Canon FT QL

I recently used my Canon FT QL ("quick load"). It's a robust SLR with an FL / FD lens mount and a reasonable TTL light meter. I mounted the FT with a Canon FD 35mm f/3.5 lens. As always this isn't a technical review but if you'd like more information here is the manual.

Here are the things I like and dislike about the FT:

What I like:

• Convenient shutter release lock under the shutter release button
• Good shutter speeds from B to 1/1000 & X setting for flash sync of 1/60
• Quick load mechanism that eliminates / minimizes film mis-loading
• Convenient battery check switch
• Wide range of affordable / high quality lenses

What I dislike:

• Loud shutter slap so the camera is not stealthy 
• Cold shoe versus hotshoe
• Metering lever is next to the lens and somewhat awkward to use
• The lens stops down when the meter lever is activated so the viewfinder darkens making it hard to see the light meter needle in the viewfinder
• The light meter needle is very small so somewhat difficult to see in darker settings
• requires a 1.3V battery for the light meter which are not readily available
• The FT is heavy

Even with the camera's negative features I enjoy using the FT QL. My version is clean & I have a good range of FD lenses. Also, even though the camera uses a 1.3v battery I used a standard 1.5v button battery successfully. The light meter reads hot, so I simply adjusted the aperture by a stop whenever I used the meter. This seemed to work OK. The rest of the time I simply used sunny 16.

Here are a few images from a recent shoot using Fujifilm 200 and home developed with CineStill C-41. 

 

Roberts Camera Garage Sale

 

My local photography retailer is Roberts Camera and it's associated Used Photo Pro. Roberts Camera is located in Indianapolis, IN. One of the cool things they regularly do is hold a sale of excess inventory, returned items, "as is" items, expired items, etc. etc. The event is called the Roberts Camera Garage Sale. Items are sold are really affordable / give-away prices. I've been to a number of their Garage Sales.

Pricing is done one of two ways: 1) you use one of 2 sized boxes they provide (or several of them) and put anything in the box that will fit. The box has a set price based on the size no matter what you are able to put in it, or 2) items have a colored stickers. The sticker color represents a set price like $5, $10. Items with the sticker don't qualify for one sized fits all boxes. Bottomline, prices are outstanding and you can find some good deals especially if you dig through the bins / tables. 

I personally like going through the "as is" or damaged items to see if I can find any gems.

The above photo is what I bought at last Saturday's Garage Sale. Total was just over $50. I found (including some comments):

• 2 x Paterson 2-reel daylight developing tanks and reels (these were free).
• A Fujifilm underwater point & shoot camera with 800 speed film (new in box) for $2.
• 2 x Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe photographic paper including 2 rolls of 36-ex Ilford HP5+ 35mm film for $5 each. The paper is damaged (looks like the shipping box was crushed) but the film is fresh and that's why I bought the items. 6 rolls of 36-ex HP5+.
• A film developing changing bag.
• A 35mm film leader extractor.
• 2 boxes of Cokin 3x3 creative filters including 1 x 52mm Cokin filter holder (all are clean / unused).
• Watson Model 100 bulk loader (looks like it's brand new / never used).
• Albinar Auto f/2.8 28mm manual focus FD lens (works, mounted on a Canon TX to test).
• Canon AC 35-70mm FD mount lens (not sure if works. Was made specifically for a Canon T80 which I don't have).
• Yashica DSB f/2.8 28mm lens (looks clean, but I don't have a Yashica or Contax camera to mount it on to test).
• Tamron f/3.8-5.6 28-200mm zoom lens with Nikon mount (well used, but appears to work AOK).
• Pentax-M f/2 50mm lens (clean / works)
• Mamiya ZE body (battery door broken & ISO dial feel off when testing, so through the camera away).
• Minolta QTsi Maxxum body (tested / works).
• Canon EOS Rebel Gii body (tested / works).
• Pentax SF1n body (tested / works, but only in A mode. Some of the Mode functions appear unavailable).

Lots of film photography equipment that I'll be able to use in my workflow. I've already tested all the cameras & have 2 of the lenses mounted. I'll load the Watson bulk loader soon and have played around with the Cokin filters. Not bad for $50.

So if you are ever in the Indianapolis area during future Roberts Camera Garage Sale events you should definitely go!