What is your favorite Canon FD body?

[CliveC]

Since starting with film a few years back, I've amassed my share of FD cameras and lenses. Starting with an AE-1, I've added the A-1, the T90, and even found a relatively rare T60, made by Cosina.

While the T90 is clearly the most advanced (the multi-spot exposure system is nice), it's also a bit of a tank to shoot. There's something to be said about the relative simplicity of the AE-1 or the featherweight of the T60.

I don't have any experience with the older bodies like the FTb or even the F-1 series. So FD shooters out there: what do you consider to be your favorite FD camera?

 

[raid]

I always favored the F1N and the T90 as my set of cameras for my photography for twenty years.

 

[mdg137]

Loved the EF, with the overhanging shutter speed dial.
2nd place, either version of the original F1.

 

[leicapixie]

My Ae-1P and not far behind a mint AV-1.

 

[Mackinaw]

F-1, original.

Jim B.

 

[geetist]

AE-1 and original F-1

 

[Dan]

F1-n, original.

 

[dogberryjr]

New F1, hands down.

 

[randolph45]

Ae1program was my mainstay for 20yrs.Always lusted for A-1 &T90. I bought A T90 and aT70.Isold the Ae1program to a friend for 50 $ with 50 1.8. No sooner than a week later I bought an A-1/50 f2 here on RFF for less .It looked prestine and worked great.The T70 I gave to my brother when he moved out of state.I kept the T90 and donated the A-1 to Chris Crawfords friend Neil Hollander for his young photographers group in Davis, Ca.The A-1 was goings to be a real shelf Queen so better to get it used for teaching the next generation of photographers.
The T-90 will stay as well as the lenses I have for it.
I did buy an FD-EOS-M adapter to try out the FD glass.

 

[raid]

I started with the AE1, followed by the A1. Then I got an F1n and F1N, followed by the T90. Lastly, I got the Pellix. I was curious about it. I used the F1n for very long exposures, using the mirror lock up feature on this solid mechanical camera. I used the T90 mainly with the 28-50 macro and with small lenses, while the F1N was used with the 80-200 and with long tele lenses. Incold weather, I used the F1N motor drive as a battery source. I sold the ridiculously heavy motor drive and battery back for the F1n, but it looked like a monster of a camera.

 

[David Murphy]

For me it's a tie between the Ftb-QL and the F1 original. The FT QL is high on the list too.

 

[back alley]

t90 was/is one of my all time favourite cameras!
i loved my original f1...so much better/more comfortable to shoot than the nikon!

 

[gb hill]

I have a T-50, T-70, AE-1P, & an AV-1. The AV-1 is a fun camera to shoot. My fav. though has to be my AE-1P.

 

[Texsport]

The T90 - and I like that shutter - sounds like an event has just taken place!

I also use the EF for astro photography because of it's shutter, long timed shutter speeds , and mirror lock up.

Texsport

 

[Robert Lai]

I started with a 1964 Canon FX, which was the first one with the FL lens mount. It has a meter that reads through a port on the camera body. I still have it, it works fine.

Recently, I obtained Dave's FTb QL. A really nice camera with true selective area metering. The direct lineage from the FX to the FTb-QL is visible when you put the two cameras side by side.

My family still has an AE-1. However, not having any shutter speeds visible in the finder was annoying to me. The preponderance of plastic was also a turn off at the time.

 

[kuzano]

I have a weakness for the tag names attached...

I have a weakness for the tag names attached...

My favorites... the "Black Beauty" the EF... and one point about the camera... two batteries and both circuits protected to reduce voltage from any battery installed to 1.35 volts or the same as the original Mercury battery. No adjustment of the circuits needed. The high speed shutter speeds ran on their own dedicated battery.

Then "The Tank"... Had the EEE errors, and found the problem was dirty magnets in the shutter function.. chronic issue, resulted in bigger magnets in the EOS shutters. Found a fellow in Reno Nv (Carson City actually) who serviced Canons, and cleaned the magnets and would install an external PC socket...$135. Had him do all three of my T90's. Excellent work, fast service nice guy.

Loved the T90's. Did not go to the EOS.. Had the functions of EOS in a camera that used all my FD lenses.

 

[FrankS]

I'm a Nikon 35mm SLR guy, but I have a very small collection of Canon FD gear. My favourites are easily the F1n and EF.

 

[kpembo]

Favorite FD body

Favorite FD body

I've tried the New F-1, the A1 and the EF.

The F-1 was in very good condition with almost no paint loss and had been overhauled recently. I loved the way the finder displayed the metered aperture, the selected aperture and the shutter speed, as well as provided a light if you couldn't see the display. The partial meter screen was a good compromise between spot metering and center weighted. I had gotten used to aperture priority on most of my previous cameras, so I bought the A1. I discovered I could shoot at slower speeds with the A1 and still get good photos. I shoot a lot indoors, so shooting at lower speeds is important to me. So, I sold the F1 in spite of its much better display and overall feel.

I missed the heft and solid feel of the F1, so it was only natural to try the EF. I've only shot a couple of rolls, but like the feel of the beast. The overhanging shutter dial and simple controls are fantastic. However, the lack of lighting to see the display is difficult at times and I suspect the lowest speed for sharp photos won't be as low as the A1.

So, my votes go to the A1, followed by the New F1.

 

[Dirk]

Canon AE-1 Program. Nice and light and handles well. The T-90 also has great handling, but that shutter sound makes it somewhat conspicuous in street shooting.

 

[Guest]

EF hands down.

EF hands down.

When I was a young lad back in England, I bought my brothers FTBN and married it with an AE1, then I bought the A1, at the time the best electrical camera out there. Then because my Father got an EF, I got one used from Fox Talbert in London, it was like new. Loved that EF, shutter was excellent for 30 sce stuff in the dark.
Well sold the AE1 for fifty quid to get a new Hasselblad 500CM in Fox Talberts in 1983, kept all the other gear.
Moved over to the United States in 1990, brought it all. Then in 1995 got a Leica M6 and sold the FTBN, the EF and all of my glass. Got two more Hasselblads and a lot more glass for them.......the my Father died in 2003 and I have a Canon EF again and a lot of good glass with it.
The EF in good care is a serious automatic camera, very well built, not like the plastic crap today.
I also have his Zeiss Super Ikonta 6x 9, he got it in Germany on vacation in 1953, the manager of the store took the first picture with it of my parents, I have every negative it has taken, I have had it recovered and serviced, it is a bloody jewel for BW.........the Hasselblads are jealous.
So EF is my opinion......... my brother, the ass hole JUDAS has two of the F 1 series, in their day they were up against the Nikon F2AS, so they are obviously very very good cameras, built for professional use. The trouble is the Canon glass was just not good enough for me. After owning Hasselblad stuff, nothing is good enough.........