The Canon F-1 vs. the Nikon F2: Battle of the Second-Generation Titans!
Both are pro-grade battleship 35mm SLRs, but they aren’t exactly equal.
By Jason Schneider
Most serious camera enthusiasts remember that the mighty Nikon F, the first 35mm SLR to become the professionals’ mainstay, was first released in 1959. However, few recall that Canon’s first SLR, the Canonflex, arrived at almost the same time, and that both cameras were exhibited at the Philadelphia Photo Show in March of that year. The original Canonflex was discontinued after only 5 months, and about 17,000 were made. The Nikon F remained in production with slight upgrades until 1974, an impressive production run of 15 years and 862,000 units!
The reasons that round one of the 35mm SLR Sweepstakes clearly went to Nikon are the Nikon F’s superior modular concept that was soon complemented by a vast array of high-quality interchangeable lenses from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, and its extensive range of pro-aimed vsystem accessories including an electric motor drive and a 250-exposure back. The Canonflex was robust and beautifully made but its lens selection was more limited, especially at the wide-angle end. It also had an idiosyncratic bottom-mounted left-handed wind lever, lacked interchangeable screens, and was afflicted with a wonky two-ring aperture control system that made stopping the lens down to check depth of field a cumbersome procedure. To its credit, Canon quickly switched over to more user-friendly FL/FD mounts which were used in a series of successful mid-level SLRs.
Canon didn’t successfully compete in the pro 35mm SLR arena until they brought forth the Canon F-1, which was unveiled in 1970 and commercially released in March 1971. By that time, they were not only going up against their old nemesis, the Nikon F, that was still very much in production, but there was a new contender, the formidable Nikon F2 that was released in September 1971. The F2 served as its company’s flagship until 1980 and is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Nikon’s mechanical SLRs and one of the best manual-focus SLRs of all time.
The Canon F-1 was produced in three distinct iterations: the original F-1 referenced above, the F-1n of 1976, based on the same rugged body, but including such minor improvements as a shorter film-wind stroke (139 vs. 180 degrees), ISO settings to 3200, and a plastic-tipped film wind lever). The third model, the Camon New F-1 was an entirely new camera with upgraded, more sophisticated metering options via interchangeable prisms, a brighter viewfinder, and other advanced features. The Nikon F2 was likewise produced in 5 distinct versions (not including the special edition titanium-bodied F2T), all based on metering system and lens mount variations. Thet include the meter-less F2 (DE-1), the F2 Photomic (DP-1) with non-AI lens system and needle metering, the F2S/F2SB with non-AI lens system and LED meter readouts, the AI-compatible F2A, with needle metering, and the AI-compatible F2AS with LED metering. Since I have not personally shot with all these models, the following review is based on the models I own and have used extensively over many years: an original Canon F-1, a Canon New F-1 with manual meter prism, and a Nikon F2 Photomic (DP-1).
The original Canon F-1, commercially released in 1971, was clearly aimed at challenging the Nikon F and even the new Nikon F2, to garner a significant share of the expanding pro 35mm SLR market. Built on a robust diecast brass-zinc chassis and featuring a titanium foil shutter with mechanically controlled speeds of 1-1/2000 sec plus B, it was widely known as “the tank,” with a body measuring 5.8 x 3.9 x 1.7 inches (W x H x D) and weighing in at a hefty 1 pound, 13 ounces (2.6 pounds with 50mm f/1.4 DF lens) . The F-1 was Canon’s first successful professional-grade SLR system, supporting a huge variety of accessories, FD lenses, and interchangeable components including 9 different focusing screens. Between 1971 and 1979 Canon introduced 68 different FD mount lenses ranging from a 7.5 full-frame fisheye up to a monster 800mm super telephoto, including the FD 55mm f/1.2 AL, the first 35mm SLR lens with an aspherical element.
The orignal Canon F-1 with 50mm f/1.4 Canon FD breech-lock lens. Image courtesy of Canon Camera Museum
The original Canon F-1 features a sophisticated, fully interchangeable finder-based TTL (Through-The-Lens) metering system, using two high-sensitivity CdS (Cadmium Sulfide) cells located within the camera body, reading light directly from the focal plane for accurate metering at the widest (full) aperture. The exposure is controlled via a match-needle display (moving needle and match-needle circle) to the right of the viewfinder, along with a small set-shutter-speed window, allowing for full manual control. Shutter- or aperture-priority auto-exposure is possible with accessories like the Servo EE Finder but it’s bulky and cumbersome and few F-1 shooters used it. The core system is center-weighted, measuring light through the lens at its widest aperture. The only battery required in the original Canon F-1 and the F-1n is a 1.35v M20 (No.625) mercury cell to power the metering system. To obtain proper exposure readings with currently available 1.5-volt silver-oxide or alkaline cells (such as the Varta V625U or equivalent) you will have to have a resistor installed to bring the voltage down to the proper level. You can also adjust the ISO to compensate but results are less consistent. The metering sensitivity range if the F-1 and F-1n is EV 2.5 to EV 18 at ISO 100 with an f/1.4 lens--OK for general shooting but inadequate for shooting at night or in very low light.
