Canon FTb QL, 35mm SLR camera ( SN 149155 ).

Canon FTb QL, 35mm SLR camera ( SN 149155 ).

The Canon FTb QL is a mechanical 35mm SLR camera, launched by Canon in March 1971 as a robust semi-professional model positioned below the then-flagship Canon F-1.

This example, serial number 149155, originates from the first production phase, which ran from 1971 to mid-1973. Cameras from this serial range are distinguished by the original body design. This includes the all-metal film advance lever without a plastic cap, the classic stop-down lever on the front, and a purist viewfinder display that does not yet reflect the selected shutter speed.

Technically, the FTb QL is based on a fully mechanical cloth focal-plane shutter with speeds from 1/1000 second to 1 second, plus B. As the shutter is purely mechanically controlled, the camera remains fully functional without a battery. It uses the Canon FD mount for full-aperture metering but is also backward compatible with older FL lenses. Exposure metering is performed via a TTL selective system, which covers approximately 12 percent of the central image field. The eponymous Quick-Load (QL) system facilitates film loading via a hinged mechanism in the body.