Canon F-1n and Canon Flash Coupler L

I have a Canon F-1n (second version, not the "New F-1" w/ built in hot shoe) and recently acquired a Canon Flash Coupler L. In the F-1n manual (P-54, Flash Photography System) it states that this flash coupler " has a directly coupled contact for automatic flash photography, is an accessory shoe specially developed for attaching the Speedlite 133D to the F-1."

I don't have a Speedlite 133D, but I do have Vivitar 283, and Sunpak Auto 322 flash units, each of which have both hot shoe connections and provision for cords that can plug into the PC outlet on the camera.

My question - can I use these flashes with the Coupler L in the F-1n, and, if so, do I need to use the PC connection cord, or is the connection on the Coupler L sufficient? Thanks, ronwhit

Why not try it and see? You aren't going to hurt the camera because it's mechanical.

(I have an F1n but no flash coupler.)

"it states that this flash coupler " has a directly coupled contact for automatic flash photography, is an accessory shoe specially developed for attaching the Speedlite 133D to the F-1.""

This refers to the distance controlled Canon AE flash system CAT.
There are two hot-shoe flash mounts for the F-1: D for standard electronic flashes and L for the CAT flash 133D.


To my understanding with the mount L any flash can be used as long one has its power switched off when pulling on/off that shoe.

The CAT system use a pretty odd setup. There was a resistor ring that couple to the flash through the shoe. As you focused the fing would turn along with the focusing ring. The adapters only worked with a couple of lenses, 50/1.8 and 1.4 maybe one of the 35's.

Enough of that!

If the couple L has a contact in the center it will work with both the Sunpak and Vivitar units just as with any other camera.

Yes odd, but neutral in exposure automation. Independant of object reflectivity. See it in analogy to incident light metering.

(I still have not got a set so I can't say whether the electrical part of that lighting control is precise.)

I have a F-1, the Flash Coupler L and a Vivitar 283 flash. You can attach this flash to the camera/coupler and it will fire just fine.

Jim B.

The L coupler had additional contacts, a light to illuminate the meter of the camera and a battery for this.
Reason enough to market two different couplers.

Actually there was a third one "F". A plain hot shoe, but it located the flash on top of the finder.