Canon EF camera

[colin wells]

Has anyone got one of these a Canon EF I had never come across one before a couple of weeks ago and I have a chance of one . Externally it seems in good condition and comes with three FD lenses . Not a lot about them on the net or youtube .The only real drawback I can see is if it brakes that's it.!!

 

[trythis]

I owned one. Its a nice camera but I found it to be too heavy and if you dont turn it off it will eat batteries in a day or less. It doesnt need them at faster than a second.

 

[colin wells]

I am used to the battery thing I also own a OM2sp and a OM40 . LOL

 

[darinwc]

The EF is a good reliable camera. Somewhere between the ae1 and the f1. It has a voltage regulator, so you can use modern 1.5 volt batteries and get the right exposures. The copal shutter is electronically controlled and speeds range from 1/1000 to 1 and bulb.
The FD lenses are great.
If you can have one for a good price, go for it.

 

[darinwc]

Oh, another plug for the EF.. all speeds from 1-1000 work without batteries. Only the speeds slower than 1 second require batterires.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Yes, a few of us have the Canon EF "black beauty". Wonderful camera. Nice controls and viewfinder.

 

[flatulent1]

I had one for a bit. I enjoyed using it EXCEPT for the power switch being under my right thumb. Raising the camera to my face would too often flip the switch in the OFF position. It was so annoying I gave it up for an FTb.

 

[benjiboy]

I have one and it's one of my favourites and the only camera that Canon ever made that they didn't make the shutter of, it was made by Copal a top qualty Japanese shutter manufacturer out of Platinum. I use mine mainly for street shooting on shutter priority for street shooting and find with the FD 35 f2 lens attached and set at f8 or so depending on the lighting conditions you can point and squirt without focusing using the lenses hyper focusing distance.

 

[AgX]

...the only camera that Canon ever made that they didn't make the shutter of, it was made by Copal a top qualty Japanese shutter manufacturer out of Platinum.

There is no shutter, or rather shutter-curtain or -blades, made from Platinum.

The most exotic metal used was Titanium.
But I doubt it was used as early as then.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

...
The most exotic metal used was Titanium.
But I doubt it was used as early as then.

Nikon F of 1959 uses titanium.

 

[benjiboy]

There is no shutter, or rather shutter-curtain or -blades, made from Platinum.

The most exotic metal used was Titanium.
But I doubt it was used as early as then.

You are wrong, it's a vertical running Copal Square Platinum shutter.

 

[AgX]

"Platinum" is just a name in this case, not a material designation.

Its spec. density is even 3-times that of steel.

 

[benjiboy]

Nikon F of 1959 uses titanium.

That's largely true but he first very earliest Nikon F's had a rubberised silk shutter before they had a titanium one.

 

[tokam]

The EF was a landmark camera for Canon. The first body to use silicon photocell metering. The first body with shutter priority automation and the fastest flash sync of 1/125 until the Canon T series were released, (even my F1-N only synchs at 1/90). The timed shutter speeds also extended out to 32 seconds. Many other nice features including mirror lockup and both shutter and aperture displays in the viewfinder. When released, the EF was priced close to the F1 and I suspect fewer EF's were sold than any other Canon SLR made in the 1970's.

The AE-1 could be seen as the spiritual successor to the EF but with slightly reduced functionality. The AE-1 was priced at about 2/3rds of the EF and Canon sold millions of them at the expense of the EF and cameras from many other manufacturers.

The EF is a 'full sized' metal body like Canon's other FD cameras of the early '70s, but it is a joy to use. Remembering to turn the meter off is not that hard. There is a big label beneath the wind on lever to tell you to do it! Also, what other 35mm SLR do you know of that allows you to load and advance a film to frame 1 without firing the shutter between winding on. You just keep winding a fresh film until the camera stops at frame 1 and then you start shooting. I think that the engineers got a bit carried away and the bean counters were sleeping on the job while the EF was under development.

If I want a light combination for a day out of not so serious shooting I will take an AE-1 or A-1 with a 24mm or 28mm lens and not notice the weight but I prefer to use an EF, F1-N or T90 when I want more control over my shooting. They're all readily available at bargain basement prices with the exception of the rarer EF. If you spot a good EF, give it a go. If you don't like it I don't think you'll have any trouble selling it through the APUG classifieds.

 

[benjiboy]

The EF was a landmark camera for Canon. The first body to use silicon photocell metering. The first body with shutter priority automation and the fastest flash sync of 1/125 until the Canon T series were released, (even my F1-N only synchs at 1/90). The timed shutter speeds also extended out to 32 seconds. Many other nice features including mirror lockup and both shutter and aperture displays in the viewfinder. When released, the EF was priced close to the F1 and I suspect fewer EF's were sold than any other Canon SLR made in the 1970's.

The AE-1 could be seen as the spiritual successor to the EF but with slightly reduced functionality. The AE-1 was priced at about 2/3rds of the EF and Canon sold millions of them at the expense of the EF and cameras from many other manufacturers.

