Canon FTB QL Meter

<p>Hello, i recently acquired a Canon FTB QL 35mm slr from my grandfather. I replaced the battery with a 1.35V Mercury Replacement battery ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009VQJ7/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc= ) when i use the battery check on the camera the need doesn't move however when i turn the camera on can point it at a light source the need moves upward. Also when i turn the aperture ring on my lens the circle in the viewfinder doesn't move. I would love and help that you people could give me with the meter. Thanks</p>

<p>It is a little hard to diagnose from your description but I will throw in my two cents. First, this is a camera from the 70's, although one of the best in that period and is actually my favorite of all my SLR's. Because its old now, electrical contacts are questionable and it might explain the needle behavior. The circle in the viewfinder or as we use to call it "the lollipop" should move when you change the aperture ring. The lens has linkage to the body of the camera so either the camera body linkage is at fault or the lens is faulty. Take the lens off and reattach it and try it again. If that fails try a different FD lens( I am assuming you are using an FD mount lens). If all of this fails you could get the camera cleaned and lubed or you could get a hand meter and forget the internal meter altogether which I do with many of my old cameras. Good Luck.</p>

<p>Dan offers good advice. </p>

<p>The “battery check” contact is different from the “metering on” contact. It could be that the battery check contact is dirty.</p>

<p>As for the non-moving aperture lollipop, take the lens off the camera and look into the camera body. You’ll see a lever along the right side of the mirror box. It’s spring loaded and should be at the top of the mirror box. Take your finger and try and move the lever down and up. It should move freely. If it doesn’t, then the problem is within the camera. If the lever does move freely, then the problem is within the lens.</p>

<p>Yep, good advice by both Daniel and Jim. The FTb is one of Canon's all-time great 35mm cameras so I hope you get it going, so you can enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed mine.</p>

<p>Just a future note for you, and one that will save you some money. Rather than buying the too-expensive Wein battery for your camera, you can instead use the 675 hearing aid battery. The 675's diameter is smaller, but it's about the same thickness, and it provides the same life expectancy, which is only about 9 or 10 months, maximum. The smaller diameter doesn't matter with the FTb since the cap is spring-loaded, which centers the battery anyway. I've used 675s in my FTbs and F-1s for years now at a significant cost savings. Here in the USA, I can buy a card of 48 675 batteries from Costco for about $9. Or I can go to a pharmacy and pick up a six-pack for about $5 or $6. More expensive than Costco, but still much cheaper than the Wein.</p>

<p>Meters are considerably less resistant to age effects than are most old camera parts, even if the original batteries were still available. The meters with tiny mechanical wands are especially sensitive to age, drops, and storage problems.<br>

<br /> I simply am always pleasantly surprised when built-in meters on cameras from, say, 1971, still work at all.</p>

<p><br /> Many things begin not to work so well as people and cameras near 50 years of age, after all.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>"when I use the battery check on the camera the needle doesn't move" <strong><em>Soren N.</em></strong></p>

</blockquote>

<p>To <strong>position the coil</strong> (galvanometer) correctly for the battery check function, one must first set the shutter speed to <strong>1,000th and the ASA at 100</strong>. As stated previously, the "Lollipop" indicator is a completely separate system.</p>

<p>BTW: I'd recommend the use of a MR9 type adapter so a proper & stable 1.35v battery can be used. The best choice is a 1.5v Silver Oxide content battery. <a href="/classic-cameras-forum/00cviG">Read a past article</a> <<< <em>click</em></p>

<p>Zinc Air batteries need to have the paper label removed from the air hole in the battery for at least half an hour before installing them in the camera to activate them.</p>

<p>I use a similar sized alkaline battery in my FTb. </p>

<p>Then check against sunny 16 to see if it is somewhere close. I mostly use black and white film, such that I don't have to be all that close, and I have some hand-held meters if I need them. </p>

<p>The camera's meter reading won't change when you adjust the aperture because unless you have the lens set to M, the aperture isn't going to close down until you press the shutter button.</p>

<p>If you have an FD lens on the camera, you will have to press the silver lever on the front towards the lens to meter. That will manually close the lens down to working aperture so that you can get your meter reading. Then release the lever, the aperture will open back up, and the aperture lens will shut down when you press the shutter button.</p>