Canon FTb QL - Aperture needle help?

Hey everyone,

 

Beginner here. I just got an FTb QL that I'm dying to bring out and about, but I've noticed that the aperture needle/"lollipop" in the viewfinder doesn't move when I turn the aperture ring on the lens. The lollipop does move in the viewfinder when I slide the spring-loaded clip on the right side of the mirror, so I don't think the problem is the camera, but I could be wrong. I've tried 3 FD lenses, but the lollipop still won't budge. With the lenses, the lollipop just stays slightly below the meter index. The battery is still good, and the shutter speed needle adjusts as expected. It's the aperture lollipop that's driving me nuts.

 

It seems odd to have 3 lenses that show me the same problem. At the same time, since the lollipop does move when I slide the corresponding lever on the camera, maybe the problem lies with the lenses? I know the stop-down lever isn't engaged because I can easily mount the lenses.

Or is something not making contact?

1. Are you sure the lenses are FD, not FL? (or R)

 

2. Could be that the coupler in the Ftb is bent back

 

3. Is the couple all the way up when you take the lens off? If not, the two pins are not mating.

Hi chuck

 

They're definitely FD lenses. The coupler is all the way up with the lens off, and when I slide it down the lollipop slides up in the viewfinder. Problem could be that the coupler is bent back. It doesn't look like it, but a millimeter might make a big difference. I attached a picture in case there's something I'm not seeing.

 

Try this. Put a lens on the camera, set the shutter to "B," open the back, press and hold the shutter button, and look into the mirror-box, and see what happens to the aperture follower in the camera as you rotate the aperture ring on the lens. As you change F-stops, the aperture follower should be moving up and down. There's an actual physical connection between the two.

The follower looks to be bent out from the mirror box from the angle you've shown it, but I'd want a closer look at it before saying that definitively.

Try this. Put a lens on the camera, set the shutter to "B," open the back, press and hold the shutter button, and look into the mirror-box, and see what happens to the aperture follower in the camera as you rotate the aperture ring on the lens. As you change F-stops, the aperture follower should be moving up and down. There's an actual physical connection between the two.

 

Looks like this is the problem. The signal lever on the lens stops just short of being above the lever on the camera, so the lens lever doesn't "hook" on to it.

The lever on the camera is at the very top of it's slot, but the one on the lens rests just below the top of its slot, and it springs back when I slide it there.

 

The 2 pictures below show the lens lever set at 1.8.

 

 

 

 

The follower looks to be bent out from the mirror box from the angle you've shown it, but I'd want a closer look at it before saying that definitively.

 

If no one beats me to it, I'll take a photo this evening of the correct alignment of the lever. Yours is definitely out of whack.

Looking at my cameras to compare, your coupler looks way out of whack. Looks like the insides got damaged by something.

 

Oh, and your mirror cushion needs to be replaced

Chuck is right. The aperture "lug" on the lens should be resting on top of the aperture follower in the camera. As you change F-stops, the lug on the lens will press down and move in synch with the spring-loaded aperture follower in the camera. It looks like the aperture follower in the camera is out of position. And yes, your mirror foam is in poor shape.

Thanks for the help everyone!

A little advice.

 

Not knowing what you paid for the camera, or if you had to pay at all, your choices are -

 

send it in for repair. Expect to pay $100.00 +

 

try fixing it yourself. Risky

 

If you really like the Ftb, go through a well known source and get another. You should be able to find one for $75.00 or less.

 

If this is your only FD type body, consider an F1 (~$200.00) or an A series (~$100.00)

PS - judging from your photos, your camera does not look like it was taken good care of.

Thanks for the advice Chuck. I bought the camera in an "as is" condition from ebay (definitely problem #1), but it was cheap so I figured, why not? I'll probably look for another Ftb in better condition just to avoid other problems. Looking on ebay now, I see good condition A1s for about the same price as great condition Ftbs (a good F1 is just out of my price range at the moment).

Sometimes you feel like an "as is" is worth the risk.

Other times, you don't succeed.

 

Life is like a sewer, what you get out of it is what you put into it o_O

I think it's working exactly as it's supposed to. Your camera was designed to shoot FL lenses, not FD. FD lenses will work, but they are designed for an auto aperture camera, so if you will simply push the self timer toward the lens when you stop the lens down, that will stop the lens down and your camera should show the metering correctly. Keep in mind that the FD lens will also need to be pre set so that you can actually move the aperture as you turn it. On the cameras it was designed for, that is all taken care of electronically. Not so on your camera, which is why you need to meter using stop down metering.

NO!!! His FTb(n) was designed for FD lenses. No question about it.

NO!!! His FTb(n) was designed for FD lenses. No question about it.

 

40 or so years ago, I had an FTb (don't know if it was an "n" model). I used FD lenses on it with no problems.

The "n" has the slimmer, black multi-function lever and the sync connection is covered.