{"id":18634,"date":"2017-04-22T09:44:05","date_gmt":"2017-04-22T16:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wkoopmans.ca\/notebook\/?p=18634"},"modified":"2017-04-22T09:44:05","modified_gmt":"2017-04-22T16:44:05","slug":"canon-mc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wkoopmans.ca\/notebook\/?p=18634","title":{"rendered":"Canon MC"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Canon MC (MC stands for Micro Compact)\u00a0is on the small side at 4.25″ x 2.5″ x 1.625″.\u00a0 One of the ways that it achieves this small size is by placing the two infrared autofocus modules in a vertical arrangement.\u00a0 They are uncovered along with the lens when you slide the lens cover open which also\u00a0turns the camera on.\u00a0\u00a0An additional way size is kept down is by using AAA batteries\u00a0for power. (Lithium batteries were only just starting to be used around the mid 1980’s)<\/p>\n

The lens is\u00a0a 35mm f2.8 made from 4 elements the rear element being a molded plastic aspherical one.<\/p>\n

The shutter itself is electro mechanical which allows settings between 1\/8 and 1\/500 second.\u00a0 If the exposure system\u00a0deems that there isn’t enough light for a proper exposure it flashes a red LED in the viewfinder to suggest that you\u00a0use flash.\u00a0 The flash is a detachable unit that mounts on the side of the camera and is also powered by\u00a0two of its own AAA batteries<\/p>\n

A common way that many cameras achieve pre-focus and recompose is to allow a half press of the shutter button before fully pressing it and taking the picture.\u00a0 The Canon MC takes an entirely different approach. There is a (Self-Timer Pre-Focus) switch on the top of the camera and\u00a0by sliding this to the left and then fully depressing the shutter the autofocus system is activated and set without tripping the shutter then a second press of the\u00a0shutter button will trip the shutter using\u00a0the previously set autofocus. Here is the kicker though\u00a0you need to do that before the self timer goes off and takes a picture anyway.\u00a0 It does give you 10 seconds and that 10 seconds doesn’t start until you release the shutter button when setting the focus.\u00a0 So in practical terms you could set the focus and hold down the button until you are ready to take the picture and then release and re-press.\u00a0 The actual tripping of the shutter is extremely quiet but then the thundering film advance happens sounding a lot like some injured animal.<\/p>\n

I found the camera to be a capable performer in most cases\u00a0and with its small size and angular design\u00a0it achieves a level of fun that’s hard to explain.\u00a0 While it’s a cumbersome process you can\u00a0use the Canon MC in a silent way which I will describe here.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Slide the Pre-Focus switch to the left<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0Press and hold the shutter button to set focus<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Wait for the moment you want to take the picture<\/p>\n

4. Release\u00a0and repress the shutter to take the picture\u00a0KEEPING the shutter button pressed<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Wait until an opportune moment\u00a0to release the shutter button again to advance the film and mask the noise, a moment such as a jet taking off or a stuck car horn.
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