Any EOS-1V shooters here?

jphendren · Oct 29, 2009

Hello,

I just picked up a beautiful Canon EOS-1V from KEH. I haven't even been able to try it out yet, maybe this evening if the weather cooperates. If you have any experience with this camera, feel free to share your thoughts on it.

I will be using it with my EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, and 70-200mm f/4L USM.

One last thing, does anyone here know if the 1V measures up to the Nikon F6?

Jared

Tim Gray · Oct 29, 2009

I have one. I like it. Over the past couple years, I've picked up a lot of the accessories for it (grips, etc.). It's a great camera, but I usually shoot on my rangefinders instead.

jphendren · Oct 29, 2009

I've been playing with the 1V today, and I really like the DEP feature. I shoot at the hyper-focal distance for most of my images, and usually have to carry a little chart that I made. With the DEP mode, you don't really need the chart it seems. I tried it out in my house, it does indeed seem to work. It is as convenient as the little colored lines that my older Nikon lens' have.

Jared

2F/2F · Oct 29, 2009

I sometimes borrow a 1 and a 3, but have only fiddled with a 1V on a few occasions. Great camera, as were its predecessors, the 1N and 1. Congratulations.

patawauke · Oct 29, 2009

For 35mm slr, I used to use Nikon exclusively. For digital, a few years ago I chose Canon (5D full frame and L lenses) as I perceived them to be ahead of Nikon, and was immensely impressed with the toughness and quality of body and lenses. Out of interest, I picked up an old F1 and F1N and some old FD lenses, just for the pleasure of using this fine, classic equipment. Logically, I then acquired an EOS 1V, as it takes the same lenses as my 5D, on the same full frame format. The IV is a rock, the ultimate over-engineered slr, as was the F1N previously. Ok, it is has the EOS shape and synthetic feel, and I can see that the Nikon F6 has a different aesthetic appeal, and similar toughness. But for my purposes, it provides the supreme film slr chassis with the same ergonomics and similar functions and handling as my 5D, a perfect match. I use the 1V most with the older 28-70 and 70-210 non IS zooms, and I find the body and lens weight and balance is just right. A joy to use.

EdSawyer · Oct 29, 2009

the 1V is superb. I have 2 of them, both with the PB-E2. I also have and use the ES-E1 software. I love the 1V, for me it's the ultimate 35mm camera, I've never used anything better nor will there ever likely be anything made which tops it.

Vonder · Oct 29, 2009

Please?

EdSawyer said:
the 1V is superb. I have 2 of them, both with the PB-E2. I also have and use the ES-E1 software. I love the 1V, for me it's the ultimate 35mm camera, I've never used anything better nor will there ever likely be anything made which tops it.

Sell me the software. You don't really need it!

The 1V is the last of an era, made to last. It evolved from many degins before, starting way back with the FD-mount T90. There was never a better camera made, though the F6 is certainly equal in many if not all respects.

jphendren · Oct 29, 2009

patawauke,

I too got into the Canon system for the 5D. I had grown up with Nikon and had purchased a D70, and then a D2h. I never like the 1.5X conversion factor after years of shooting 35mm equipment. So I bought a Canon 5D and 24-70mm f/2.8L to hopefully get back to what I knew and loved about 35mm.

On the subject of the ES-E1 software; I've read that it will only run on some older versions of windows, and not on a Mac at all. Too bad I have a Mac, I would like to be able to download my shot settings.

On another note; does anybody here know where I can get the original strap that came with the camera new?

Jared

Tim Gray · Oct 29, 2009

I used to run ES-E1 in Windows 98 running under Virtual PC on a Mac. I have XP and Parallels on my newer Mac now, but I've not tried out ES-E1 on it yet.

jphendren · Oct 29, 2009

Tim Gray said:
I used to run ES-E1 in Windows 98 running under Virtual PC on a Mac. I have XP and Parallels on my newer Mac now, but I've not tried out ES-E1 on it yet.

Cool! I never thought of that. I've read that finding a copy of the ES-E1 software and the cable is somewhat difficult.

Jared

Tim Gray · Oct 29, 2009

Yeah I've heard that too. I got mine with the 1V when I bought it off of ebay a couple years ago.

flatulent1 · Oct 29, 2009

The software is downloadable (somewhere); I have it, but not the cable. I use my 1V with the dual-power BP-E1, rather than the power booster. It fits my hands better. So much so that I got two more for my 1N and 3. The BP-E1 is terrific. I use four lithium AA batteries; when they poop out I switch to the 2CR5 and keep shooting until I can reload fresh AAs.

patawauke · Oct 30, 2009

Jared asked where to find an original 1V strap - try David Leung, a non mainstream Canon dealer in UK who always kept a stack of old OEM bits for Canon afficionados tel +44 (0)208 590 3268.

tim_walls · Oct 30, 2009

jphendren said:
Hello,

I just picked up a beautiful Canon EOS-1V from KEH. I haven't even been able to try it out yet, maybe this evening if the weather cooperates. If you have any experience with this camera, feel free to share your thoughts on it.

I will be using it with my EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, and 70-200mm f/4L USM.

One last thing, does anyone here know if the 1V measures up to the Nikon F6?

Jared

You've done well ;-). A beautiful camera - I've had my 1V from new and I fully plan on it lasting my lifetime - it's the last 35mm camera I intend to buy.