Canon F-1 impressions
The original Canon F-1 is a very pleasant camera to shoot with. It’s heavy all right, but very well balanced and its ergonomic contours fit very comfortably into my smallish hands. The viewfinder image is bright (though not as bright as the Nikon F2 or the Canon NEW F-1) and easy to focus on the standard plain screen, which shows a very light grayish rectangular parch in the center that defines the center-weighted (12%) metering area. The finder shows 97% of the area captured on film, which is fine for most purposes, though it doesn’t equal the vaunted 100% coverage of the of Nikon F/F2. The F-1’s film wind knob is nicely contoured, and I have no issue with its 180-degree stroke, but though it’s made of metal (aluminum alloy?) it has a plasticky feel that’s out of character with the rest of the camera. Much has been made if the fact that the FD lenses on the Canon F-1 and F-1n feature Canon’s much maligned breech lock mount, so it takes 2 seconds longer to change lenses. Maybe if I were a photojournalist or sports photographer this would bother me, but I’m not, and it doesn’t. Breech lock lenses have the advantage of “automatically” adjusting for any wear in the mount, but IMHO their main disadvantage is that the aperture-coupling levers on the back of the lens stick out when the lens is removed and should be protected with a rear cap that I always lose! The Canon F-1 also includes a sophisticated Canon Automatic Tuning (CAT) system for auto-flash that may appeal to some users, but I can’t comment on its assets and liabilities since I’ve never used it.
F-1 (Later model) aka the Canon F-1n. Info page courtesy Canon Camera Museum
If you’re hankering for a Canon F-1 of your very own, used examples in clean, fully functional condition are readily available online at $100 to $300 body only, around $150 more with 50mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.4 FD lens. If you’d like yours with a shorter film-wind stroke, a plastic-tipped wind lever, ISO settings to 3200, and a somewhat newer body, opt for Canon F-1n for an extra hundred bucks or so.
Canon New F-1
While the Canon F-1n was a mildly upgraded F-1, the audacious Canon New F-1 that debuted in 1981 and was officially discontinued in 1994 was an entirely new top-of-the-line 35mm SLR, built on a rugged diecast aluminum alloy chassis. It enabled TTL full-aperture and stopped-down match-needle metering with the standard Eye-Level Finder FN and aperture priority auto-exposure by mounting the optional AR Finder FN. Its horizontal-travel titanium foil focal-plane shutter features a hybrid system, using mechanical control for faster speeds (1/90 to 1/2000 sec), and electronic control for slower speeds (8 sec to 1/60 sec.) Its TTL open-aperture metering system employs a silicon photodiode (SPC) cell and a beam-splitter integrated into the focusing screen, enabling spot (3%), partial (12%), and center-weighted metering. Its Interchangeable pentaprism provides 0.8x magnification and coverage 97% coverage with standard screen featuring a split-prism rangefinder surrounded by microprisms on a Laser Matte screen. The New F-1 is powered by a single 4LR44, PX28A (or similar) 6-volt battery for electronics, while the shutter can function mechanically without batteries at faster speeds. Film handling is automatic after placing the film with leader extended and closing the back, and the countdown frame counter automatically stops at zero. The meter sensitivity range if the Canon New F-1 is approximately EV -1 to EV 18 at ISO 100 with f1.4 lens, a notable improvement over the Canon F-1/F-1n that makes the camera a much better choice for low light shooting.
Canon New F-1 with super-speed 50mm f/1.2 FDn mount lens--the hot ticket for night shooting and low-light photography.
Impressions of the Canon New F-1
The first thing you notice when picking up the New F-1 is that it feels lighter and smaller than the original F-1 even though the actual difference is small 28.4 oz for the New F-1 and 29.8 for the original. The New F-1 is generally described as “a bit smaller and more refined” than the F-1/F-1n. That may be true, but I think the F-1 fits my mitts a tad better than the New F-1’s more rounded contours. Go figure. When it comes to viewfinder brightness and clarity, the New F-1 wins hands down. And the central focusing aids of the standard screen (a split-image rangefinder, surrounded by a microprism collar) make focusing on practically anything noticeably quicker and more decisive. The vertical match needle metering field to the right of the viewing image is also much larger and easier to see, and it can be illuminated by turning the little dial to the left of the eyepiece from “normal” to “light” before you partially depress the shutter release—very cool. Another thing I really like about my New F-1 s the lens that came with it—a 50mm f/1.4 Canon FD that has Canon’s revised FDn mount. It eliminates the breech-lock mounting ring, and the lens can be removed by simply pressing in a little silver tab at the rear of the lens, turning the lens counterclockwise and lifting it off. Brilliant, but there are still those pesky levers at the rear of the naked lens that should be protected with a rear cap. Other small plusses: the nicely contoured metal film wind lever feels like metal, the shutter release feels smoother and more predictable, and the shutter lock is larger an easier to use.
