Canon EF User Manual

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INTRODUCTION

Congratulations! You have purchased one of the finest automatic 35mm SLR cameras available today. The Canon EF is a complex instrument having a multitude of advanced features, yet it is incredibly simple to use. Just select a shutter speed and the camera adjusts its own diaphragm for you automatically under all kinds of lighting situations, from bright sunlight at the beach to dim candlelight. You are assured of perfect exposures every time. Now you can concentrate on picture taking and stop worrying about mechanics. But before you actually load any

film into your new camera, familiarize yourself thoroughly with the Canon EF and this instruction manual. Handle the camera, practice focusing, and use the winding lever. And, by all means, refer to the instructions often during this orientation period. When used correctly, the Canon EF will provide you with perfectly exposed photographs for years to come. We at Canon hope you receive as much enjoyment in using the EF as we had in designing it. And we hope your involvement in photography continues to grow.

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NOMENCLATURE

1. Frame Counter

2. Shutter Button

3. Shutter Speed Dial

4. Shutter Speed Index Mark

5. Winding Lever

6. Flash Hot Shoe

7. Eye-Level Pentaprism

8. Film Plane Indicator

9. AE Memory Lock Button

10. Light Emitting Diode (LED)

11. Film Rewind Knob with Crank

12. ASA Ring

13. Sync Terminal with Cover

14. Self-Timer Lock Button

15. Multi-Purpose Lever (SelfTimer / Depth-of-Field Preview / Stopped-down Metering Lever)

16. L–M Lock Lever

17. CAT System Pin

18. AE Lock Pin and 'A' mark

19. Focusing Index Mark with Depth-of-Field Scale

20. Distance Scale (in feet and meters)

21. Aperture Ring

22. Front Bayonet

23. Focusing Ring

24. Canon Breech-Lock Ring

25. Neckstrap Eyelet

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Canon FD 50mm f/3.5 S.S.C.,

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. PICTORIAL OUTLINE FOR USING

THE CAMERA ..................................... 6-7

II. MAIN FEATURES....................................8

III. VIEWFINDER INFORMATION.................9

IV. TECHNICAL EXPLANATION

OF THE CAMERA ........................... 10-15

A. Electro-Mechanical Shutter........... 10-11

B. Variable Aperture AE Control

Method......................................... 12-13

C. Silicon Photocell ........................... 13-14

D. Central Emphasis Metering ................15

V. CAMERA HANDLING.......................16-18

A. Carrying the Camera ..........................16

B. Holding the Camera ......................16-17

C. Bracing Yourself and the Camera.......18

D. Releasing the Shutter .........................18

VI. BASIC OPERATION.........................19-53

G. Selecting a Shutter Speed .................. 27-29

H. Viewing and Focusing (including

notes on Infrared Photography) .......... 30-31

I. Locking-ln an Exposure Reading ........ 32-34

J. Releasing the Shutter ...............................35

K. Making Multiple Exposures ................. 36-38

L. Taking Pictures by Flash..................... 39-42

M. Changing Lenses................................ 43-44

N. Using the Self-Timer .................................45

O. Previewing Depth-of-Field................... 46-48

P. Taking a Stopped-Down Meter

Reading .............................................. 49-50

Q. Locking the Mirror Upward........................51

R. Rewinding the Film ...................................52

S. Turning the Camera Off ............................53

VII. INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES ............. 54-57

VIII. ACCESSORIES...................................... 58-61

A. Loading the Mercury Batteries............19

B. Checking the Batteries ..................20-21

C. Turning the Camera On

and Advancing the Film......................21

D. Loading the Film............................22-24

E. Setting the ASA..................................25

F. Setting the Aperture Ring

and the CAT Switch.......................26-27

Fold out both front and back nomenclature pages for easy reference when reading the instructions.

IX. SPECIFICATIONS .................................. 62-63

X. PROPER CARE OF THE CAMERA..............64

A. Cleaning the Camera................................64

B. Storing the Camera...................................64

C. Using the Camera in Extremely

Cold Conditions ........................................64

D. Having the Camera Serviced ....................64

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Load the batteries and

Load the film and advance it

Compose, focus and check

PICTORIAL OUTLINE FOR USING THE CAMERA

Turn the camera on.