The T90 sold me on multi-point spot metering mode, so the 1V was a logical choice when it came to buying a modern camera.

Actually, you've just reminded me it was the 1V that cemented me in the world of analogue. I'd saved enough money for a decent digi SLR - a 5D I think from memory - and just as I was about to buy it, I realised if I forsook the dark side entirely I could get a 1V and the lens love of my life [85mm f/1.2L] for more or less the same money... And so digital was abandoned forthwith .

flatulent1 · Oct 30, 2009

tim_walls said:
Actually, you've just reminded me it was the 1V that cemented me in the world of analogue. I'd saved enough money for a decent digi SLR - a 5D I think from memory - and just as I was about to buy it, I realised if I forsook the dark side entirely I could get a 1V and the lens love of my life [85mm f/1.2L] for more or less the same money... And so digital was abandoned forthwith .

Jeez, I wish I'd thought of that when I bought my 5D...

jphendren · Oct 30, 2009

I owned a 5D for several years, before trading it even up for a 1Ds Mark II. The Mark II is a much nicer camera in every way IMO. I am now thinking of selling the 1Ds Mark II while it is still worth something and buying more glass for my 1V or F5. I also have a strong hankering for a Nikon F6.

"Jeez, I wish I'd thought of that when I bought my 5D..."

You know, you can still trade that 5D for about 3 EX condition 1V's, or 2 EX+ condition 1V's.

"Jared asked where to find an original 1V strap - try David Leung, a non mainstream Canon dealer in UK who always kept a stack of old OEM bits for Canon afficionados tel +44 (0)208 590 3268."

I may just give that a try, thanks for the tip.

Jared

Chazzy · Oct 30, 2009

I've never had a chance to look at the 1v. Briefly, what does it offer that I don't have with my EOS 3?

jphendren · Oct 30, 2009

Chazzy said:
I've never had a chance to look at the 1v. Briefly, what does it offer that I don't have with my EOS 3?

I've only handled a 3 for a moment. But from what I have read, the 1V has a magnesium-alloy outer shell vs. the 3's polycarbonate. The 1v has even more extensive weather sealing, slightly faster AF operation that works in lower light due to a glass lens over the AF sensor vs. the 3's plastic lens. 100% viewfinder coverage, built-in diopter, built-in eyepiece curtain. I've read that the 1V's AF computer is newer/faster than the 3's also. Oh, you can download your shot settings to a computer via the ES-E1 software and cable; it is hard to find though. Lastly, 10FPS frame advance with an optional booster pack. This is all off of the top of my head though, so I'm not sure how if it is all correct. Maybe somebody with more 1V/3 experience will chime in.

Jared

funkpilz · Oct 30, 2009

I've heard that the 1V is capable of imprinting information on the film leader, such as a number that identifies the camera, or a count of how many rolls have been shot on this camera. This kind of thing sounds innovative to me and makes it worth having a 1V over a 1 or 1N.

Tim Gray · Oct 30, 2009

Yeah I think those sum up the differences. It does imprint a user settable ID number and a roll number.

jphendren · Oct 30, 2009

I've only handled an EOS-3 for a moment, but it did feel surprisingly sturdy/heavy for having a polycarbonate shell. It also has the ECF (eye controlled focus) that the 1V does not have. I've read that is because it was inconsistent from user to user. I've never tried it personally, but it does sound intriguing. So far though, I really like the look and feel of the 1V.

Jared

flatulent1 · Oct 30, 2009

I have both the 3 and 1V, and in real-world shooting there is no significant difference between them, apart from the eye controlled focus. I've found ECF to be very reliable; I shoot with my left eye (!) and wear bifocals. No problem at all.

andrewc · Oct 31, 2009

Congrats on your 1v purchase. To me it's the best camera Canon has made yet, film or digital (although I'm absolutely loving my 7D so far!). As far as how it stacks up against the F6, I read a couple of reviews when the F6 came out that rated it the same as the 1v. I think the F6 is a really well designed and well engineered camera with some pretty cool features (like manual rewind and a silent shooting mode that doesn't advance the film until you want to) but I think that the 1v has an equal number of great features built into it as well, via the custom functions. With the software you can add an additional 29(I think) custom functions to the 27 or so already built into the camera. It feels so solid and fits the hand perfectly, and the AF performs superbly. While I'd love to have an F6 it would only be for the sake of having an example of one of Nikon's best film cameras, not because I think that it can do anything better than my 1v.

Andy

jphendren · Oct 31, 2009

" While I'd love to have an F6 it would only be for the sake of having an example of one of Nikon's best film cameras, not because I think that it can do anything better than my 1v."

I agree. I downloaded the brochure for the F6 from Nikon's website, and compared it to the 1V feature by feature, and they are pretty similar. Since I already own a nice 1V, and a nice F5, the F6 does not seem like a good buy at its current price point. You could buy three KEH EX condition 1V's for the price of a used F6.

Jared

Magic2007 · Dec 2, 2009

Hey There,
The EOS 1vhs is the reason for why Im still not gone 100% digital yet, love this camera!!!
I have used this camera for 4 years now and for me its the best camera I ever used, All what you need is there.

I have used it in rain, snow, dust and in very hot weather too this camera works forever.

Great camera, now only what I need is the 85mm L glas for this baby.

Any EOS-1V shooters here?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency