Canon TX
by Karen Nakamura
Overview and Personal Comments
The Canon TX is a manual focus SLR produced by Canon, Inc. between 1975 and 1979. It was an export only model (i.e., not sold in Japan) and was basically a stripped down Canon FTb. It had no self-timer (the lever that looks like a self-timer is the depth-of-field preview lever), centerweighted metering instead of partial, and the top shutter speed is 1/500.*
*There is an empty space in the shutter dial for 1/1000. I wondered as with the Asahi Pentax SP500 if it is possible to reach 1/1000 by clicking there, but there appears to be mechanical prevention of this.
Nonetheless, this is a very usable camera. The match-needle metering is precise. The Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C. is renowned for its sharpness. Because it is all-manual, it makes a perfect camera for a photography student. Prices for this type hover around the $100 mark, making it eminently affordable. Load in some Tri-X film and you're set. I keep my TX around to lend to my students. Using the text or images on this website on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law and your terms of service.
Technical Details
| Camera
Name |
TX |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer |
Canon, Inc. |
| Place
of Manufacture |
Japan |
| Date
of Manufacture |
1975.3-79 |
| Focusing
System |
Single-lens
reflex with pentaprism eye-level viewfinder |
| Lens
Mount |
Canon FD bayonet mount |
| Shutter |
Horizontal
travel cloth focal plane shutter |
| Metering
System |
CdS
through the lens (TTL) metering Full manual match needle metering (full aperture) EV 3.7-17 |
| Flash |
External hot-shoe and PC connection |
| Film
type / speeds |
Type 135 film (35mm standard) ASA 25 to 1600 |
| Battery
type |
1.35v PX625 mercury (discontinued) |
| Dimensions
and weight |
144 x 93 x 43 mm, 680 g |
| Note: Using the text or images on this site in an ebay auction without permission is a violation of your ebay Terms of Service. I will report you to ebay if I discover such a violation taking place. |
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About Canon
Canon started out its life as Seiki Kohgaku Kenkyuujo (Precision Optical Research Company). Its first goal was to produce domestic inexpensive Leica clones, and it released the Kwanon, its first camera in 1934. Interestingly, they used Nikon lenses since Nikon was already established as an optical lens manufacturer and was not making any of its own camera bodies at that time. Canon soon gained the ability to make their own lenses and never looked back. Nikon also went on to produce some reasonably popular cameras of its own as well.
The name 'Canon' comes from the Buddhist deity Kwanon and early Canon cameras were actually spelled 'Kwanon' and the lenses were named 'Kyasapa' after another deity.
Side note: Canon is my favorite Japanese company along with Honda. I actually interned for Canon Japan (ok, Canon Sales Japan, a part of the Canon keiretsu) during a summer in college and loved my coworkers to death. They keep coming out with innovations that take your breath away.
On the Net
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