Canon New F-1 information page, courtesy Canon Camera Museum
The Canon New F-1 is a delightful camera to shoot with. it is beautifully made, has a reassuringly solid feel, and when complemented by its impressive range of pro-caliber meter prisms, screens, motor drives, etc. it delivers a level of flexibility that the tanklike F-1 or F-1n cannot match. The main problem with the New F-1 is that it incorporates a host of unique electronics and some idiosyncratic mechanical components that cannot be replaced now, much less 20 years from now, if they should fail. By comparison the original F-1 is a stone simple workhorse with a totally mechanical shutter and relatively simple and straightforward meter circuitry. Which one would you pick if it was the only camera you had to rely on for the rest of your natural life? To help you decide for yourself, a Canon New F-1 in clean working condition currently fetches about $400 to $450 with 50mm f/1.4 Canon FDn lens.
The Nikon F2: Best manual focus Nikon SLR. Maybe the best one ever!
When Nikon brought forth the F2 in 1971 they had three aims in mind: to produce a worthy successor to the legendary Nikon F (which was still in production until 1974!) that offered significant technical and operational advancements, to create a compatible system SLR that maintained the basic identity of the Nikon F system and ensured the continued loyalty of Nikon fans, especially pros, and to offer a camera and a system that would maintain Nikon’s leading marketplace position in the face of fierce competition, notably from Canon. That the Nikon F2 in its various iterations was still able to go head-to-head with the Canon New F-1 released 10 years later in 1981 is a testament to Nikon’s far-sightedness and technical ingenuity.
My very own chrome Nikon F2 with DP1 prism and non-AI 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor lens. It's fun to shoot with and delivers the goods.
The Nikon F2 body consists of a rugged diecast aluminum alloy chassis with brass top and base plates. Its all-mechanical horizontal travel focal plane shutter employs curtains made of durable, lightweight rubberized titanium foil and provides shutter speeds of 1 to 1/2000 sec plus B. Longer speeds up to 10 sec are available by setting the shutter dial to B, the ring around the shutter release to T, and selecting the speed you want by setting it on the calibrated self-timer lever! It’s a slick ‘70s version of the clunky system used in vintage Exakta SLRs and as a result the Nikon F2 delivers a greater range of shutter speeds without battery power than virtually any other modern SLR. As mentioned previously (see the last part of paragraph 4) the Nikon F2 was conceived as a manual metering (match needle or match-LED) camera since most pros at the time viewed autoexposure as unprofessional. The Nikon F2 body measures 6.00 x 4.02 x 2.56 inches (W x H x D) and weighs in at 1 pound, 13.6 ounces (29.6 oz.) without lens.
Nikon F2 finders
The original Photomic (DP1), Photomic S (DP2) and Photomic SB (DP3) finders are for non-AI lenses. The Nikon F2A (DP11) and Nikon F2AS (DP12) finders are for AI and later lenses first introduced in 1977. AI lenses allow faster lens changing because they automatically index the meter to the lens, without having to manually do it by turning the lens aperture back and forth (the dreaded “Nikon twist). The battery compartment on the F2 was moved to the bottom plate (two P76's) and the on/off switch was moved to the lever advance (In = Off; Out = On). All F2 Photomic prisms show both the f/stops and shutter speeds in the finder and will meter correctly with the later AI/AIS lenses since these lenses have the NAI metering prong.
The Photomic Finder (DP1) is the most common and least expensive F2 meter head and the one I have on my F2 reviewed in this article. It’s a match-needle design--you adjust the f/stops or shutter speed to center the needle-and it uses a CdS cell. DP-1 is engraved on the bottom of metering head next to the serial number Exposure sensitivity EV range:1 to 17 with ISO 100 film.
Photomic S Finder (DP2). This finder was Nikon's first to use LED readouts. Its CdS cellhas increased sensitivity to light, and to battery drain so don't leave the meter on! DP-2 is engraved on bottom of metering head. Shutter Priority automation possible with the EE-1 aperture control attachment. Increased exposure EV range of -2 to 17 with ASA 100 film. Solid state meter construction for better reliability.
