Canon Pellix (chrome)

The Canon Pellix, introduced in 1965 and produced through 1966, represented an innovative approach to single-lens reflex (SLR) camera design. What set the Pellix apart from its contemporaries was its use of a fixed pellicle mirror—a thin, semi-transparent sheet that remained stationary during exposure. This unique design allowed the photographer to see through the lens at all times, including during the actual moment of exposure, eliminating the blackout typical in traditional SLRs when the mirror flipped up. The Pellix utilized Canon's FL lens mount and featured a through-the-lens (TTL) metering system, making it a technically advanced camera for its time. Its compact chrome body housed a cloth focal-plane shutter with speeds from 1 to 1/1000 second, and it was compatible with a range of Canon FL lenses.

The Pellix was positioned as a professional-level camera with its sophisticated mirror technology, though it never achieved the widespread popularity of Canon's later SLR models. The pellicle mirror design did come with some compromises, including a slight loss of light (requiring longer exposures) and potential dust accumulation on the mirror over time. Despite these limitations, the Pellix represented an important technical experiment by Canon that foreshadowed future innovations in camera design. Its production run was relatively short, making it somewhat uncommon today and of particular interest to Canon enthusiasts and collectors of photographic technology.