Canon F1 New (F1N) Safety Button

punkzter · Jan 26, 2019

Hi,

I just got a new to me Canon F1 New (F1N) back from a CLA, and I have a question about the safety button.

It's the silver button to the right of the ASA dial:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UWyXceTu9o2X1hiv5

Can anyone tell me what that is supposed to do? From reading the instruction manual, my thought was the film back wouldn't open unless you were pressing that button down. But I am able to open the film back without pressing it.

Thanks,
Brad

Les Sarile · Jan 26, 2019

That button releases the rewind lever to be able to lift up and open the film back. If I don't press down on it, it won't allow me to do so.

punkzter · Jan 26, 2019

Okay, so since I can lift up on the rewind level and open the film back without pressing the safety button, that would lead me to believe that my safety button is not working properly. Correct?

Vincent Peri · Jan 26, 2019

Hi,

That sounds right. Something is wrong with the button.

punkzter · Jan 26, 2019

Okay. Darn. It's not like it's a big deal, but I had hoped that it would return from a CLA job fully functional. I guess I'll contact the shop and see about sending it back.

benjiboy · Jan 27, 2019

punkzter said:
Okay. Darn. It's not like it's a big deal, but I had hoped that it would return from a CLA job fully functional. I guess I'll contact the shop and see about sending it back.

I have three Canon New F1s, and you can tell your camera repairer from me your camera is definitely faulty because none of mine will open the back unless you press the chrome button

Les Sarile · Jan 27, 2019

punkzter said:
Okay. Darn. It's not like it's a big deal, but I had hoped that it would return from a CLA job fully functional. I guess I'll contact the shop and see about sending it back.

This extra safety of pressing the button and lifting the rewind lever to open the film back in both this new version and original F-1 are over the top. In the original Canon Flex, it was only a latch and turn mechanism in the bottom to release the back. Given the recessed nature of the rewind lever and the amount of travel it has to go in order to open the back is plenty of safety to prevent accidental opening. Unless you want it restored to original working condition I wouldn't worry about it. I don't have the repair manual for it - nor have I opened mine, but I guess it is a simple link that is just stuck open or the link is broken. Probably should have been identified during the CLA.

punkzter · Jan 28, 2019

Yeah, probably not a big deal. But there was an issue with another item in my "order", so both are going to be sent back.

Canon F1 New (F1N) Safety Button

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