Using the Canon T-60

  In many ways, however, the Canon T-60 is the predecessor of the Canon EOS Rebel; both are inexpensive, light cameras that are great as backup camera bodies or camera bodies to take places you don't want to risk a more expensive camera.

 The Canon T-60 is an older, manual focus camera using Canon's FD lens mount instead of the newer, autofocus EOS lens mount.  Instead of electrical connections to allow for communication between the lens and the camera, the T-60 uses a system of levers to tell the camera what aperture the lens is set at, and to close the lens down to the right aperture at the time of exposure.  Aperture is set on the lens, rather than on the camera, and the exposure system, while still automatic, is much less sophisticated than that of the EOS cameras.

 

 

Note:  The FD lenses for the Canon T-60 will not fit on the EOS cameras such as the Rebel G - or vice versa.  Be careful and make sre you are putting the right type of lens on the right camera.  Never force any of the parts together.
Top Loading Film Changing Lenses Choosing an Exposure Mode Taking a Picture
Self Timer Exposure Compensation

Basic Operation:
Loading Film:  Loading film is more complicated on a manual advance camera like the T-60.

First,  open the back of the camera by pulling up on the film rewind knob ( left). 
Next, place the film canister on the left side of the camera with the small plastic protrusion of the film canister pointed down.  Push the film rewind knob back down, twisting it slightly to engage the film canister.  Stretch the film across the back of the camera until it reaches the takeup spool on the right side of the camera . 

 Insert the end of the film leader into one of the slots on the takeup spool (blue arrow).
 Set the shutter speed to 1/125 of a second (4th figure from top, red arrow).  Press the shutter release (blue arrow) and advance the film by moving the film advance lever to the right (purple arrow). 
As the film begins to tighten across the camera, check to see that the film leader is winding around the takeup reel (red ellipse) and that the film is engaging the sprocket teeth (red arrows in both views). Tighten the film slightly by taking up slack with the rewind knob (turn it clockwise). If the film is engaging, close the back of the camera, and fold up the rewind knob.

Advance the film several more times until the film reaches the "1" mark on the film counter (green arrow, above left).  Make sure that the film rewind knob moves as the film is advanced; this confirms that film is moving through the camera.

 

Set the film speed by turning the ISO knob to match up the white marking on the camera with the appropriate film speed on the knob.  The camera to the left is set for 400 speed film, and the rewind knob is stowed.
To rewind the film, unfold the rewind knob but do not raise it up.  Press the rewind button on the bottom of the camera (red arrow, right) and hold it in as you begin to turn the rewind crank in a clockwise direction until all the film has been wound into the canister and the rewind knob turns freely.  You can then pull up on the rewind knob to open the camera back and remove the film.
Top Loading Film Changing Lenses Choosing an Exposure Mode Taking a Picture
Self Timer Exposure Compensation

Changing Lenses:

To change the lens, place the camera strap around your neck.  Hold the camera facing up from you in your left hand, with your thumb over the top of the camera and your other fingers curled around the bottom of the camera.  Some lenses have a release button on them, usually on the left side of the lens.  Press this button and rotate the lens counterclockwise about 1/4 turn until it disconnects.  Other lenses are like the one pictured at the right.  Instead of a release button there is a locking ring close to the camera.  Twist this ring clockwise to release the lens.

   Cap the rear of the lens you have just removed with the cap from the lens you are mounting.  

If the new lens has a release button, simply place the new lens with its red dot at the 12 o'clock position (there is another red dot on the lens mount to guide you) and twist it to the left about 30 degrees until it locks into place.

  

If the new lens has a locking ring, hold the lens facing away from you and twist the locking ring clockwise until it clicks (it may already be there).  Align the red dot on the lens with the red dot on the camera, place the lens on the camera, and twist the locking ring clockwise (towards the left side of the camera) until it is firmly seated.

 
Be sure the lens is firmly mounted before letting go.  Be sure the lens that you removed is secured in your camera bag (and the bag is closed) before proceeding.
Top Loading Film Changing Lenses Choosing an Exposure Mode Taking a Picture
Self Timer Exposure Compensation

Choosing an Exposure Mode:

The Canon T-60 has a single automatic exposure mode plus manual.  The mode is set using the command dial on the top right hand panel of the camera (red arrow at left).

L - Locks the camera and shuts off the battery.
A - Aperture priority - you set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed. 
The remaining numbers represent the shutter speeds from 1/1000 second down to bulb (B).  These settings are used to manually select a shutter speed.

 
Top Loading Film Changing Lenses Choosing an Exposure Mode Taking a Picture
Self Timer Exposure Compensation

Taking a Picture:

To take a picture (in  automatic mode), press the shutter button halfway (blue arrow, right).  This will activate the  camera's meter. Look through the viewfinder, below.  There are 3 ways to focus.  First, you can look for the image to become sharp in the ground glass portion of the viewfinder (most of the viewfinder).  Second, you can focus more critically in the brighter, donut shaped area at the center.  Third, the central circle is a split-image focusing aid; as you focus any vertical lines will appear to be offset until brought into focus, at which point they line up. Once you are focused in the automatic mode, all you have to do is press the shutter (blue arrow, above).  After the shutter fires, you must advance the film by moving the film advance lever (purple arrow) to the right once or twice until it locks.  Do not force the lever!  If the shutter fails to fire, it may be because the film was not advanced.

About the viewfinder:  

In the center of the viewfinder there is the  circular area which delimits split image focusing aid.  This is surrounded by brighter prismatic glass which is also good for focusing.   Exposure information is displayed at the left side of the viewfinder.  In automatic mode, a red dot appears next to the Auto and next to the shutter speed selected by the camera.  In manual mode (pictured), a dot appears next to the M, and another dot appears next to the shutter speed selected by the control knob on top of the camera.  If this is not a correct exposure, the camera suggests a correct exposure with a third dot.  In the figure above, the correct exposure is 1/250 of a second, but the camera is set to 1/125 of a second.

 

If you are not in the automatic mode, you will need to take additional steps before pressing the shutter button completely:

  1. You will need to select the aperture by pressing the aperture lock button (green circle, above) and turning the aperture ring (red arrow) until the desired aperture is selected.  You must then set the shutter speed by turning the command dial to the desired speed. 
  2. Focus the picture and check the meter by pressing the shutter button halfway.  If there are 3 dots showing (one at M), adjust either the shutter speed or aperture to move the other two dots together.  This is the "correct" exposure.
  3. Press the shutter button completely to take the picture.
Top Loading Film Changing Lenses Choosing an Exposure Mode Taking a Picture
Exposure Compensation

Advanced Features:

  1. Exposure compensation: To adjust exposure, there are two simple techniques.  The first is to adjust the film speed setting by the desired amount of compensation, and taking the photographs as indicated by the meter or the automatic settings.  The second is to use the manual mode and purposely take the exposures above or below the metered value.
  2. Self-timer:  On the front of the camera, next to the "T-60", there is a red LED.  Pressing this LED will start a 10 second delay; at the end of this delay the shutter will fire.
Top Loading Film Changing Lenses Choosing an Exposure Mode Taking a Picture
Self Timer Exposure Compensation

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