Photomic SB Finder (DP3). Nikon's first Silicon cell meter prism that uses an improved LED readout, it’s one of the rarest F2 meter heads. DP-3 is engraved on bottom. The CdS cell was replaced by a silicon photodiode for faster metering and improved sensitivity. Improved readout uses 3 LEDs rather than 2. Shutter Priority automation possible with EE-2. Solid state meter construction ensures better reliability.
Photomic A Finder (DP11). This is Nikon's match needle CDS meter for AI coupled lenses (same style as DP1 only for AI). DP-11 is engraved on bottom of metering head. Will meter with NAI lenses too, in stop down mode. Exposure EV range 1 to 17 with ISO100 film.
Photomic AS Finder (DP12). Nikon's best and most expensive meter head for the F2. AI metering, LED readout much like the later Nikon FM2. DP-12 is engraved on bottom of metering head. Increased sensitivity EV-2 to 17 with ISO 100 film. Will meter with NAI lenses too, in stop down mode. With its combination of rugged, solid-state construction, five position LED readout, improved silicon photodiode response, and great low light sensitivity, the AS finder is the best and alas, most expensive metering head for the Nikon F2 ($300-$400 used).
My latest Acquisition, a black Nikon F2A with 50mm f/1.4 AI Nikkor lens and Nikon filter. Please don't tell my wife I paid $425 for it!
Hands-on review of the Nikon F2 with Photomic (DP1) meter prism
The Nikon F2 with basic DP1 meter prism and classic non-AI 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor is a formidable machine in terms of size and weight, but the rounded contours of its body make it comfortable to hold, it’s very well balanced, and its controls, as the British are wont to say, fall readily to hand. The plastic tipped wind lever is nicely contoured and advances the film in a single short 120° stroke or a series of shorter strokes, the shutter release is well positioned and operates smoothly with moderate finger force and has a predicable firing point (which I prefer to feather light or electronic releases), and the shutter speed dial (with inset ASA 6-6400 scale), textured aperture ring on the lens, and the folded rewind crank are all where you (or any Nikon F user) would expect to find them. The only idiosyncratic controls are the Leica M-style lift-and twist back lock on the bottom, and the inconvenient front-and-rear locking system for removing the prism, which is less convenient and secure than the slide-off system used on the Canon F-1, F-1n an New F-1. Oh well, at least the F2’s prism mounting system is more secure than the flimsy one on the Nikon F!
Perhaps the nicest thing about the Nikon F2, aside from its stellar record of longtime reliability, is it’s brilliant 100% coverage, 0.8x viewfinder. It is a joy to use and the standard A screen in my F2 has an excellent central split-image rangefinder surrounded by a clear focusing collar to facilitate focusing on fine details. Normally I’m a big fan of plain screens, but this one displays the central focusing aids so discreetly they’re not obtrusive. I also like the fact that you activate the meter by pulling the wind lever to standoff position—no searching for buttons or levers. Kudos to Nikon for the simple in-finder needle and notch metering system, and for including the set shutter speed. However, the metering displays below the viewfinder image are simply too small, and there’s no way to illuminate them in low light. Finally, speaking of low light, the CdS cell metering system in the DP1 meter prism isn’t sensitive enough for shooting in very low light, but switching to one of the other Nikon meter prisms that uses a silicon photodiode will solve that problem quite easily. All it takes is money! A Nikon F2 in clean working condition currently sells for about $300 to $400 with 50mmm f/1.4 AI Nikkor lens.
And the winner is---
If you expect me make to pick a clear winner among this elite triumvirate of pro SLRs of the late analog period I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve used all three with immense satisfaction for more than 25 years and I love them all. The original Canon F-1 (and the mildly upgraded F-1n) are perhaps the most indestructible 35mm SLRs ever made—if you can hammer nails with a Nikon F, you can probably hammer spikes with Canon F-1 and then use it to cover your next assignment. In terms of sophistication and flexibility right out of the box you’ve got to hand it to the Canon New F-1 with match-needle FN prism. It’s ruggedly built on a diecast chassis, has a superb viewfinder with a large, legible exposure readout scale, and its silicon photodiode metering system is sensitive enough for shooting in “available darkness.” On the minus side its reputation for reliability is less than stellar, getting it repaired can be challenging, and spare parts must be cannibalized.
This brings us to the redoubtable Nikon F2, which, despite its relatively minor deficiencies, is a magnificent machine—beautifully made, with a brilliant 100% coverage viewfinder, and, according to most user and expert reviewers a paragon of reliability, durability, and longevity. If you’re a low light shooter, fit it with a DP3 or DP12 meter prism, which adds to the cost, but the result will be an exceptional camera.
If you forced me to rank my choices right this minute, under penalty of having to shoot with a Perfex 55 for the rest if my life, I’d pick the Nikon F2, the Canon New F-1, and the Canon F-1/F-1n in that order. But if you asked me tomorrow, the results might well be different.