Select a shutter speed.

Look into the viewfinder.

Press the shutter button gently.

Out of Focus

In Focus

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Advance the film

Set the ASA film speed.

Set the aperture ring of

Rewind the film

Set the CAT switch

Turn the camera off.

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MAIN FEATURES

A Variable Aperture AE (Automatic Ex-

posure).

aperture is set for you automatically.

Simply select a shutter speed and the

B Extremely wide range of shutter speeds

using an Electro-Mechanical Shutter. Accurate electronic control from one second down to a full 30 seconds; foolproof mechanical control from onehalf second to 1/1000 second (including B) even if the batteries fail.

C Incredible meter sensitivity

sponse to changing light levels by using a Silicon Photocell. At ASA 100, EV - 2 (8 sec. at f/1.4) to EV 18 (1/1000 sec. at f/16)

and rapid re-

D Wide range of FD lenses from 15mm full-

frame fish-eye to 300mm telephoto for AE photography. Other Canon lenses available from

7.5mm circular fish-eye to 1200mm super-telephoto. 2000mm and 5200mm mirror lenses available by special order.

G Automatic electronic flash.

Canon Speedlite 133D and a Flash-Auto Ring, the aperture is set automatically according to the focused distance of the lens with synchronization at 1/125 sec.

H AE memory lock

readings.

for locking-in exposure

I Wide film speed range

ASA 3200.

J Fast-action winding lever

120 throw and comfortable plastic tip.

K Short-stroke, feather-touch shutter button. L Huge shutter speed dial

edge of the camera making a change of shutter speeds quicker than ever.

M Automatic blank shot mechanism.

ing film to frame one is possible without using the shutter button.

When using the

from ASA 12 to

with a short

overhangs the front

Advanc-

ing a button while operating the winding lever. Exact registration is possible, and the frame counter does not advance during the procedure.

F Full-information viewfinder

scales for both shutter speeds and f/stops.

Multiple exposures

possible simply by push-

displaying large

to –20 degrees C. (–4 degrees F.)

O Easy battery replacement

available, inexpensive 1.3 volt mercury batteries.

Cold weather performance

using two readily

assured down

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III

VIEWFINDER INFORMATION

a. Center Split-1 mage/Microprism Rangefinder b. Ground Glass with Fresnel Screen c. Shutter Speed Scale d. Shutter Speed Indicator e. Stopped-Down Metering Index Mark

f. Underexposure Warning Mark (maximum lens

aperture is automatically set) g. Aperture Scale h. Meter Needle i. Overexposure Warning Mark

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TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF THE CAMERA

The Canon EF is a 35mm single-lens-reflex AE (automatic exposure) camera which is designed for fast handling and precise exposure control. Being modularly constructed, it contains many advanced electronic circuits to make picture-taking easier than ever before.

The vertically moving metal focal plane shutter in the EF has speeds from 1/1000 sec. down to a full 30 seconds, plus a "B" (Bulb) setting for manual time exposures. The shutter is electronically controlled in its slow range from 1–30 sec. in six discrete steps (1, 2, 4, 8, 15, and 30). The red Light Emitting Diode (LED), just to the left of the pentaprism, blinks on and off to indicate when the shutter is open. In the normal range in which most photography will be performed, the shutter is mechanically controlled from 1/2-1/1000 sec., plus B, in ten steps (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/500, 1/1000, and B). Electronic control of the shutter in the slow range insures high accuracy for long shutter speeds, whereas mechanical control in the normal range permits manual operation of the

Electro-Mechanical Shutter

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camera over a wide range of shutter speeds even if the batteries fail. Another benefit of using mechanical control for the majority of speeds is that the Canon EF uses only two inexpensive 1.3 volt mercury batteries which are available almost anywhere in the world.

Canon FD 300mm f/5.6 S.C., 30 sec., AE, ASA400.

