Canon Pellix

The Canon Pellix is an SLR camera from the Japanese manufacturer Canon. It was introduced in 1965. The biggest novelty was the metering of the exposure through the lens.

Exposure metering through the lens (TTL) was made possible by the development of a semi-transparent mirror.This is permanently installed and splits the light falling through the lens. About two-thirds reaches the film and the rest is reflected to the viewfinder.

The biggest advantage of this design is that the mirror does not have to move. This makes for less risk of camera shake and quieter operation. In addition, the photographer has the subject in view even while taking the picture. The biggest disadvantage of a pellicle mirror is that it reduces the amount of light available. For this reason, the fast Canon FL 58mm f/1.2 is often found with the camera. Another disadvantage is the risk of contamination, any stain on the mirror is also visible on the pictures.

In 1966, a revised version of the camera model was introduced with the Pellix QL. This one is mainly characterized by Quick Load feature that simplifies film loading.

The lenses of the Canon Pellix are interchangeable. It comes with a Canon FL bayonet. There is no autofocus on this lens bayonet.

The exposure meter is built for film with a sensitivity of ISO 10 to ISO 800. The aperture and exposure time can be freely set by the photographer. Shutter speeds up to 1/1000 second are available for selection.

The camera also has a Bulb mode. This allows the shutter to remain open for a variable amount of time. The shutter curtain is made of metal, as prolonged light incidence through the lens is likely, and so for example the sun would burn holes in a fabric curtain.

An external flash can be connected to the PC flash socket and attached to the cold shoe. The Canon Pellix has a built-in self-timer. It also comes with a port for a cable release and tripod.

The body of the camera measures 14.1 x 9 x 10 cm. The power source for the light meter is a 1.3V mercury battery.

Films for the Canon Pellix

Required for the Canon Pellix are photographic films. Used are films for the 35mm format. The 35mm format is very common, so even today there are some manufacturers and many developing laboratories. A good choice for the Canon Pellix is the Kodak Gold 200* (color film) and the AgfaPhoto APX 100* (black and white film).

The value of a used copy is mainly measured by its condition and functionality. Because of its unusual features, the camera still fetches quite high prices today.