This is my Canon FX Ser. No. 159929 with the correct FL 50mm f/1.8 lens. I also have the FX with the Canon/Bell & Howell logo on it Ser. No. 229031
The Canon FX
The first of the Fabulous “F” Series
The Canon FX was an important evolutionary step in the
development of Canon cameras.
It was the first of the “F” series of cameras that were to be such a commercial success.
Introduced in April of 1964 the FX
followed the basic layout of the Canonflex. This was a manual
camera with a built in CdS light meter on the top deck. Metering was not TTL but through a small window on the front of the top plate below the rewind knob. Shutter speed and aperture were set manually based on the meter reading.
Camera particulars are as follows:
Date: Introduced April 1964.
Type: 35mm SLR
Lens Mount: Canon FL
Focus: Manual
Exposure: Set manually
Light Meter: Uncoupled CdS meter
Flash: X sync thru PC Socket
Shutter: Horizontal cloth focal plane
Speeds: 1 Sec to 1/1000th
ASA / ISO: ISO 10 – 800
Frame Rate: Manual Lever Winding
Battery: 625 Mercury Cell
The Canon FX was an important evolutionary step in the development of Canon cameras. Introduced in April of 1964 it followed the basic layout of the Asahi Pentax and assumed the form to be taken by cameras for the next twenty-five years until the coming of the EOS cameras.
This was a manual camera with a built in CdS light meter on the top deck. Metering was not TTL but through a small window on the front of the top plate below the rewind knob. Shutter speed and aperture were set manually based on the meter reading.
The CdS light meter indicator is in the window on the top plate of the camera. The scale is coupled with the shutter speed dial so one need only set the aperture that is indicated by the needle position. Under the rewind knob on the left is a two position switch to set light meter sensitivity.
This camera was the first to use the FL lens mount which was an outgrowth of the R mount used on the Canonflex. The aperture was controlled by a single pin on the rear face of the lens. The diaphragm was automatic in the sense that it remained open until the moment of exposure when it would close down for the exposure and then reopen immediately afterwards. This meant that the viewfinder was bright for more accurate focusing.
The camera had an on/off switch on the back side of the top plate to the left of the viewfinder which also served as a battery check. Light readings were shown in the window on the top plate and under the rewind knob was a switch for high and low sensitivity of the meter.
The flash sync is by way of a PC Socket on the front of the camera. There is a shoe on the prism housing but it is an equipment mount only. There are no electrical contacts in it.
This is a nice camera to hold. It is heavy and has that well made feeling of the Model P or the Model 7 rangefinder cameras. But it is big, much bigger than the Pentax. This camera is usually found with silver top and bottom plates. Some in black were produced but they are exceedingly rare.
My FX, Ser. No. 159929, is shown in these pictures. It functions well but the light meter not so much. However, the meter is not coupled to the shutter or iris so it functions well using a hand held meter.
The Canon FX Manual
The FX Black
In the last few days, around 23 May 2023, I have been following a conversation on Facebook about the FX Black. Apparently this has been prompted by the appearance of one on E-bay. The comments refer to how rare these cameras are and they suggest that they know of only a handful of them, maybe 5 or 6.
I looked at the E-bay listing of ‘kumsjapan’ for his FX Black and downloaded his images, four of which I include here. It is a good looking camera. He is asking about 550.00 USD which is expensive. The silver ones appear to be offered at around 100.00 USD. The Black is out of my price range, especially in view of the cost of some recent acquisitions. But, maybe one day ……..
31 May 2023
We have an update on the FX Black mentioned above. It sold on the 24th of May for $457.31 USD plus $45.90 shipping.
But wait, there is more. Another FX Black showed up on E-bay in the last few days. The seller, sirene41 from France, his listed a rather poor condition FX for 1,290 euro (about $1,384 USD). This camera has a nasty ding on the pentaprism housing and is generally shows signs of heavy use.
On the right are two images of sirene41’s camera from his listing on E-bay. You can see that this camera is in rather poor condition. Were it not for its rarity it would not be considered ‘collector grade’.
This website is the work of R. Flynn Marr who is solely responsible for its contents which are subject to his claim of copyright. User Manuals, Brochures and Advertising Materials of Canon and other manufacturers available on this site are subject to the copyright claims and are the property of Canon and other manufacturers and they are offered here for personal use only.