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Both are pro-grade battleship 35mm SLRs, but they aren’t exactly equal.
By Jason Schneider
Most serious camera enthusiasts remember that the mighty Nikon F, the first 35mm SLR to become the professionals’ mainstay, was first released in 1959. However, few recall that Canon’s first SLR, the Canonflex, arrived at almost the same time, and that both cameras were exhibited at the Philadelphia Photo Show in March of that year. The original Canonflex was discontinued after only 5 months, and about 17,000 were made. The Nikon F remained in production with slight upgrades until 1974, an impressive production run of 15 years and 862,000 units!
The reasons that round one of the 35mm SLR Sweepstakes clearly went to Nikon are the Nikon F’s superior modular concept that was soon complemented by a vast array of high-quality interchangeable lenses from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, and its extensive range of pro-aimed vsystem accessories including an electric motor drive and a 250-exposure back. The Canonflex was robust and beautifully made but its lens selection was more limited, especially at the wide-angle end. It also had an idiosyncratic bottom-mounted left-handed wind lever, lacked interchangeable screens, and was afflicted with a wonky two-ring aperture control system that made stopping the lens down to check depth of field a cumbersome procedure. To its credit, Canon quickly switched over to more user-friendly FL/FD mounts which were used in a series of successful mid-level SLRs.
Canon didn’t successfully compete in the pro 35mm SLR arena until they brought forth the Canon F-1, which was unveiled in 1970 and commercially released in March 1971. By that time, they were not only going up against their old nemesis, the Nikon F, that was still very much in production, but there was a new contender, the formidable Nikon F2 that was released in September 1971. The F2 served as its company’s flagship until 1980 and is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Nikon’s mechanical SLRs and one of the best manual-focus SLRs of all time.
The Canon F-1 was produced in three distinct iterations: the original F-1 referenced above, the F-1n of 1976, based on the same rugged body, but including such minor improvements as a shorter film-wind stroke (139 vs. 180 degrees), ISO settings to 3200, and a plastic-tipped film wind lever). The third model, the Camon New F-1 was an entirely new camera with upgraded, more sophisticated metering options via interchangeable prisms, a brighter viewfinder, and other advanced features. The Nikon F2 was likewise produced in 5 distinct versions (not including the special edition titanium-bodied F2T), all based on metering system and lens mount variations. Thet include the meter-less F2 (DE-1), the F2 Photomic (DP-1) with non-AI lens system and needle metering, the F2S/F2SB with non-AI lens system and LED meter readouts, the AI-compatible F2A, with needle metering, and the AI-compatible F2AS with LED metering. Since I have not personally shot with all these models, the following review is based on the models I own and have used extensively over many years: an original Canon F-1, a Canon New F-1 with manual meter prism, and a Nikon F2 Photomic (DP-1).
The original Canon F-1, commercially released in 1971, was clearly aimed at challenging the Nikon F and even the new Nikon F2, to garner a significant share of the expanding pro 35mm SLR market. Built on a robust diecast brass-zinc chassis and featuring a titanium foil shutter with mechanically controlled speeds of 1-1/2000 sec plus B, it was widely known as “the tank,” with a body measuring 5.8 x 3.9 x 1.7 inches (W x H x D) and weighing in at a hefty 1 pound, 13 ounces (2.6 pounds with 50mm f/1.4 DF lens) . The F-1 was Canon’s first successful professional-grade SLR system, supporting a huge variety of accessories, FD lenses, and interchangeable components including 9 different focusing screens. Between 1971 and 1979 Canon introduced 68 different FD mount lenses ranging from a 7.5 full-frame fisheye up to a monster 800mm super telephoto, including the FD 55mm f/1.2 AL, the first 35mm SLR lens with an aspherical element.
The orignal Canon F-1 with 50mm f/1.4 Canon FD breech-lock lens. Image courtesy of Canon Camera Museum
The original Canon F-1 features a sophisticated, fully interchangeable finder-based TTL (Through-The-Lens) metering system, using two high-sensitivity CdS (Cadmium Sulfide) cells located within the camera body, reading light directly from the focal plane for accurate metering at the widest (full) aperture. The exposure is controlled via a match-needle display (moving needle and match-needle circle) to the right of the viewfinder, along with a small set-shutter-speed window, allowing for full manual control. Shutter- or aperture-priority auto-exposure is possible with accessories like the Servo EE Finder but it’s bulky and cumbersome and few F-1 shooters used it. The core system is center-weighted, measuring light through the lens at its widest aperture. The only battery required in the original Canon F-1 and the F-1n is a 1.35v M20 (No.625) mercury cell to power the metering system. To obtain proper exposure readings with currently available 1.5-volt silver-oxide or alkaline cells (such as the Varta V625U or equivalent) you will have to have a resistor installed to bring the voltage down to the proper level. You can also adjust the ISO to compensate but results are less consistent. The metering sensitivity range if the F-1 and F-1n is EV 2.5 to EV 18 at ISO 100 with an f/1.4 lens--OK for general shooting but inadequate for shooting at night or in very low light.
