Canon EX EE

Bell & Howell Auto 35/Reflex #147585

Canon's EX EE was introduced in 1969. It was Canon's first auto-exposure SLR. An improved version, the EX Auto, supplanted the EX EE in 1972. The EX Auto, in turn, was made superfluous by the introduction of the AE-1 in 1976.

Although the EX EE and EX Auto are two versions of the same design, the two models can be distinguished by the following differences:

1. The EX Auto features an accessory shoe with a built-in electrical contact (a hot shoe), while the EX EE requires use of a separate synch cord for flash activation.
2. The flash socket of the EX EE is located at the left end of the body, beneath the rewind knob. The flash socket of the EX Auto is in the side of the mirror box.

Both models feature a lens that is permanently attached to the body of the camera, without any aperture selection dial. The front element of the lens is threaded and interchangeable. Canon made four different front elements for this lens, allowing choice of the following focal lengths:

• 35 mm / 3.5 (optional)
• 50 mm / 1.8 (the Normal Lens, supplied with the camera)
• 95 mm / 3.5 (optional)
• 125 mm / 3.5 (optional)

Manual exposure control is made possible by use of an electronic aperture selector dial, surrounding the rewind knob.

Shutter speeds range from 1/8 to 1/500 of a second. A B setting is provided for manually timed exposure. Electronic flash can be used at speeds up to and including 1/60 second.

Bell & Howell was the North American distributor of Canon photographic products until the mid 1970s. Many Canon models were sold under both the Canon and Bell & Howell brand names. The EX EE was also available as the Bell & Howell Auto 35/Reflex.

For more information about the the Canon EX EE, click here.