Has anyone heard of a Canon Camera "A"?

[thebigwoo]

Not A-1 or AE-1 or anything at all w/ a 1 attached to it....
Sorry folks, it's definitely vintage but not really old enough to be a classic....My guess is the vintage is late 70's to early 80's.
On the front it simply states Canon Camera "A" ... Also on the front "Motor Drive.... Red Eye Reduction" and that's about it. It came w/ a nice flash unit and carrying case. Hoping it's a good find to use in the Rocky Mtn's for wildlife stills and birdwatching. My digital camera cant zoom enough.
Thanks in advance

[Ads]

[usayit]

Canon Camera Museum

A good complete historical listing of canon's products.

[thebigwoo]

Thanks USAyit,
I went through that entire site and of all of the "A-..." models, there is no page for a model "Camera A". I dunno, Maybe this was a generic/bargain model that Canon made....Or maybe it's a fake!? I could snap a photo of the camera if that would help....?

[Mike_E]

You might try posting a photo, that sometimes helps.

[thebigwoo]

This is it. I took a chance on it because everything appears to be working perfectly and it was 50% off of the tag at the local thrift store so I thought $15 wasn't too bad for my first vintage 35mm...... Also included was a very large vintage Kogaku zoom lens in its own leather case.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...w/IMG_1251.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...w/IMG_1254.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...w/IMG_1255.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...w/IMG_1256.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...w/IMG_1257.jpg

[usayit]

I'd like to help further but I can't... they block photobucket at work... :-(

[jbylake]

Arrrrghhhhh!, I spent 30 or 40 minutes searching for this camera, and can't find a thing. Might want to contact a company called Camtron, in Cincinatti OH. They know a thing about Canon's.

J.

[usayit]

I know that camera... its a toy... Canon toy camera for kids. The flash handle is nondetachable...etc...

Lens is not interchangeable... viewfinder is actually TLR like.. quality is that of l... a toy. The hint is the "focus free" plastic lens.

I used to have one when I was younger... I see them occasionally for $1 or so.

[thebigwoo]

D'Ohh!! You're kidding !!??

A kids model w/ auto rewind, motor drive and red eye reduction!? Sheesh..... They took their kids models seriously.
Are you absolutely sure about this model because the flash handle detaches w/ a simple small knob on the underside of the camera....

I was so stoked about that super old extra 135mm 1:4 lens from Japan that came w/ it that I never thought it could be a kids model.... Oh well....

[usayit]

D'Ohh!! You're kidding !!??

A kids model w/ auto rewind, motor drive and red eye reduction!? Sheesh..... They took their kids models seriously.
Are you absolutely sure about this model because the flash handle detaches w/ a simple small knob on the underside of the camera....

I might be wrong about the flash (years ago since I "played" with one)... but I am pretty sure about the toy camera. See the "lens" where the prism housing should be??? When you look through the "viewfinder" you are actually looking through that plastic lens. There is no mirror or prism in there. No need to focus because the camera is "focus free". Its a toy... trust me. I don't believe Canon made the camera. They simply allowed a toy manufacturer use the name. I've seen several incarnations of the same camera baring different "branding" etc.. even different Canon "model names".

[usayit]

hard to find it in google... 1) its a toy 2) wasn't popular 3) wasn't sold widely 4) predates internet....

---FAKE--- Canon 50mm Camera -Kids Play Toy/Stage Prop

[thebigwoo]

D'Ohh!

Darn pirates...!!

Definitely predates internet by about 20-25 yrs. OK, Thanks for the help. I'll keep hitting the thrift stores for one.... I'm awfully tempted to hang onto the extra 135mm 1:4 that came w/ it though. That sucker's at least 30-35 years old and looks like it was never used....

[usayit]

btw...

thanks for the memories... and the laugh. $29.99 hahahhaha

[thebigwoo]

btw...

thanks for the memories... and the laugh. $29.99 hahahhaha

Thank goodness that Goodwill offers your money back for up to 10 days..... Sheesh, Pretty ballsy of the pirates to add "Canon Corporation Made in Japan..." And a serial # and everything... Dicks

[jbylake]

Wow!, what a strange ending to this story. Glad I logged back on, I've been searching for that camera for hour's now, among other things. Very wierd. Heck, I'd keep it just for a curio.

Well, on to other pointless quests...

J.