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Canon / 1971 / 35mm
Canon F-1
The professional Canon. Built like a tank. It holds up.
Overview
Canon F-1
Japan
The Canon F-1 was Canon's answer to the Nikon F. It was introduced in 1971 as a professional system camera -- modular, durable, and designed for working photographers who needed a camera that could take abuse.
I've had this one for three years. It came from a retired photojournalist in Jacksonville who had used it in the 1970s and 1980s. The shutter was slow and the mirror damper had turned to sticky residue. Two hours of work and it was back to spec.
The FD mount lenses are excellent and underpriced. The Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 is one of the best 50mm lenses ever made and costs a fraction of what a comparable Nikkor or Zeiss costs. The FD 35mm f/2 is similarly good.
Specifications
Type
SLR
Year introduced
1971
Shutter
Horizontal cloth focal plane, 1s -- 1/2000
Meter
Center-weighted TTL
Mount
Canon FD bayonet
Battery
1.35V mercury (use Wein cell or adapter)
Weight
700g (body only)
Flash sync
1/60s
Production run
1971 -- 1976 (original F-1)
History
The original Canon F-1 was produced from 1971 to 1976. Canon updated it as the New F-1 in 1981, which is a different camera with a different finder system and improved electronics. The original F-1 is fully mechanical.
Canon designed the F-1 to compete directly with the Nikon F. It succeeded in terms of build quality and system depth. The FD mount lens system grew to include over 50 lenses, from fisheyes to 800mm telephotos.
The F-1 was used by Canon's professional photographers at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Canon provided the cameras and lenses; the photographers provided the results.
Worth owning?
The Canon F-1 is worth owning if you want a professional-grade 35mm SLR and you're interested in the FD lens system. The lenses are excellent and affordable. The camera is built to last.
The main limitation is the same as the OM-1: 1/60s flash sync. For outdoor fill flash in Florida, that's not ideal.
The FD mount is a dead system -- Canon abandoned it in 1987 when they introduced the EF mount. But there are enough used lenses available that this is rarely a practical problem.
Common faults
Mirror damper
The foam mirror damper always needs replacement. Causes mirror bounce and image blur.
Light seals
The foam light seals degrade. Replace them on any F-1 that hasn't been recently serviced.
Slow shutter speeds
The slow-speed governor needs cleaning and lubrication. Standard issue on cameras of this era.
Meter battery compatibility
The original 1.35V mercury battery is no longer available. Use a Wein cell or adapter.
CLA notes
The Canon F-1 CLA is similar to the Nikon F2. The mirror damper and light seals are always replaced. The shutter is cleaned if needed. The slow-speed governor is cleaned and re-lubricated.
The meter is checked with the correct battery voltage. The Canon F-1 meter reads accurately with a Wein cell.
After a CLA, I verify shutter speeds and run a test roll. The F-1 is a reliable camera once serviced.
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