Canon F1 shutter sticking in cold weather

cerber0s · Nov 19, 2022

The cold weather is here, and on my outing with the Canon F1 today, I noticed the shutter sticking. 1/125 sounded more like 1/30, and at one time it just stuck for several seconds. The temperature was just above freezing. The camera exposes perfectly when it’s warmer.

I think it’s time for a CLA, but the only tech around have become ridiculously expensive. I had my Canon A1 serviced in 2005 for $150, but when I asked for an estimate last year they wanted $150 just to give me the estimate, then they said the actual service could be between $300 and $1000.

The alternative would be to just do it myself, I think the service manual is available as a pdf. Has anyone here done it? Is it difficult? I’m fairly mechanically inclined, and I probably have the tools I need.

awty · Nov 19, 2022

Take the bottom plate off and take a look, it's probably something simple that you maybe able to access without getting too involved. Could put it in a snap lock bag and stick it in the freezer to get it down to zero.

gone · Nov 19, 2022

It's a titanium metal shutter, so be gently around it (it feels odd saying the words "gentle" and "F1" in the same sentence, these cameras are built like a tank). At the prices you were quoted, you might be able to pick up a serviced one for less than that, then sell your current one.

Sirius Glass · Nov 19, 2022

A CLA is needed for cold weather and especially extended cold weather use. The camera repair people need to be paid a living wage if they are to stay in business, If they are not supported now, they will not be working in the future.

benjiboy · Nov 20, 2022

The Canon New F1 shutter was designed to work correctly at minus 30 degrees c, so there is definitely something wrong with it.

cerber0s · Nov 20, 2022

benjiboy said:
The Canon New F1 shutter was designed to work correctly at minus 30 degrees c, so there is definitely something wrong with it.

It’s the old F1

Thank you all. I found a guy I can send it to. He charges $150 for a CLA and has a list with fixed prices for additional services.

It seemed to work flawlessly today though, but I’ll know when the film is developed in a few hours.

dynachrome · Nov 20, 2022

I guess this is as good a time as any to share some news. Last week I got a card from my long time Canon repairman Ken (Katsushige) Oikawa. He has retired. He recommended another repairman and I will post that person's name later.

jtk · Nov 20, 2022

Back when Canon had its own service operation in San Francisco, I stuck a finger in one of my F1's titanium shutters and mangled it. Canon replaced the shutter, charged me $90, delivered it to me within a week.

The very idea of CLA for a plastic Canon is absurd. Discard, don't replace.

I'd suspect a tiny film chip caused your problem. That would likely take care of itself, but it might happen again so I'd use a blower to clean it out.

Sloppy trimming of the leader end of bulk loaded film can result in a chip . Don't ask me how I know.

It has nothing to do with temperature.

cerber0s · Nov 20, 2022

jtk said:
The very idea of CLA for a plastic Canon is absurd. Discard, don't replace.

Is the F1 plastic?

benjiboy · Nov 20, 2022

cerber0s said:
Is the F1 plastic?

No, it's brass.

Sirius Glass · Nov 20, 2022

For many years I took my Minoltas to the west coast office near by every two or three years for a CLA and to set the timer so that if the camera was set to B the self timer would give a 2 second exposure plus to handle the cold while I was snow skiing. I felt that having a camera properly serviced eliminated one or more possible problems that I would or might have had.

koraks · Nov 20, 2022

jtk said:
The very idea of CLA for a plastic Canon is absurd. Discard, don't replace.

That logic would stand firmly in a world where plastic Canons were pumped out as fast as other plastic items. As it happens, this is not the case, so the notion of a CLA on an item that's increasingly difficult to replace makes perfect sense especially if someone derives pleasure from using it.

cerber0s · Nov 20, 2022

Did I miss something? What’s this about plastic Canons?

koraks · Nov 20, 2022

cerber0s said:
Did I miss something? What’s this about plastic Canons?

No. Just ignore it

I hope you can get your A1 fixed. I myself wouldn't hesitate to have a look inside before committing a lot of money on it.
Sometimes there are camera enthusiasts nearby who are willing to lend a hand, but you'd have to be lucky enough to find someone willing & experienced.

benjiboy · Nov 20, 2022

cerber0s said:
It’s the old F1

Thank you all. I found a guy I can send it to. He charges $150 for a CLA and has a list with fixed prices for additional services.

It seemed to work flawlessly today though, but I’ll know when the film is developed in a few hours.

