Canon FX - A low profile film SLR

I'm crazy for vintage photography devices.

As a collector of film camera, I have laid my hand on quite a number of cameras and lens.This number is definitely more than a normal camera user though it may less than moss of the other collectors. There is a lot of fun in the comparisons between the performance and maneuverability of different devices. However, the most essential thing that grant a soul to a camera is the memories that left on it.




There is a story laid behind my acquisition of this SLR camera - Canon FX. It was the first year that I stepped into the world of film photography. Just like many film newbies, I was obsessed with my desire to own some camera models which were seen as "classic" and "must have". Canon AE1 was one among them.

So I hung myself on online auction site and wait for my prey. Finally, one day I met a seller who was gonna sold few units of Canon AE1 and I was so sure that one of them will be mine.Unexpectedly, all of the Canon AE1 were won by a bidder who place his bid at the very last second.

I found that the bidder was still bidding for a Canon FX. So I decided to take it down no matter what the price was as I was blinded by my anger.After I gained more and more experience from auction, I found that this kind of "revenge" emotion was too dangerous. So I kept this experience as a lesson on my path of collector.

Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 x Ferrania Solaris 100 FG Plus

 Lets talk about Canon FX. It was quite a low profile SLR that not much of information I can find on Google. What I know is it was manufactured by Canon before the trends of lightweight SLR. That's why it came with incomparable weight and craftsmanship.

Canon FX is fitted with lens from Canon FD/FL system, which provide various of high quality lens in reasonable second-hand price. Shutter speeds range from 1 second to 1/1000 second plus B for extended time exposures with a cable release. Also, it come with a self timer, shutter release lock, mirror lock-up and a cds light cell on the body for metering.

If you are not really care about the camera model, piss the "classic" and "must have" off, what you want is only focus your mind on shooting, Canon FX may suitable for you. With complete basic functions for shooting, low popularity to ensure the price low enough and vast options of lens make it a fair choice as your first SLR.

It is a fully mechanical camera, means that it can fully working even without battery. The battery is only needed for light metering. In the other way, with the absence of auto exposure function, user have to decide and adjust the exposure value by themselves. Also a good practice for user, especially for newbie photographer, isn't it?

Canon FD 28mm f/3.5 x Fuji Color Superia 200

My Canon FX came with a Canon FD 28mm f/3.5. Though maximum f stop 3.5 seems not so big, luckily most of the time I just used it to shoot some scenery in daylight. Performance of this lens had surprised me and left a number of satisfied photo for me, including the memories of my journey in these recent years. I will write in more details about this lens.

For a very long time, FD 28mm f/3.5 was my only lens for Canon FD system. I still can felt the limitation when I tried to shoot in indoor or low light environment. Also the angle was too wide for my composition to shoot some little things. So I just grabbed another Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 and Canon FD 100mm f/3.5 to cover my shooting needs.

Once I was thinking that I should trade my Canon FX for the flagship model of Canon F series - Canon F1. Even today I already owned a Canon F1, Canon FX still steadily stay in my collection and become an inseparable memory of my life.

Canon FD 28mm f/3.5 x Fuji Color Superia Xtra 400