The EF is a 'full sized' metal body like Canon's other FD cameras of the early '70s, but it is a joy to use. Remembering to turn the meter off is not that hard. There is a big label beneath the wind on lever to tell you to do it! Also, what other 35mm SLR do you know of that allows you to load and advance a film to frame 1 without firing the shutter between winding on. You just keep winding a fresh film until the camera stops at frame 1 and then you start shooting. I think that the engineers got a bit carried away and the bean counters were sleeping on the job while the EF was under development.

If I want a light combination for a day out of not so serious shooting I will take an AE-1 or A-1 with a 24mm or 28mm lens and not notice the weight but I prefer to use an EF, F1-N or T90 when I want more control over my shooting. They're all readily available at bargain basement prices with the exception of the rarer EF. If you spot a good EF, give it a go. If you don't like it I don't think you'll have any trouble selling it through the APUG classifieds.

Canon advertised the EF model when it was current to be "particularly suitable for old people", I wasn't old in those days but I had a young family and couldn't afford one, now I'm old and own one it was worth waiting for it's the smoothest operating FD camera I own.

 

[colin wells]

Thanks for all the replies I also have a chance of a original flash unit a 133d with b2 ring are they worth having ? I just think it would look good with its original gear

 

[tokam]

Canon advertised the EF model when it was current to be "particularly suitable for old people", I wasn't old in those days but I had a young family and couldn't afford one, now I'm old and own one it was worth waiting for it's the smoothest operating FD camera I own.

+1

I think that the reference to suitability for older people is because it was the first Canon SLR with any form of exposure automation. By the same token the EOS film cameras should have been advertised as suitable for idiots with its autofocus and multi mode auto exposure. Not sure where I fit in with a T90?

The EF wind on is seamless and is the smoothest I have encountered in the FD range. If it were any other camera I would be constantly checking the rewind lever to ensure that I was actually winding on film. All the controls on the F1-N, by comparison, are very positive and heavier in their action than my other FD bodies. The wind on, for example, has two distinct steps and is reminiscent of cycling the action on a light bolt action rifle.

All nice cameras.

 

[benjiboy]

+1

I think that the reference to suitability for older people is because it was the first Canon SLR with any form of exposure automation. By the same token the EOS film cameras should have been advertised as suitable for idiots with its autofocus and multi mode auto exposure. Not sure where I fit in with a T90?

The EF wind on is seamless and is the smoothest I have encountered in the FD range. If it were any other camera I would be constantly checking the rewind lever to ensure that I was actually winding on film. All the controls on the F1-N, by comparison, are very positive and heavier in their action than my other FD bodies. The wind on, for example, has two distinct steps and is reminiscent of cycling the action on a light bolt action rifle.

All nice cameras.

That's my experience too.

 

[frank]

I'm primarily a Nikon 35mm SLR guy, but the Canon EF, F1n, and Ftb have spots on my shelf. IMO, this was Canon's golden era.

 

[cooltouch]

Truly well-named as the Black Beauty, the EF is a classic 1970s example of charm, elegance, and grace. It's the perfect alternative companion to the original Canon F-1. I have three of them -- it wasn't really intentional on my part that I wound up with three of them; it's just the way things worked out. Tokam gives a good rundown of its features. One more that comes to mind is the way the shutter speed dial is placed. It's a bit oversized and it sits just proud of the edge of the body, which makes it very easy to adjust speeds with the index finger without having to move ones eye away from the viewfinder. This is a feature that was carried over to the AE-1.

Colin, if you're seriously thinking about buying the one you found, make sure to test the electronics with a fresh set of batteries first. Because if it's broke, there's just about zero chance of getting it repaired.

 

[colin wells]

Well it arrived today and unfortunately it was a piece of junk nothing worked including the ASI dial (bloody ebay) so the hunt for a decent one goes on

 

[benjiboy]

It's been almost forty years since these cameras were manufactured the problem is finding one in good enough condition to be a reliable shooter, I bought mine about seven years ago at my local pro dealer and spent far more than I paid for it on having the camera tech I use giving it a complete service, which was far from economical but in the the final analysis since I'm never going to sell the camera the cost is of no consequence, and it's been such a pleasure to use and been so reliable since then it was worth every penny.

 

[colin wells]

I have another one coming this time fro a reputable vintage camera dealer its supposed to be serviced new light seals and new battery's fitted its cost more than the first one but if the quality is good I don't mind

 

[benjiboy]

Well done Colin I think you will find the extra cost worth it in the long run, this is one my all time favourite Canon 35mm SLR's I.M.O., and certainly one of the smoothest in operation. I hope you get as much pleasure out of using it as much as I do mine which I find great for street shooting with my 35mm f2 lens set at the hyper-focal distance with 400 I.S.O film on auto, I can just "point and squirt" without having to focus.

 

[flavio81]

I waited like 2 years to find one, then I got one. It is a very good Canon but in the end I like my F-1s better.