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Commonly known as "shutter priority EE," the Variable Aperture AE control method gives the photographer absolute control over the shutter speed to prevent camera shake. You select a shutter speed appropriate to the action and/or the lens you are using, and the camera automatically adjusts the aperture of the lens to precisely the proper f/stop or fraction thereof.

Variable Aperture AE Control Method

Silicon Photocell

The Silicon Photocell is a highly accurate and extremely stable light measuring cell having a wider range of sensitivity and much faster response to rapidly changing light levels than the conventional CdS cell. At ASA 100, the metering range of the Silicon Photocell is from EV 18 (1/1000 sec. at f/16) down to EV —2 (8 sec. at f/1.4), which is five f/stops more sensitive than the normal CdS cell. At ASA 25, the range is from 1/1000 sec. at f/8 down to 30 sec. at f/1.4. This increased sensitivity range is made possible by the development of a special logarithmic amplifier to intensify the low amount of current generated by the photocell in very dim light conditions.

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TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF THE CAMERA

AE RANGE OF SILICON PHOTOCELL

AT VARIOUS ASAs

FD 50mm f1.4 S.C.C. LENS

ASA

100

200

400

800

1600

RANGE

– 4 ~ 15

– 4 ~ 16

– 3 ~ 17

– 2 ~ 18

– 1 ~ 18

0 ~ 18

1 ~ 18

2 ~ 18

Shutter speed (sec)

3200 3 ~ 18

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Central Emphasis Metering

After extensive experimentation, it was determined that the Central Emphasis Metering method of exposure measurement used in the Canon EF is the most reliable way of obtaining proper exposures in fast moving AE photography. The entire viewfinder screen is read by the Silicon Photocell with more emphasis given to the center portion, where the main subject is likely to be located. In a typical landscape, even a normal center-weighted system can produce underexposure because of the influence of the bright sky in the upper part of the picture area. The following is a diagram of Canon EF's Central Emphasis Metering method which also minimizes the effect of skylight when the camera is used horizontally.

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CAMERA HANDLING

Proper handling of your Canon EF is a very important technique in picture taking. Probably more pictures are lost through poor handling than for any other reason. To take full advantage of the EF's fast operation, you must learn where each control is instinctively. Before loading film into the camera, practice focusing, releasing the shutter and using the winding lever. A few minutes of practice now will pay off later in fewer missed shots.

Attach the Canon EF's neckstrap and adjust it to a length which feels "right" to you when the camera is around your neck. To avoid dropping the camera accidentally, you should always carry the camera by its strap. Carry the EF around your neck, hang it over your shoulder, or wrap the neckstrap around your hand. For comfortable viewing and to keep extraneous light from the viewfinder, the rubber eyecup should be attached and kept on the eyepiece permanently. Use a lens hood at all times to prevent ghost images and flare. Also, you can protect the front surface of the lens from dust or fingerprints by attaching a UV (Ultraviolet) filter. When you are taking pictures, it is a good idea to take the camera

Carrying the Camera

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out of its case, so that it will always be ready to use. Between shooting sessions, the camera should be put back into its case to protect it from dust.

The suggested procedure for holding the camera horizontally is as follows: Place the camera across your left palm and grasp the underside of the lens focusing ring between your thumb and first one or two fingers. Hold the right end of the camera firmly, so that your right thumb is behind the tip of the winding lever and your forefinger is on the shutter

Holding the Camera

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CAMERA HANDLING

button. Press the camera to your forehead while sighting with either your right or left eye. To hold the camera vertically, rotate the camera 90° so that the shutter button is near the top, place the left end of the camera in your left palm and grasp the focusing ring of the lens from the underside. Hold the camera with your right hand in exactly the same manner as in horizontal shooting. The advantage of this method is that it permits rapid changing of positions from horizontal to vertical with a minimum of fumbling.