Canon F-1 impressions
The original Canon F-1 is a very pleasant camera to shoot with. It’s heavy all right, but very well balanced and its ergonomic contours fit very comfortably into my smallish hands. The viewfinder image is bright (though not as bright as the Nikon F2 or the Canon NEW F-1) and easy to focus on the standard plain screen, which shows a very light grayish rectangular parch in the center that defines the center-weighted (12%) metering area. The finder shows 97% of the area captured on film, which is fine for most purposes, though it doesn’t equal the vaunted 100% coverage of the of Nikon F/F2. The F-1’s film wind knob is nicely contoured, and I have no issue with its 180-degree stroke, but though it’s made of metal (aluminum alloy?) it has a plasticky feel that’s out of character with the rest of the camera. Much has been made if the fact that the FD lenses on the Canon F-1 and F-1n feature Canon’s much maligned breech lock mount, so it takes 2 seconds longer to change lenses. Maybe if I were a photojournalist or sports photographer this would bother me, but I’m not, and it doesn’t. Breech lock lenses have the advantage of “automatically” adjusting for any wear in the mount, but IMHO their main disadvantage is that the aperture-coupling levers on the back of the lens stick out when the lens is removed and should be protected with a rear cap that I always lose! The Canon F-1 also includes a sophisticated Canon Automatic Tuning (CAT) system for auto-flash that may appeal to some users, but I can’t comment on its assets and liabilities since I’ve never used it.
F-1 (Later model) aka the Canon F-1n. Info page courtesy Canon Camera Museum
If you’re hankering for a Canon F-1 of your very own, used examples in clean, fully functional condition are readily available online at $100 to $300 body only, around $150 more with 50mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.4 FD lens. If you’d like yours with a shorter film-wind stroke, a plastic-tipped wind lever, ISO settings to 3200, and a somewhat newer body, opt for Canon F-1n for an extra hundred bucks or so.
Canon New F-1
While the Canon F-1n was a mildly upgraded F-1, the audacious Canon New F-1 that debuted in 1981 and was officially discontinued in 1994 was an entirely new top-of-the-line 35mm SLR, built on a rugged diecast aluminum alloy chassis. It enabled TTL full-aperture and stopped-down match-needle metering with the standard Eye-Level Finder FN and aperture priority auto-exposure by mounting the optional AR Finder FN. Its horizontal-travel titanium foil focal-plane shutter features a hybrid system, using mechanical control for faster speeds (1/90 to 1/2000 sec), and electronic control for slower speeds (8 sec to 1/60 sec.) Its TTL open-aperture metering system employs a silicon photodiode (SPC) cell and a beam-splitter integrated into the focusing screen, enabling spot (3%), partial (12%), and center-weighted metering. Its Interchangeable pentaprism provides 0.8x magnification and coverage 97% coverage with standard screen featuring a split-prism rangefinder surrounded by microprisms on a Laser Matte screen. The New F-1 is powered by a single 4LR44, PX28A (or similar) 6-volt battery for electronics, while the shutter can function mechanically without batteries at faster speeds. Film handling is automatic after placing the film with leader extended and closing the back, and the countdown frame counter automatically stops at zero. The meter sensitivity range if the Canon New F-1 is approximately EV -1 to EV 18 at ISO 100 with f1.4 lens, a notable improvement over the Canon F-1/F-1n that makes the camera a much better choice for low light shooting.
Canon New F-1 with super-speed 50mm f/1.2 FDn mount lens--the hot ticket for night shooting and low-light photography.
Impressions of the Canon New F-1
The first thing you notice when picking up the New F-1 is that it feels lighter and smaller than the original F-1 even though the actual difference is small 28.4 oz for the New F-1 and 29.8 for the original. The New F-1 is generally described as “a bit smaller and more refined” than the F-1/F-1n. That may be true, but I think the F-1 fits my mitts a tad better than the New F-1’s more rounded contours. Go figure. When it comes to viewfinder brightness and clarity, the New F-1 wins hands down. And the central focusing aids of the standard screen (a split-image rangefinder, surrounded by a microprism collar) make focusing on practically anything noticeably quicker and more decisive. The vertical match needle metering field to the right of the viewing image is also much larger and easier to see, and it can be illuminated by turning the little dial to the left of the eyepiece from “normal” to “light” before you partially depress the shutter release—very cool. Another thing I really like about my New F-1 s the lens that came with it—a 50mm f/1.4 Canon FD that has Canon’s revised FDn mount. It eliminates the breech-lock mounting ring, and the lens can be removed by simply pressing in a little silver tab at the rear of the lens, turning the lens counterclockwise and lifting it off. Brilliant, but there are still those pesky levers at the rear of the naked lens that should be protected with a rear cap. Other small plusses: the nicely contoured metal film wind lever feels like metal, the shutter release feels smoother and more predictable, and the shutter lock is larger an easier to use.
