Canon f-1n or Nikon F3HP?

[Noserider]

Well, late to the party. I was going to say choose the Nikon, repairs are still available along with parts. Canon F1N are getting very hard to repair. If you've been using yours for 20 years without a problem Great, keep shooting. But when it stops working, be prepared for either no way to fix it or really really expensive. The F1N had/has a hybrid shutter that can be challenging to repair on the electronic side. Much like the Pentax LX.
Sorry yours only gave you one frame. It was a fine camera in the day, I used that and the F-1n for a while, nice lenses especially the 135F2.

 

[sevo]

Unfortunately I do not have a winder with it.

That does not answer my question. Did you try with film loaded?

 

[Sid836]

Ehm! No, but here comes a xmas miracle. I have removed the lens to get a look inside, found nothing (as expected), re-attached it, and now it fires normally!
That is both good news and bad news. Good because it works, bad because nobody knows if this will ever happen again!

 

[Uncle Bill]

I own one Canon F-1N from the mid 1980s and two Nikon F3HP's Truthfully, they are both amazing cameras. I guess the first question is do you own FD or Nikkor Ai(s) lenses? That would pretty much solve your situation. If you're starting from scratch, flip a coin. You can't go wrong either way.

 

[rlouzan]

Perhaps the lens was not seated properly. What lens are you using? Canon breach or SCC?

Ehm! No, but here comes a xmas miracle. I have removed the lens to get a look inside, found nothing (as expected), re-attached it, and now it fires normally!
That is both good news and bad news. Good because it works, bad because nobody knows if this will ever happen again!

 

[mfogiel]

Check the electrical contacts, give them a little rub with a fine sandpaper. Sometimes these oxidize in older cameras, I was once going crazy with a winder that would not fire...

 

[rlouzan]

One other thing, don't lose your Canon FD rear lens caps - breach and SCC are not interchangeable.

 

[HuubL]

There are no electrical contacts in the lens mount for communication with the lens. FD is purely mechanical.

Check the electrical contacts, give them a little rub with a fine sandpaper. Sometimes these oxidize in older cameras, I was once going crazy with a winder that would not fire...

 

[kermaier]

I made several mistakes: I sold my FD 24/1.4L, 85/1.2L and 135/2 -- little did I know that m4/3 etc would give new life to the FD mount! Held onto my 50/1.2L though -- couldn't bring myself to sell it. 🙂
::Ari

 

[raid]

Among my better FD lenses, I also have the 35/2.8 tilt-shift, the 50/1.2l, the 70-210 Angenieux, the 19/3.5 FL, ....

 

[Sid836]

O.k. I have talked with the shop that had sold me the F1n and after not finding what was going on we agreed to change it for 20 euros more for another one. Now I have one in mint condition. I wonder why didn't I pay that 20 earlier to get me that beauty and avoid all that stress over a trouble.
Now I am happy, and I have already mounted on her that magnificent Canon 50mm f/1.2 L. Can't wait to start shooting my first film with it.

 

[EZfan]

Among my better FD lenses, I also have the 35/2.8 tilt-shift, the 50/1.2l, the 70-210 Angenieux, the 19/3.5 FL, ....

Me too, I still keep my 35/2.8 TS, 24/1.4 L, 50/1.2 L, 85/1.2L, 85/2.8 Soft Focus, 100/2 FDn, 180/2.3 APO Angenieux, 35-70/2.5~3.3 Angenieux, 70-210/3.5 Angenieux along with Mint F-1n and LNIB F-1N AE finder.
By the way, I do keep a mint black F2AS and a mint chrome F2AS but no F3 of any type for me.

 

[kermaier]

Now I am happy, and I have already mounted on her that magnificent Canon 50mm f/1.2 L. Can't wait to start shooting my first film with it.

That's a fantastic combination - hard to beat with any manual-focus 35mm kit. Enjoy!

 

[Sid836]

It feels great. I have always wanted one, and now in the digital age, I have managed to get one. I feel a bit sorry for leaving behind my beloved A-1 in its box, but... Sorry 🙂

 

[wakarimasen]

I have both, and think the F1N is the nicer feeling camera. Then again, I prefer a match-needle type readout to LED or LCD.

I just need an AE finder which seems very hard to 'find.'

Update: in fact I just bought a 'new' F1N, just to get the AE finder which is attached

For the OP: the F1N has a 'safety' feature, whereby it will not fire if the lens aperture is locked in the 'A' position, and a power drive is NOT attached.

Dd you get a copy of the manual?

Best regards
RoyM