Just bought a Canon F-1. Meter problems?

[nigelll]

Ok so I bought a F-1 old yesterday kinda on impulse from craigslist, I have always wanted one. Anyway the meter is off, way off! and im curious if it could be the battery? Or if its just dying on me already?

An example is I metered a frame with it at 2.8 400iso and it wanted the shutter at 1/15th and its pretty sunny here in Kc today, I metered the same thing with my 5d and my 1n and they wanted 1/2000th at 2.8 400iso.

So far I love the feel and look of it and I have enjoyed the fd lenses for some time so I really want this to be in tip top working order.

Also if it the meter is there something I could do to fix it?
I am a very mechanical person but have never opened up a camera before.


Thanks,
Nigel

 

[Brad Bireley]

I'd send it to
http://www.garryscamera.com/

I've used them for my A-1's !

 

[Bob W]

If it is the first or second version of the F1 it was designed to use the Hg batteries so you need to use the Wein Zn/Air battery.

Bob W

 

[peterm1]

Even if your meter is on the fritz and you cannot get it fixed these cameras are lovely. I had one for a few years. You could use it with a hand held meter. I recall my meter was a bit worrying so that is what I did very often.

 

[loquax ludens]

I recommend Ken Oikawa if you want a professional evaluation and a CLA. He found a shutter problem with my F1 that was resolved by a CLA. He'll let you know what condition your camera is in, and if it has problems, whether it is fixable.

Ken Oikawa is factory trained and probably the best Canon repair person around. He is also fast and his services are reasonably priced. His number is (951) 246-9136.

If you want the best work for your F1, contact Ken. More here.

 

[pgeobc]

Try a proper battery, as mentioned above. Or buy the C.R.I.S. converter.

 

[nigelll]

It looks like the correct battery, but the negative side is starting to corode. I may just go handheld meter. I need an excuse to buy one anyway.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[Timmyjoe]

Great camera, great meter in its day. But unfortunately, even if you can get the proper "mercury" battery they were originally designed for (which are now illegal to sell in the US, and has been for over a decade) the meter could be way off. They definitely got out of adjustment and needed to be put back to spec.

The issue with the "mercury" batteries that those meters were designed for, the "mercury" battery put out 1.3 volts, consistently, from day one until it was exhausted, then it would completely drop in voltage, so the meter was getting a very constant voltage (something the meter required) and it was really obvious when you needed to replace the battery. The batteries that are currently made in the same size as the original, the alkaline versions, start out at 1.5 volts and steadily decline until the battery is exhausted. So at some point, it will pass through the 1.3 volt range on its way down to being exhausted at .7 or .8 volts, but it will never give you a consistent and accurate reading.

I love my F-1, but haven't had a battery in it for years. Handheld metering is the way to go.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

I think the A-1 used a different type of battery. The flat "pancake" battery used in the original F-1 and the F-1n (small n, not to be confused with the New F-1 (F-1N)) is the same battery used in the old Canon TX and many light meters and light metered cameras from that era (late 1960's through the mid 1970's).

I believe the A-1 uses a completely different battery design.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Pfreddee]

Or you could go to Roger and Frances' web site and look up the module on exposure tables. Train your eye and you don't really need a meter!😀

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[Frontman]

The F1 will work fine with a Wein cell battery, I use these in my F1, FTb, and Olympus OM cameras, and they work well. Make sure also that the meter cell itself is clean, the plastic lens covering it may have become dusty or cloudy over the years, allowing less light to contact the meter cell. I have come across this issue with other Canon cameras.

As for the AE1, it uses a 4LR44 battery (which is simply four LR44 batteries stacked together).