C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile35mm SLR
Canon FX1964
- Format
- 35mm
- Mount
- Canon FL
- Years
- 1964–1966
- Shutter
- 1s – 1/1000s
- Meter
- external-cds-coupled
The Canon FX (1964) is the camera that introduced Canon's F-series interchangeable-lens SLR system and the FL bayonet mount. It is a fully mechanical camera with a cloth focal-plane shutter and stop-down TTL-adjacent metering via an external CdS cell mounted on the front of the prism housing. The FX represents Canon's first serious bid to compete with Nikon and Pentax for professional and advanced-amateur 35mm SLR buyers. It was a short-production model, quickly followed by the stripped-down FP, but it established the lens mount and design language carried through to the FD era.
Reference
Find film for your Canon FX
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ISO 400
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Kodak Tri-X 400
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profileC41
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
- **Mechanical shutter** - the FX shutter is fully mechanical and can be serviced; sticky curtains are the main failure mode.
- **CdS meter** - the external meter cell on the prism housing degrades with age; many examples have an inaccurate or dead meter.
- **Battery mercury substitute** - original PX625 mercury cell no longer available; use a Wein zinc-air cell or adapter.
- **Light seals** - replace on any 60-year-old example.
- **Curtains** - cloth horizontal curtains at this age may have pinholes; check by opening the back and shining a light.
- Parts are scarce; service requires a specialist familiar with pre-FD Canon bodies.
- Priced as a collector item rather than a shooter body; cosmetic condition matters to value.
About this camera
Canon's founding F-series SLR body - the FL-mount platform that launched a pro line.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What film does the Canon FX use?
- The Canon FX shoots 35mm film.
- What battery does the Canon FX take?
- The Canon FX uses a 1x PX625 / mercury battery.
- What lens mount does the Canon FX have?
- The Canon FX uses the Canon FL mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Canon FX offer?
- The Canon FX's shutter speeds range from 1s to 1/1000s.
- What light meter does the Canon FX use?
- The Canon FX meters with external-cds-coupled.