Canon New F-1 information page, courtesy Canon Camera Museum
The Canon New F-1 is a delightful camera to shoot with. it is beautifully made, has a reassuringly solid feel, and when complemented by its impressive range of pro-caliber meter prisms, screens, motor drives, etc. it delivers a level of flexibility that the tanklike F-1 or F-1n cannot match. The main problem with the New F-1 is that it incorporates a host of unique electronics and some idiosyncratic mechanical components that cannot be replaced now, much less 20 years from now, if they should fail. By comparison the original F-1 is a stone simple workhorse with a totally mechanical shutter and relatively simple and straightforward meter circuitry. Which one would you pick if it was the only camera you had to rely on for the rest of your natural life? To help you decide for yourself, a Canon New F-1 in clean working condition currently fetches about $400 to $450 with 50mm f/1.4 Canon FDn lens.
The Nikon F2: Best manual focus Nikon SLR. Maybe the best one ever!
When Nikon brought forth the F2 in 1971 they had three aims in mind: to produce a worthy successor to the legendary Nikon F (which was still in production until 1974!) that offered significant technical and operational advancements, to create a compatible system SLR that maintained the basic identity of the Nikon F system and ensured the continued loyalty of Nikon fans, especially pros, and to offer a camera and a system that would maintain Nikon’s leading marketplace position in the face of fierce competition, notably from Canon. That the Nikon F2 in its various iterations was still able to go head-to-head with the Canon New F-1 released 10 years later in 1981 is a testament to Nikon’s far-sightedness and technical ingenuity.
My very own chrome Nikon F2 with DP1 prism and non-AI 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor lens. It's fun to shoot with and delivers the goods.
The Nikon F2 body consists of a rugged diecast aluminum alloy chassis with brass top and base plates. Its all-mechanical horizontal travel focal plane shutter employs curtains made of durable, lightweight rubberized titanium foil and provides shutter speeds of 1 to 1/2000 sec plus B. Longer speeds up to 10 sec are available by setting the shutter dial to B, the ring around the shutter release to T, and selecting the speed you want by setting it on the calibrated self-timer lever! It’s a slick ‘70s version of the clunky system used in vintage Exakta SLRs and as a result the Nikon F2 delivers a greater range of shutter speeds without battery power than virtually any other modern SLR. As mentioned previously (see the last part of paragraph 4) the Nikon F2 was conceived as a manual metering (match needle or match-LED) camera since most pros at the time viewed autoexposure as unprofessional. The Nikon F2 body measures 6.00 x 4.02 x 2.56 inches (W x H x D) and weighs in at 1 pound, 13.6 ounces (29.6 oz.) without lens.
Nikon F2 finders
The original Photomic (DP1), Photomic S (DP2) and Photomic SB (DP3) finders are for non-AI lenses. The Nikon F2A (DP11) and Nikon F2AS (DP12) finders are for AI and later lenses first introduced in 1977. AI lenses allow faster lens changing because they automatically index the meter to the lens, without having to manually do it by turning the lens aperture back and forth (the dreaded “Nikon twist). The battery compartment on the F2 was moved to the bottom plate (two P76's) and the on/off switch was moved to the lever advance (In = Off; Out = On). All F2 Photomic prisms show both the f/stops and shutter speeds in the finder and will meter correctly with the later AI/AIS lenses since these lenses have the NAI metering prong.
The Photomic Finder (DP1) is the most common and least expensive F2 meter head and the one I have on my F2 reviewed in this article. It’s a match-needle design--you adjust the f/stops or shutter speed to center the needle-and it uses a CdS cell. DP-1 is engraved on the bottom of metering head next to the serial number Exposure sensitivity EV range:1 to 17 with ISO 100 film.
Photomic S Finder (DP2). This finder was Nikon's first to use LED readouts. Its CdS cellhas increased sensitivity to light, and to battery drain so don't leave the meter on! DP-2 is engraved on bottom of metering head. Shutter Priority automation possible with the EE-1 aperture control attachment. Increased exposure EV range of -2 to 17 with ASA 100 film. Solid state meter construction for better reliability.
