Canon Pellix 35mm SLR Camera

I purchased a Canon Pellix from Used Photo Pro in Indianapolis in their "as-is" section for approximately $25. This is a unique SLR for the time because it has a semi-transparent mirror (fixed pellicle mirror) vs the traditional SLR mirror. The camera was introduced in 1965 and only produced through 1966 replaced by the Pellix QL (Quick Load) which was produced through 1970.

The camera was equipped with a TTL CdS light meter positioned behind the mirror. With a fixed translucent mirror there is no mirror movement which prevented viewfinder blackout when shooting (not a big issue honestly) and reduced vibration (good for slow shutter speeds / long exposures). No "mirror slap". However, the viewfinder is dimmer since the light through the lens is split. I personally didn't notice this as an issue in my shooting. 

Pellix without a lens showing the semi-transparent mirror

A few features:

• Completely manual camera with a light meter.
• Shutter speed from B + 1s to 1/1000.
• Canon FL lens mount. This type of lens readily available, very bright and affordable in many focal lengths.
• A dial on top of the camera that activates the viewfinder blind. This can be used for long exposures (The only camera I own that has this feature. I don't thing I'll ever use it, but it's still cool.).
• Accessory cold shoe.
• Match - needle light meter exposure display (you adjust speed or aperture until the needle rests inside the small circle).
• Shutter button lock.
• Easy to use mechanical self timer.
• Cloth shutter curtain.

Some issues:

• The ISO/Din numbers are VERY small and red. ISO is set on the shutter speed dial visible in 2 very small openings. The ISO numbers are VERY hard to read in my experience.
• Max ISO when using the light meter only goes up to 800. Any faster film will need to be used without a meter.
• No hot shoe.
• Takes a 1.35V PX625 style battery which are available but NOT readily common. HOWEVER, the Canon Pellix operates without a battery. You just won't be able to use the light meter.

Top of camera, viewfinder curtain dial below the film rewind knob

Viewfinder in normal / open setting

Viewfinder closed

I've should a few rolls of Eastman Vision3 250D in both 200 & 250 ISO through my Pellix. Here are examples:

Overall, I think this is a well build, sturdy basic Canon FL mount SLR with basic features. I'm glad I have it in my collection HOWEVER, there are other FL mount Canon's that I prefer. 

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. 

 

Canon EOS Elan II with a Vivitar 70-210mm f/4.5-5.6 Lens

One of my favorite 35mm film SLR's is a Canon EOS Elan II. Very basic, good functions, reliable & somewhat contemporary. It's all plastic goodness. I primarily use it for street photography or when I'm using expired film and I want to make sure I use a camera that works!. Up to now I've always used it with a pancake 40mm f/2.8 lens shown in this picture.

However, I decided to mount it with a fairly inexpensive 3rd party, Vivitar 70-210mm f/4.5-5.6 lens. I RARELY if ever use long lenses on film cameras. I'm more of a 35-50mm street / snapshot shooter. I was given this lens a few years ago, so I figured I would give it a go.

The lens is surprisingly robust. It's not the fastest lens, but for street photography that isn't an issue. It's a pull / push zoom lens so it's extremely intuitive and easy to zoom. It has both AF/M settings to fit your shooting needs and a macro setting (which I didn't use). The AF was surprisingly fast. The only issue is that there is no zoom lock so when you hold the lens down (below horizontal) the lens barrel on my lens went all the way out to 210mm which looked kind of silly. This particular lens can easily be purchased online for under $100. 

I took this combination out the other day loaded with a bulk loaded roll of Ilford XP2 Super 400. Once shot I developed the roll at home with Unicolor C-41 purchased from Roberts Camera. The results. 

Canon L2 with an Industar-61 53mm Lens

Rangefinder cameras are my favorite. Not sure why, but I’ve always liked the 35mm film form factor. I think that’s why I’m drawn to the Yashica Electo, the Leica M line & similar cameras.

Yesterday I added another rangefinder to my lineup. Hopeless, I know! I purchased a Canon L2 (without a lens) from Used Photo Pro at Roberts Camera for $95. I saw it the other day. It didn’t have a lens, so although I’ve always wanted a Canon L1, L2, L3 or 7 I didn’t consider it without a lens. I knew it took an M39 Leica Thread Mount type lens. Original Canon LTM are pretty pricey. Since film is just a hobby for me (pro work is all digital), I couldn’t justify the price. I thought maybe I could go the adapter route, but honestly, I said to myself “Steve you JUST bought a Leica CL”.  

However, when I got home I remembered my Fed 4 which has a Industar 61 53mm LTM lens. I hadn’t used the Fed 4 for some time so wheels started to spin. You know how it goes (or at least how my brain goes) – should I or should I not?? I didn’t resist, off came the lens and the next day took it down to Roberts.  The lens fit, the camera felt good, everything worked….so I bought it.

Here she is without the lens (as purchased) and the lens I put on it.

I wanted to give it a go immediately. It was a bit of an overcast day but still bright. Since the max speed on the camera is 1/500 I picked up a roll of Kodak TMAX 100 & loaded it up.  I walked around for about an hour and just took some test snaps.

The camera handles like a dream. Very smooth, quiet shutter, good weight & the rangefinder is fairly bright of an old camera. It very much has a Leica vibe going on. The Industar lens is also good. Although mine looks a bit “rode hard” it focuses smoothly, the aperture blades are smooth and it looks nice on the camera. A nice combo, and anyway 50mm (this is 53mm) is what I prefer for street photography.

I brought the film home and developed / scanned it last night. I’m happy with the results.  Here are a few examples (these are just test shots).

I’m very happy with the camera. It was a good price, got to put a lens into use & it looks nice. This might be my current go to rangefinder.

Girls On Film - Location Fashion Shoot

I did a fashion shoot on location in an abandoned building recently with model Katie Allen.  I was joined by local fashion photographer Wil Foster.   Lots of interesting architecture and natural light to work with.  Of course, I used my digital kit for the main shoot.  However, I also brought this little cutie to the shoot.  A super compact Canon SureShot 80u 35mm point & shoot.  

This was another Goodwill find some time ago.  Not sure when I got it, but it's completely clean.  The camera packs a 38-80mm zoom lens and a groovy art deco vibe to the body.  I loaded it with a roll of Ilford XP2 400 B&W film and put it in my camera bag.

During the shoot I pulled out the SureShot and popped off a few shots during each clothing & location change. Since this was a "real" shoot there was also studio lighting equipment involved. Because the lighting in the building was somewhat low, the SureShot's flash went off on every shot. After a few shots I realized the camera's flash was triggering the slave mode on the Profoto lights and setting them off as well.  No wonder a few of the shots were completely blown out.  The struggle is real.

On all the shots I kept the zoom at 38mm.  Everything was automatic.  The parallax framing in the optical viewfinder was a bit hard to see in the environment so some of the pictures were not framed like I wanted, but seriously, this is minor.

I dig the camera.  Really easy to use and I am surprised at the quality of the prints.   BTW, I developed the film myself and scanned the negatives using my low end Epson V370.

A few of the shots.  No post processing except to straighten / crop & apply a bit of sharpening.