Before digital photography was invented, when 35mm film ruled the photographic world, a high-quality single lens reflex camera such as the Canon FTb was what keen amateurs aspired to own. A 1970s mechanical SLR such as this would come as a shock to anyone who has grown up with modern point-and-shoots, as you have to do most of the work yourself. There is no auto setting or auto focus. You set the shutter speed and aperture manually, and you even have to wind the film by hand after each shot. But there is a built-in exposure meter to help you.
Instructions
Getting Started
1. Familiarize yourself with the most important controls and dials. The exposure meter switch and film rewind crank are on the top of the camera body on the left. The shutter release button, film advance lever, shutter speed dial and film speed scale are on top on the right. The aperture ring is toward the back of the lens, and the focusing ring is at the front.
2. Check that the exposure meter battery has enough power. Set the film speed scale to ASA 100, the shutter speed dial to 1,000 and the meter switch to "C." Look through the viewfinder. On the right you will see a needle with a circle and a straight needle. If the straight needle is below the notch a quarter of the way up, replace the battery.
3. Load the film. Lift the film rewind crank to release the camera's back cover and swing it open fully. Place the cartridge in the compartment on the left and push down the rewind crank. Then pull the end of the film across until it is over the red mark on the sprocket on the right. Close the camera and, with the lens cap on, take two shots. Then, when you advance the film, you'll be ready to shoot.
Take Your First Photo
4. Set the film speed. The correct ASA setting will be written on the film box. Set the shutter speed dial to the required setting. Try 125 or 250 to start with. Switch on the exposure meter.
5. Look into the viewfinder and note the circle in the middle. Adjust the focusing ring until the circle appears sharp.
6. Set the aperture by turning the ring through the preset positions until the two needles in the viewfinder line up. This means the exposure is set correctly, and you can take that first picture by gently pressing the shutter release button. If the needles won't line up, you'll have to change the shutter speed.
7. Advance the film with the advance lever and take another shot, then another. When the film is used up, wind the film back into the cartridge and send it off to be developed.
Tags: shutter speed, exposure meter, film speed, rewind crank, shutter speed dial, speed dial, advance lever
