Selecting the top 10 Canon film cameras poses quite a challenge considering the company's long history.
Canon has produced hundreds of different cameras over their 80+ year history, with some becoming all-time classics that shape the market to this day. Canon film cameras show a dedication to precision construction, excellent lenses, and affordability that has made them a mainstay of the photographic community.
That's why we balked at making a top 10 list on our own, and decided to let you do it! Just like our list of the Top 10 Film Cameras of 2019 and the expanded Top 35 Film Cameras list, these results are entirely driven by search engine data, representing the market more than our personal opinions.
Top 10 Canon Film Cameras Video
Browse our shop for Canon, Canon FD, or Canon EF
Enjoy the video above, continue scrolling to see more images and additional information. As always, you can visit our shop to choose from over 7000 items, including quite a wide selection of Canon film cameras.
No. 10 - Canon EOS 1N
Search shop for Canon EOS 1N or all Canon EF SLRs.
- The Canon EOS 1N is an interchangeable lens, autofocus, auto-exposure 35mm SLR using Canon’s EF (Electro Focusing) mount.
- The camera requires a 2CR5 battery for all functions, including advanced TTL flash, multi-point autofocus, and a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000th of a second at 6 frames per second when using the PB-E1 grip.
- Introduced in 1994 as the successor to the EOS 1, Canon’s first professional body for the EF system.
- Improvements over the EOS 1 included four more autofocus points (for a total of five) and improved weather sealing.
No. 9 - Canon F-1
Search shop for Canon F-1 or all Canon FD bodies.
- The Canon F-1 is an interchangeable lens, manual focus, manual exposure 35mm SLR using Canon’s FD mount.
- Introduced in 1971 along with the FD mount, versions of the F-1 were produced until 1994. It was the first professional model within the ranks of Canon film cameras.
- Older models function mechanically, only requiring a PX625 battery for the light meter. Newer models (F-1n and New F-1) require 4x LR44 batteries to function.
- Introduced a large swath of accessories intended to compete with Nikon’s established F and F2 cameras.
No. 8 - Canon T70
Search shop for Canon T70 or all Canon FD bodies.
- The Canon T70 is an interchangeable lens, manual focus, full-program 35mm SLR using Canon’s FD mount.
- The camera requires 2x AA batteries for all functions, including advanced program modes, powered winding and rewinding, and powering two different TTL metering mechanisms.
- The T70 is a more-advanced followup to 1983’s T50, adding some creative control while retaining the T series’ dedication to simplicity.
- We don't fully understand how this got here.
No. 7 - Canon AV-1
Search shop for Canon AV-1 or all Canon FD bodies.
- The Canon AV-1 is an interchangable lens, manual focus, aperture priority 35mm SLR using Canon’s FD mount.
- Like it’s more common cousin, the AE-1, the AV-1 uses a 4LR44 battery for all functions, including aperture priority exposure and light metering.
- Instead of the AE-1’s shutter priority, the AV-1 reads the attached FD lens and selects a shutter speed based on the reading.
- All AE-1 accessories will also fit the AV-1.
- The AV-1 lacks a proper shutter speed dial and does not have manual mode. The camera can only be used in aperture priority mode or fire at a 1/60th of a second flash sync speed.
No. 6 - Canon Canonet QL17 G-III
Search shop for Canonet QL17s or all Canonet models.
- The Canonet QL17 G-III is a fixed-lens, manual focus, shutter priority 35mm rangefinder camera with a 40mm f1.7 lens.
- This 1972 camera requires a 1.35v PX625 mercury battery for all functions. It is possible to convert the light meter to get accurate results with modern 1.5v alternatives.
- The QL17 can be used in full manual mode, but the light meter will only activate when the camera is put into shutter priority mode.
- Of the most popular Canon film cameras, this is the only one without interchangable lenses, and represents the pinnacle of Canon's fixed-lens rangefinder line.
No. 5 - Canon A-1
Search for Canon A-1 or all Canon FD bodies.
- The Canon A-1 is an interchangeable lens, manual focus, auto exposure 35mm SLR using Canon’s FD mount.
- Like the AE-1, the A-1 needs a 4LR44 battery for all functions, including aperture priority, shutter priority, electronic shutter control, and LED viewfinder readouts.
- The A-1 is the highest-end A body made, being more advanced than the AE-1, AE-1 Program, AV-1, and others.
- The camera is one of the first to be entirely battery-dependent, and one of the first to have access to manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, and full program.
- Capable of firing at 5 frames per second with the motor drive.
No. 4 - Canon T90
Search shop for Canon T90 or all Canon FD bodies.
- The Canon T90 is an interchangeable lens, manual focus, auto exposure 35mm SLR using Canon’s FD mount.
- The T90 requires four AA batteries for all functions, including advanced metering, shadow and highlight control, and a max shutter speed of 1/4000th of a second at 4.5 frames per second.
- The T90 represents the pinnacle of the T series, and the last Canon professional SLR introduced before the EF mount was announced.
- Luigi Colani designed the T90's space-age body, and its design language echoes into modern SLRs today.
No. 3 - Canon AE-1 Program
Search shop for Canon AE-1 Program or all Canon FD bodies.
- The Canon AE-1 Program (AE-1P) is an interchangeable lens, manual focus, auto exposure 35mm SLR using Canon’s FD mount.
- The AE-1 Program, like the AE-1, uses a 4LR44 battery to control its functions, including aperture priority auto exposure, full program exposure, and an LED viewfinder readout.
- The camera’s main advantage over the AE-1 is access to full program mode. In this mode, the camera will set both aperture and shutter speed automatically based on lighting condition.
- The AE-1P can utilize all accessories usable with the AE-1 and other A bodies, as well as its own line of accessories and winders.
No. 2 - Canon FTb
- The Canon FTb is an interchangeable lens, manual focus, manual exposure 35mm SLR using Canon’s FD mount.
- The FTb requires a PX625 mercury battery for the light meter, but can function mechanically as well.
- The camera was introduced in 1971 alongside the F-1 and the FD lens mount, which replaced the earlier FL mount and becoming the consumer-grade standard for Canon SLRs at the time.
- The QL badge on the front of the FTb indicates the presence of a quick-loading system, a metal hinge in the camera back that holds film taught against the take-up spools. This allows for faster loading than other cameras of the time.
No. 1 - Canon AE-1
- The Canon AE-1 is an interchangeable lens, manual focus, shutter priority autoexposure 35mm SLR using Canon’s FD mount.
- The AE-1 uses a 4LR44 battery for its functions, including aperture priority autoexposure and an electronic shutter.
- The camera was the first SLR with a built-in microprocessor for auto-exposure, and is one of the most popular cameras of all time, selling over one million units when new (and ranking #2 on our Top 35 Film Cameras list).
- The AE-1 was the first of the Canon A series, and was the beginning of Canon regaining a large share of the SLR market from rivals like Nikon and Minolta.
- The exterior of the AE-1 is made of plastic and then finished with paint to give the look and feel of metal. This saved weight as well as cut costs.
Conclusions
Canon's long history as a camera manufacturer means they have more than enough iconic models for a Top 10 list. Clearly, Canon film cameras have influenced the market in a way that can be felt to this day.
Moreover, the results show that many Canon film cameras are defined by their relationship to the most popular of them, the Canon AE-1.
Without a doubt, the AE-1 set the standard for compact SLRs with automatic exposure and continues to be one of the most popular film cameras to this day, so it makes sense to use it as a benchmark for comparing similar models.
This article was originally published on 9.10.2020.
0 comments