that it has electronics in it that whatever trigger voltage the flash has it reduces it to below 6 Volts, I don't think the Nikon AS 15 does this I think it's just an ordinary hotshoe to sync socket adaptor and still might fry the cameras electronics.

Dennis S · May 21, 2010

adapter

benjiboy said:
The reason I recommended the Wein Safe Sync was that it has electronics in it that whatever trigger voltage the flash has it reduces it to below 6 Volts, I don't think the Nikon AS 15 does this I think it's just an ordinary hotshoe to sync socket adaptor and still might fry the cameras electronics.

I purchased it from Beau Photo in Vancouver and this adapter is what they recommended. I had my T90 with me when I inquired about it. I have already shot 2 rolls with no problems. On the instructions it said to not use it on a camera with OVER 7 volts I was just wondering if any other learned photographers have a concerns about it because maybe I just got lucky with using it that many times without frying my system.

benjiboy · May 21, 2010

dances_w_clouds said:
I purchased it from Beau Photo in Vancouver and this adapter is what they recommended. I had my T90 with me when I inquired about it. I have already shot 2 rolls with no problems. On the instructions it said to not use it on a camera with OVER 7 volts I was just wondering if any other learned photographers have a concerns about it because maybe I just got lucky with using it that many times without frying my system.

I worked in camera stores for long enough to know that most of the employees are salesmen, not photographers and "don't know an f stop from a bus stop" according to Metz if it has a serial number below 53400 it has a very high trigger voltage but I wouldn't trust any of them without the Wein Safe Sync.
http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics/faq.html#c2138
Dead Link Removed
http://www.bobatkins.com/smf/index.php?action=printpage;topic=219.0

Dennis S · May 21, 2010

Where would I find the serial # on my Metz 45 CT-1 ? I've looked all around it & nothing with #s

MattKing · May 21, 2010

You might be able to rely on the salesperson at Beau Photo - nowadays they only really sell to the Pro market, and they have more of a focus on their pro level rentals than anything in the "amateur" market.

That being said, I would expect that a T90 would be much more susceptible to being "fried" than any of the Canon F series cameras (not sure about the A series).

I used to have a Metz 402, and still have a couple of Metz 60 series flashes. The 402 had a very high trigger voltage, and I wouldn't have even considered using it with my Mamiya 645 Super or Pro. The 60 CT1 and 60 CT2 have trigger voltages between 20 and 30 volts according to the page linked below, so I have avoided using them with the 645 Super or Pro.

Here is the link: http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Canon T90

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