The old F1 was also designed to work at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees
P.S. all Canon F series camera bodies are solid brass, only the A and the T series ones had polymer bodies.

Sirius Glass · Nov 20, 2022

jtk said:
The very idea of CLA for a plastic Canon is absurd. Discard, don't replace.

Not based on anything. Not based on facts or experience. Please ignore his comment.

Mike Lopez · Nov 20, 2022

jtk said:
Back when Canon had its own service operation in San Francisco, I stuck a finger in one of my F1's titanium shutters and mangled it. Canon replaced the shutter, charged me $90, delivered it to me within a week.

The very idea of CLA for a plastic Canon is absurd. Discard, don't replace.

I'd suspect a tiny film chip caused your problem. That would likely take care of itself, but it might happen again so I'd use a blower to clean it out.

Sloppy trimming of the leader end of bulk loaded film can result in a chip . Don't ask me how I know.

It has nothing to do with temperature.

What on earth are you talking about? My F1 could be used as a lethal weapon! I think one’s skull would crack before that “plastic” Canon would.

Mike Lopez · Nov 20, 2022

cerber0s said:
It’s the old F1

Thank you all. I found a guy I can send it to. He charges $150 for a CLA and has a list with fixed prices for additional services.

It seemed to work flawlessly today though, but I’ll know when the film is developed in a few hours.

I paid about that much for a CLA on mine several years (14) ago. It still purrs like a kitty. My F1 and my Sover-treated F2 bodies will likely last me forever.

jtk · Nov 20, 2022

Mike Lopez said:
What on earth are you talking about? My F1 could be used as a lethal weapon! I think one’s skull would crack before that “plastic” Canon would.

OK Mike. If you can live with that plastic Canon's squeek your photo subjects will have to put up with it. But you've probably dumped it by now.

I agree, of course: F1s certainly could be lethal weapons....long into the future.

MattKing · Nov 20, 2022

Don't bother responding.

Mike Lopez · Nov 20, 2022

jtk said:
OK Mike. If you can live with that plastic Canon's squeek your photo subjects will have to put up with it. But you've probably dumped it by now.

I agree, of course: F1s certainly could be lethal weapons....long into the future.

I literally just said that my F1 will likely outlast me…and I continue to refer to it as my F1. What makes you think I’ve “probably dumped it by now?” And what is this “squeek” (sic) you are referring to? Have you ever used my F1? What is wrong with you? You seem to be completely clueless on this. You’ll probably just delete your post before too much longer anyway, and nobody will have missed a thing.

Mackinaw · Nov 20, 2022

dynachrome said:
I guess this is as good a time as any to share some news. Last week I got a card from my long time Canon repairman Ken (Katsushige) Oikawa. He has retired. He recommended another repairman and I will post that person's name later.

This is indeed sad news. Ken Oikawa was the "Sover Wong" of Canon FD/FL repairs and CLA's.

Jim B.

John Koehrer · Nov 20, 2022

Why is a mouse that spins?

The squeak is the gearing on the mirror lifting on the A series cameras

Mike Lopez · Nov 20, 2022

John Koehrer said:
Why is a mouse that spins?

The squeak is the gearing on the mirror lifting on the A series cameras

So the A series of cameras have a squeak? Thanks for clarifying that. I don’t use any of those. And it appears that jtk really is utterly confused. The F1, which is the subject of this thread, does not have the plasticky, squeaky issues he’s complaining about here.

Huss · Nov 21, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
For many years I took my Minoltas to the west coast office near by every two or three years for a CLA and to set the timer so that if the camera was set to B the self timer would give a 2 second exposure plus to handle the cold while I was snow skiing. I felt that having a camera properly serviced eliminated one or more possible problems that I would or might have had.

You take a tripod when you go skiing?

Forget this plastic Canon nonsense, I want to hear about Sirius’ 2second exposures while skiing!

p.s Canon F1 should handle anything. It just needs a looksie.

Canon F1 shutter sticking in cold weather

cerber0s

awty

gone

Sirius Glass

benjiboy

cerber0s

dynachrome

jtk

cerber0s

benjiboy

Sirius Glass

koraks

Moderator

cerber0s

koraks

Moderator

benjiboy

Sirius Glass

Mike Lopez

Mike Lopez

jtk

MattKing

Moderator

Mike Lopez

Mackinaw

John Koehrer

Mike Lopez

Huss

Canon F1 shutter sticking in cold weather

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency