Considering a Canon New F-1, tell me about them

[Mackinaw]

Its what I explained in post #16. ADR stands for Aperture Direct Readout. Some cameras have a little lens built into the prism that projects an image of the lens's aperture ring to the viewfinder.

The Canon New F-1 has this with the AE Finder, but not the Standard Prism. If you use the AE Finder and want to see the aperture set on the lens through the ADR readout in the finder, you must use the New FD series lenses.

Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation.

Jim B.

 

[CameraQuest]

I’ve been on a nostalgia kick for a few years inexpensively picking up cameras I either used to own (Nikon F, Pentax MX) or always wanted (Nikon FM2A and F5.) One camera I always admired back in the day but never owned was the Canon New F-1 (not the earlier all mechanical F-1 or F-1n.) I use these cameras sparingly, but nevertheless enjoy them.

The New F-1 was an interesting competitor to the F3 back in the 80s. I was all Nikon and Leica at the time, but one stringer from another paper had a pair of them. I thought they were pretty neat, too bad they were Canons. ;-)

I just fell into a AE Motor FN and AA battery pack for a song, so I think I’m going to keep an eye out for a clean New F-1 with the AE prism and one or two lenses. Is there anything I should watch out for? Who is the repair guru for Canons of this era in the case I want a CLA?

The new F1 has more features compared the old mechanical F1, notably a lot more metering pattern options. However from a 2018 perspective, those improved features no longer look like such a big deal.

Of the two, I greatly prefer the feel and handling of the original all mechanical all metal F1. If you want more advanced FD system features, my choice hands down is the amazing T90.

Stephen

 

[Ken Ford]

A T90 is on my short list, too - but it seems finding a decent specimen may be difficult. They don’t appear to be aging well (especially the LCDs), and many of the ones I’ve seen for sale were ridden hard and put up wet.

 

[Fixcinater]

I have a brassy '84 Olympics F1N, had a nicer condition plain F1N but sold that as I'm a nerd about the LA Olympics memorabilia. Also have a really lightly used F1n. They both feel nice, hard to say which is "better," mostly down to your preferences.

I don't use the slow speeds much, so running the F1N without batteries does pretty much what I need it to. Came with a plain prism, I bought an AE finder separately and sold it off. I prefer using the F1N with the grip, especially if I'm using one of my heavier lenses, just fits my fairly large hands better that way.

As for lenses, I've been extremely impressed with the 24/2. Had a 35/2.8 for a while, quite nice but I had too many 35s including a nice SMC Takumar I can use on the Canons with the factory adapter (also use that with an 85/1.8 Takumar). The 50/1.4 is excellent of course, I've seen some sample variation so just make sure to shoot with what you pick up and confirm it works for how critical you may be of slides/scans/prints/whatever you are doing with it. Depending on your use, you may want to look at the Tamron Adaptall-2 line up, I have a 300/2.8 that was half price compared to the Canon 300/2.8L and works fine for my use. I'm sure the FD is a better lens but I don't have the budget for it. I'll swap it out for the white lens eventually. You can also get into some very long lenses for relatively cheap with this system, the old FL 400/600/800mm lenses with their focusing mount works just fine. I luckily happened onto the 1200mm f/11 lens head with a focusing mount for dirt cheap on Craigslist, and it's a lot of fun to go and try to use that thing but the shorter lenses would be much more useful.

The VF on the OM4Ti which I had for a bit then sold to a buddy seemed to be a bit brighter but I haven't done a direct A/B comparison with similar lenses so can't say for sure.

Any of them are fun, just buy the best condition you can or wait for the super cheap deals that pop up from time to time.

 

[CameraQuest]

A T90 is on my short list, too - but it seems finding a decent specimen may be difficult. They don’t appear to be aging well (especially the LCDs), and many of the ones I’ve seen for sale were ridden hard and put up wet.

Avoid the ones used hard professionally.

I've had no problem finding nice T90's. The last one with the great T90 flash for just $50 in the RFF classifieds a few years ago. It was just too good to pass up.

Stephen

 

[airfrogusmc]

I still have one of mine. It is a GREAT camera. I like the fact if you don't want automation you don't have to have it unless you add it. This one has hundred of thousands of frames and only one break down since the early 80s when it was new.
My Canon F-1 (decades of solid use)

A trio of well used cameras. Hundreds of thousands of frames through each

The new F-1 has a plain ground glass spot meter focusing screen.

I think that the new F-1 is the finest camera Canon ever made. They were real tanks....

