Canon's revised FD SLR — the FTbn, full-aperture CdS, viewfinder speed display, cloth shutter, 1973.
The Canon FTbn was a revised version of the FTb, introduced from 1973, and is often referred to as the FTb New. It kept the mid-range position within Canon's FD system and added refinements over the original, including a shutter-speed display in the viewfinder and other small handling improvements.
As a 35mm SLR the FTbn used the Canon FD breech-lock bayonet, compatible with FL lenses, and a cloth focal-plane shutter running 1 second to 1/1000 plus bulb. It employed through-the-lens CdS partial metering with a match-needle display and full-aperture metering with FD lenses, plus a viewfinder readout of the selected shutter speed. Exposure was manual; the CdS meter needed a battery, while the mechanical shutter fired without power.
The FTbn suits enthusiasts, students and users wanting a solid, mechanically reliable manual SLR with the added convenience of a viewfinder shutter-speed display. Its all-metal build and full-aperture match-needle metering make it durable and easy to work with for general, documentary and landscape photography. It remains a dependable everyday film camera with wide FD lens support.
When buying, the CdS meter was designed for a 1.35V mercury cell, so factor in the discontinued PX625/625 battery when judging accuracy; an adapter or recalibration may help. Test the cloth shutter for capping and accuracy, inspect for perished foam light seals, check the prism for desilvering or haze, and confirm the viewfinder readout and smooth advance and rewind. FD and FL lenses adapt to mirrorless bodies.