To reduce camera shake, brace your elbows against your body and stand flat on your feet. Spread them apart with one foot a little bit in front of the other,

Bracing Yourself and the Camera

change to a lens of different focal length, the above suggestions are not necessarily valid. A good rule of thumb in determining the slowest shutter speed you can safely hand-hold the camera with a particular lens is to make a fraction representing this "safe" shutter speed by putting a "one" over the focal length of the lens. For example, when a 135mm telephoto lens is mounted on the camera, the slowest hand-holdable shutter speed you can use to achieve sharp photographs is 1/135 sec. (135mm = 1/135 sec.). Set the shutter speed dial at 1/125 sec., which is closest to 1/135 sec. This rule can be applied to all lenses, from moderate wide-angle to super-telephoto.

Squeeze the shutter button gently, instead of

Releasing the Shutter

and bend your knees slightly. If there is a sturdy support near by, such as a telephone pole, a tree, a door jamb, or wall, lean against it. This is particularly necessary, when you are using shutter speeds of 1/30 sec. and below with the standard 50mm lens on the camera. At shutter speeds of 1/15 sec. and below, it is almost impossible to produce shots free of camera movement without the use of a tripod or some other camera supporting device. When you

punching it. Also, try to coordinate your breathing with the release of the shutter. A good time is the instant between exhaling and inhaling (or vice versa) when your diaphragm is at rest. Of course, when shooting fast action, this coordination is not always possible or even desirable. It is more important to concentrate on capturing the action rather than on the position of your diaphragm.

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BASIC OPERATION

Since the Canon EF's Variable Aperture AE control and the electronic control of slow shutter speeds depend on battery power for their operation, two

1.3 volt mercury batteries (Mallory PX 625 or Eveready EPX 625) must be loaded into the battery compartments located in the bottom of the camera. Turn the camera upside down and unscrew both battery compartment covers with a coin. Load one battery into each compartment making certain that the "+" side of the battery is up. Then replace both covers and screw them back on tightly.

• To insure good electrical contact, clean both

• Be careful to load the batteries properly.

Loading the Mercury Batteries

surfaces of each mercury battery with a clean dry cloth and handle each by its edges only.

Improper loading (with the "–" side up) might cause damage to the camera's electrical circuits.

• If the camera will not be used for a long period of

time, the batteries should be taken out of the battery compartments to prevent possible damage to the terminals from battery corrosion.

• PX-13 type mercury batteries are not recom-

mended because of their low temperature characteristics.

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BASIC OPERATION

B Checking the Batteries

After loading the batteries, you should check their power level. This is a simple procedure on the EF. Just hold the red battery check button on the bottom of the camera in for two or three seconds. Watch the LED on the top of the camera. If the LED blinks on and off rapidly, then the power level of the batteries is sufficient. If the LED blinks only once or does not blink at all, then the power level is insufficient. If this is the case, replace teries with two new ones of the same type.

• Since the Canon EF relies heavily on battery

power for its operation, check the batteries each time you plan to use the camera and carry spare batteries with you at all times in case of battery failure. Attach the small battery case to the camera strap and carry extra batteries in it.

•

If the batteries do fail, the EF can still be used manually from 1/2–1/1000 sec. The Variable Aperture AE control will not operate, but you can manually adjust the aperture ring of the lens. A basic exposure guide to follow for bright sunlight (with distinct shadows) is to make a fraction representing the shutter speed needed at f/16 by putting a "one" over the film's ASA rating. With a film of ASA 100, use 1/100 sec. at f/16. Choose the nearest click-stop

both

bat-

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setting, in this case, 1/125 sec. For hazy sunlight (with weak shadows), use f/11. In cloudy bright conditions (with no shadows), try f/8. On heavily overcast days or in open shade, f/5.6 is required.

C Turning the Camera On and Ad-

vancing the Film

The ON/OFF switch, located on the back of the camera just below the winding lever, controls the operation of the Variable Aperture AE control, the electronically controlled portion of the ElectroMechanical Shutter (from 1–30 sec.), the winding lever, and shutter button. To turn the camera on, push the switch up. This activates the camera's electric circuit and makes the winding lever spring out to its stand-off position 15° away from the camera body. Now the winding lever can be operated easily with the tip of your thumb. Advancing the film and recocking the shutter for the next shot are accomplished in a single, short 120° throw to the right.

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