Canon's 1997 fixed-focus 35mm compact — 32mm f/6.2, auto flash, DX coding, AA powered
The Canon Snappy QT is a budget 35mm point-and-shoot compact from April 1997, part of Canon's long-running Snappy series of simple fixed-focus cameras. It was sold as the Snappy QT in North America and Japan and as the Prima BF-80 in Europe, with a QT Date version adding a date-imprint back.
The lens is a fixed-focus 32mm f/6.2 with three elements in three groups, wider than the 35-38mm typical of the class. Exposure is automatic with shutter speeds of 1/60-1/250 second, and film speed is set by DX coding for ISO 100-400. A built-in flash with red-eye reduction fires automatically (guide number 9m at ISO 100), there is a self-timer, and power comes from two AA batteries. The body weighs 205g without batteries.
With no autofocus to hesitate and a wide 32mm lens, the Snappy QT is a quick street and party camera: everything from a couple of metres to infinity is acceptably sharp in good light. The slow f/6.2 aperture leans on the flash indoors, and there is no control beyond the shutter button - precisely its appeal to lomography-minded shooters.
These sell cheaply and often untested. The camera needs AA batteries to wind, fire and rewind, so confirm the motor advances film and the flash charges and fires. Check the film-door latch, DX contacts for corrosion, and the battery compartment for alkaline leakage - the commonest Snappy-series fault.