Introduction: The Canon TX at a Glance
The Canon TX is a single-lens reflex that Canon released in 1975, built for sale outside Japan. Think of it as the FTb with some of the finer features taken away. If you enjoy mechanical SLR film cameras, the TX is an interesting example of how a manufacturer trimmed a design to serve a different market.
The photos below show the body with a Canon Zoom FD 35-70mm f/4 attached. Camera and zoom share the same FD mount, which is why that combination looks so natural.
Shooting with a mechanical SLR of this kind slows you down in a useful way. You focus on the ground glass, set the aperture and shutter speed yourself, and every frame costs something, so you tend to look twice before pressing the release.
Design Roots and Historical Background
A trimmed-down FTb for export
Canon launched the TX in 1975 as a cut-back relative of the FTb. It was meant for overseas customers and never went on sale in Japan. A year earlier, in 1974, the closely related TLb had appeared. The TLb left out the hot shoe, which the TX includes.
A variant with an all-silver top plate was sold under the name Bell & Howell FD35.
What Canon left out
The savings are easy to list. Film loading skips the Quick Load system, the mirror cannot be locked up, and the shutter release cannot be locked. The stop-down lever will not stay engaged. It looks like a self-timer, yet the camera offers none.
Key Technical Highlights
Metering
The TX reads light with a centre-weighted averaging meter. The FTb, by contrast, measures a 12% partial area. Nothing switches the meter on or off, nothing tests the battery, and the meter seems to run continuously. Treat the needle as a guide and learn how it reacts in contrasty scenes, where an averaged reading can be fooled by bright skies or deep shadows.
Shutter and flash
The focal-plane shutter uses cloth curtains that run sideways across the frame, and its fastest speed is 1/500, which is lower than on the FTb. For flash you get a hot shoe plus a single PC socket that changes automatically between FP and X sync.
Lens mount and key points
The camera uses the Canon FD mount, so the zoom shown in the photos and other FD lenses fit directly. In short:
- Released in 1975 for export markets, never sold in Japan.
- Centre-weighted averaging meter, seemingly always on.
- Cloth shutter, top speed 1/500.
- Hot shoe and one auto-switching FP/X PC terminal.
- No Quick Load, no mirror lock-up, release cannot be locked.
Modern-Day Use in 2026
Where the TX excels
The TX is a plain SLR with a modest top speed and few extras, so it suits photographers who like to set everything themselves and mostly shoot in decent light.
Use it for:
- Learning exposure with a simple needle meter and manual controls.
- Travel and daylight snapshots with a standard zoom.
- Street and documentary work where you prefer a quiet mechanical body.
- Exploring FD lenses on one mount.
Practical shooting tips
- Pick a film speed that suits the light, since 1/500 is the fastest shutter setting.
- Compare the needle with a handheld reading if the scene has strong contrast.
- Use a tripod for slow speeds, because the mirror cannot be locked up to reduce vibration.
- Carry a spare battery for the meter.
Buying and Maintenance Guide
What to check before buying used
Work through this list when you inspect a TX:
- Fire the shutter at all speeds and listen for consistent timing.
- Look at the light seals around the back and the mirror box for crumbling foam.
- Check the meter needle moves smoothly and responds to changes in light.
- Look through the viewfinder for haze, dust or fungus on the prism and screen.
- Open the battery compartment and look for corrosion.
Inspect the lens too: turn the zoom and focus rings through their full range, shine a torch through the glass and check that the aperture blades move cleanly.
Power and batteries
The meter seems to run continuously, so battery habits matter:
- Check which cell type suits the meter circuit before buying a replacement.
- Remove the battery when you put the camera away for a while.
- Wipe the contacts with a dry cotton bud.
Basic care and accessories
A few inexpensive photography accessories go a long way:
- A padded bag or case to protect the body and lens.
- A lens cap and a hood to reduce flare.
- A blower and microfibre cloth for safe cleaning.
- A sturdy tripod for slow speeds.
Conclusion: Simple by Design
The Canon TX shows what happens when a maker simplifies a capable SLR for a particular market. It gives up the FTb's partial metering, the metering switch, Quick Load and mirror lock-up, but it keeps the FD mount and a hot shoe.
If you want a plain film SLR and enjoy learning exposure by hand, the TX, pictured here with a 35-70mm f/4 zoom, is a sensible design to study. Inspect any body carefully and keep the battery fresh. Related reading: our Canon AE-1 guide.
FAQs
When did Canon release the TX? Canon released the TX in 1975. It followed the similar TLb from 1974, which had no hot shoe.
How does the TX differ from the FTb? It is a simplified export version. Its meter is centre-weighted averaging instead of 12% partial, it lacks a meter switch and a battery test, and the top shutter speed is 1/500.
Does the TX have a self-timer? No. The stop-down lever looks like one, but no timer exists.
Which lenses fit the Canon TX? It uses the Canon FD mount, so FD lenses such as the Canon Zoom FD 35-70mm f/4 shown in the photos fit directly.
Where can I find the Canon TX manual? The original instruction manual is available as a free PDF download on this page, under the first photo.
Ready to explore cameras like the Canon TX? Browse our SLR film cameras and wider analog cameras range, plus photography accessories, at DutchThrift.com.
Sources: Canon TX instruction manual (scan); Canon TX on camera-wiki.org, text licensed under GFDL 1.3.