 

[farlymac]

A T90 is on my short list, too - but it seems finding a decent specimen may be difficult. They don’t appear to be aging well (especially the LCDs), and many of the ones I’ve seen for sale were ridden hard and put up wet.

I preferred the T70. I couldn't get the T90 to do what it was supposed to do on a consistent basis.


PF

 

[back alley]

A T90 is on my short list, too - but it seems finding a decent specimen may be difficult. They don’t appear to be aging well (especially the LCDs), and many of the ones I’ve seen for sale were ridden hard and put up wet.

i have a t90 that you can have...pretty good shape but i have never used it.
p.m. me if you want to talk about it.

 

[raid]

For many years I depended on two T90s and two F1Ns along with one F1n for very long exposures requiring mirror lock up.
Once, a F1N got splashed with sea water , which required a clean up job for $200 or less. Once, one T90 got the EEE error. It may have cost $125 to get it fixed.

 

[jajong]

Yeah, but Canon really chose just about the most byzantine way possible to implement the different meter patterns. It also made the focusing screens expensive because they were quite complex in design and construction, and the spot screens today are rare and expensive.




Probably because they didn't know how to fix the problem. Not every camera tech is competent, and that is a fairly obscure problem. I wish I had that repair manual, I'd have fixed mine!

It is the Maximum Aperture Correction Pin (the big wart on the FD mount) that is the cause of possible misalignment of the aperture lollipop read-out. The problem is that you can file off material, but adding material to the "wart" will be difficult. have a look at the attached jpg.
Cheers,
Jan

 

[ChrisPlatt]

My first 35mm SLRs were Canons. Those non-locking "breech lock" lenses caused many a close call ! 😱
A locking bayonet lens mount is one of many reasons I later switched to Nikons and Nikkor lenses.

I don't know if my reaction time and hands are fast enough now to prevent disaster.
The FDn lenses seem like a better choice for my recently acquired Canon EF camera.

The Canon EF is a very solid body with many nice features, from the same era as the F-1.
Best of all it has a bridge circuit and can use modern 1.5V silver cells to power the meter.

Lately I too have been looking at these Canon professional models.
When the right F-1n comes along I may buy...

Chris

 

[Ken Ford]

Thanks, Joe - PM sent.

A lot of Canon lovers here! I’ll probably have to store the New F-1 separately from the Nikons so we don’t have any fights in the camera cabinet. I know the F-1 and F-1n are more interesting to most people, but the New F-1 is the one that always intrigued me.

 

[Mackinaw]

.....A lot of Canon lovers here! I’ll probably have to store the New F-1 separately from the Nikons so we don’t have any fights in the camera cabinet. I know the F-1 and F-1n are more interesting to most people, but the New F-1 is the one that always intrigued me.

I have a Nikon F, and F2, and a Canon F-1 and F-1n. I use them all, depending on my whims. And they all live happily in the same cabinet. After years of bickering, they've long ago put aside their differences and are now good friends.

Jim B.

 

[dogberryjr]

In 1986, I wanted an F1 so badlyi could taste it, but I settled for a T70. It served me well, still does, in fact, but that desire for an F1 never abated. Twenty years later I finally bought one and it was everything I hoped it would be. I don't shoot with it very often these days, but every time I pick it up, I'm in love all over again.

TL/DR: Get one.

 

[Uncle Bill]

I own multiple Nikon F and F2, and a pair of F3 bodies along with a pair of Canon New F-1's (one with the AE prism). They are both great systems and I pick either for critical projects.

 

[raid]

Even if you get the basic FN finder, setting the camera to A gives you aperture priority.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

I have an F-1 (older, mechanical version) and absolutely love it. I really like the way Canon FD lenses render color. Portra through FD lenses is my favorite way to shoot color film. I’m also a huge fan of all mechanical bodies. The camera itself, like others have said, feels like a big brick. I really only want to add 2 more lenses to round out my SLR kit. I’ve got the little 50/1.8 which I wouldn’t mind replacing with the 50/1.4 but I also want to get a 20/2.8 and the 100/2.

 

[Ken Ford]

Even if you get the basic FN finder, setting the camera to A gives you aperture priority.

Are you sure about that? It runs counter to what I’ve been reading.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Are you sure about that? It runs counter to what I’ve been reading.

Raid is right. I had an F-1 with both the standard finder and the AE finder and Aperture Priority worked with both when the shutter dial was set to A. What you lost with the standard finder was a readout of the shutter speed the camera was going to use in Auto mode. Only the AE finder has a shutter speed scale with a needle that points to the speed the camera is going to use.

 

[Ken Ford]

That’s wild! Basically emulates a Pentax MV-1 but without the traffic light. Lol.