Solid Canon SLR from 1966 with innovative Quick Loading, robust all-metal construction with TTL metering.
The Canon FT QL is a solid 35mm SLR from 1966 featuring Canon's Quick Loading (QL) film loading mechanism that simplified the film threading process. The FT uses the Canon FL mount — the predecessor to the FD mount — with through-the-lens metering for accurate exposure guidance.
The QL mechanism was Canon's innovation to address the difficulty of loading 35mm film, using a simplified system that fed the film leader automatically onto the take-up spool. The TTL metering uses a CdS cell with stop-down measurement for accurate exposure in manual mode.
Build quality is robust all-metal construction from Canon's professional-era manufacturing with a solid, confidence-inspiring feel. The focal-plane shutter provides speeds from 1 second to 1/1000s, and the camera handles well with the extensive FL lens range.
The Canon FT QL offers a capable vintage SLR experience at affordable used prices. The FL mount provides access to quality Canon lenses, and the QL loading mechanism was a genuine convenience innovation that made the camera more user-friendly than contemporaries.