Photomic SB Finder (DP3). Nikon's first Silicon cell meter prism that uses an improved LED readout, it’s one of the rarest F2 meter heads. DP-3 is engraved on bottom. The CdS cell was replaced by a silicon photodiode for faster metering and improved sensitivity. Improved readout uses 3 LEDs rather than 2. Shutter Priority automation possible with EE-2. Solid state meter construction ensures better reliability.
Photomic A Finder (DP11). This is Nikon's match needle CDS meter for AI coupled lenses (same style as DP1 only for AI). DP-11 is engraved on bottom of metering head. Will meter with NAI lenses too, in stop down mode. Exposure EV range 1 to 17 with ISO100 film.
Photomic AS Finder (DP12). Nikon's best and most expensive meter head for the F2. AI metering, LED readout much like the later Nikon FM2. DP-12 is engraved on bottom of metering head. Increased sensitivity EV-2 to 17 with ISO 100 film. Will meter with NAI lenses too, in stop down mode. With its combination of rugged, solid-state construction, five position LED readout, improved silicon photodiode response, and great low light sensitivity, the AS finder is the best and alas, most expensive metering head for the Nikon F2 ($300-$400 used).
My latest Acquisition, a black Nikon F2A with 50mm f/1.4 AI Nikkor lens and Nikon filter. Please don't tell my wife I paid $425 for it!
Hands-on review of the Nikon F2 with Photomic (DP1) meter prism
The Nikon F2 with basic DP1 meter prism and classic non-AI 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor is a formidable machine in terms of size and weight, but the rounded contours of its body make it comfortable to hold, it’s very well balanced, and its controls, as the British are wont to say, fall readily to hand. The plastic tipped wind lever is nicely contoured and advances the film in a single short 120° stroke or a series of shorter strokes, the shutter release is well positioned and operates smoothly with moderate finger force and has a predicable firing point (which I prefer to feather light or electronic releases), and the shutter speed dial (with inset ASA 6-6400 scale), textured aperture ring on the lens, and the folded rewind crank are all where you (or any Nikon F user) would expect to find them. The only idiosyncratic controls are the Leica M-style lift-and twist back lock on the bottom, and the inconvenient front-and-rear locking system for removing the prism, which is less convenient and secure than the slide-off system used on the Canon F-1, F-1n an New F-1. Oh well, at least the F2’s prism mounting system is more secure than the flimsy one on the Nikon F!
Perhaps the nicest thing about the Nikon F2, aside from its stellar record of longtime reliability, is it’s brilliant 100% coverage, 0.8x viewfinder. It is a joy to use and the standard A screen in my F2 has an excellent central split-image rangefinder surrounded by a clear focusing collar to facilitate focusing on fine details. Normally I’m a big fan of plain screens, but this one displays the central focusing aids so discreetly they’re not obtrusive. I also like the fact that you activate the meter by pulling the wind lever to standoff position—no searching for buttons or levers. Kudos to Nikon for the simple in-finder needle and notch metering system, and for including the set shutter speed. However, the metering displays below the viewfinder image are simply too small, and there’s no way to illuminate them in low light. Finally, speaking of low light, the CdS cell metering system in the DP1 meter prism isn’t sensitive enough for shooting in very low light, but switching to one of the other Nikon meter prisms that uses a silicon photodiode will solve that problem quite easily. All it takes is money! A Nikon F2 in clean working condition currently sells for about $300 to $400 with 50mmm f/1.4 AI Nikkor lens.
And the winner is---
If you expect me make to pick a clear winner among this elite triumvirate of pro SLRs of the late analog period I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve used all three with immense satisfaction for more than 25 years and I love them all. The original Canon F-1 (and the mildly upgraded F-1n) are perhaps the most indestructible 35mm SLRs ever made—if you can hammer nails with a Nikon F, you can probably hammer spikes with Canon F-1 and then use it to cover your next assignment. In terms of sophistication and flexibility right out of the box you’ve got to hand it to the Canon New F-1 with match-needle FN prism. It’s ruggedly built on a diecast chassis, has a superb viewfinder with a large, legible exposure readout scale, and its silicon photodiode metering system is sensitive enough for shooting in “available darkness.” On the minus side its reputation for reliability is less than stellar, getting it repaired can be challenging, and spare parts must be cannibalized.
This brings us to the redoubtable Nikon F2, which, despite its relatively minor deficiencies, is a magnificent machine—beautifully made, with a brilliant 100% coverage viewfinder, and, according to most user and expert reviewers a paragon of reliability, durability, and longevity. If you’re a low light shooter, fit it with a DP3 or DP12 meter prism, which adds to the cost, but the result will be an exceptional camera.
If you forced me to rank my choices right this minute, under penalty of having to shoot with a Perfex 55 for the rest if my life, I’d pick the Nikon F2, the Canon New F-1, and the Canon F-1/F-1n in that order. But if you asked me tomorrow, the results might well be different.
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