Canon New F1 Shutter Dial Oddity

[LMI]

I recently acquired a pristine Canon New F1 from 1989. Having seen such little use over its life, the grease from the mechanical parts congealed where they sat. I had this sent to a very experienced repairman, and he cleaned up the internals beautifully. As far as I'm aware, he performed a detail strip of the entire body.

However, I've noticed a strange quirk which was present before and after I sent it for repairs. When turning the shutter dial from 1/30th to 1/15th, the transition is not a firm click as with the other speeds. Rather, it feels rough and course, almost as if something were sticking out of that particular gear and scraping whatever moves across it. That is, however, just how it feels to my inexperienced hand. I really don't know what it is.

Furthermore, I can leave the dial somewhat locked at mid-turn between 30 and 15, which cannot be done on any of the other dials.

I know for a fact that this isn't the transition from the mechanical shutter to the electronic shutter, because that would start from 1/125 to 1/60. This is well within the electronic range.

Others have told me that this probably isn't worth worrying about as the camera still functions fine at all speeds, and it only affects this one transition. But, being the priciest film camera in my collection by a good margin, I don't want to leave it to chance. I'd just like to know whats going on, and whether its worth sending the thing back in for repairs. I'm only concerned if it harms the function of my camera; I don't otherwise mind it.

 

[dynachrome]

I just tried this on one of my F-1N bodies and it does just what you describe. I never noticed this before. It could be that I just haven't used it at 1/15 very often. I tried going from 1/30 to 1/15 on one of my mechanical F-1 cameras and it does not do the same thing.

 

[flavio81]

YES!

I have two New F-1 cameras, one mint. In both there IS a rougher (or harder) transition when going from 30 to 15 speed. And this 'rough' transition is only felt when going from the faster speeds to the slower speeds, not the other way around.

So this is interesting... Probably something gets mechanically engaged from the 1/15 speed to the slower ones, perhaps some kind of shock-prevention device...?

 

[LMI]

I half figured it was something inconsequential...

I can only guess whats causing this wretched grinding, but if it doesn't do any damage, I couldn't care less. This is still the best SLR I own, a little detail like this won't spoil the fun.

Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[MattKing]

There may be different mechanisms controlling the slow and fast speeds. What you are feeling would be the transition between mechanisms.

 

[flavio81]

There may be different mechanisms controlling the slow and fast speeds. What you are feeling would be the transition between mechanisms.

The problem is that the speeds are electronical from 1/60 and below, while this transition is felt at 1/15.

 

[abraxamovic]

I recently acquired a pristine Canon New F1 from 1989. Having seen such little use over its life, the grease from the mechanical parts congealed where they sat. I had this sent to a very experienced repairman, and he cleaned up the internals beautifully. As far as I'm aware, he performed a detail strip of the entire body.

However, I've noticed a strange quirk which was present before and after I sent it for repairs. When turning the shutter dial from 1/30th to 1/15th, the transition is not a firm click as with the other speeds. Rather, it feels rough and course, almost as if something were sticking out of that particular gear and scraping whatever moves across it. That is, however, just how it feels to my inexperienced hand. I really don't know what it is.

Furthermore, I can leave the dial somewhat locked at mid-turn between 30 and 15, which cannot be done on any of the other dials.

I know for a fact that this isn't the transition from the mechanical shutter to the electronic shutter, because that would start from 1/125 to 1/60. This is well within the electronic range.

Others have told me that this probably isn't worth worrying about as the camera still functions fine at all speeds, and it only affects this one transition. But, being the priciest film camera in my collection by a good margin, I don't want to leave it to chance. I'd just like to know whats going on, and whether its worth sending the thing back in for repairs. I'm only concerned if it harms the function of my camera; I don't otherwise mind it.

It’s funny that I came across your post because I’ve been through almost exact same experience, minus the repairs. I bought a new old-stock New F-1 from Japan, and used it for a couple months.

One day I noticed this little "half-step" between 1/30 and 1/15. I suspected some damage and it really frustrated me, because the camera was never used before me, and I was damn sure I didn’t drop or bump the camera.

I contacted a repairsman who’s worked almost exclusively on Canon F-1s since the 90s, and he assured me that he’s encountered this oddity in ever New F-1 he’s worked with and that it was totally normal. Phew! I was so relieved.

But I’m still curious about the mechanics behind it, because I’ve also assumed at first that it had something to do with the electromechanical shutter. But remembered (and as you pointed out) that it goes from mechanical to electrical at 1/90 to 1/60. The repairsman himself told me, he never really found out the reason behind it.

One common theory I found online is that it was actually a feature, and not a bug, set in place as a warning that you are using low shutter speeds and should be aware of possible camera shake. This kinda makes sense, because the half-step click is felt going from faster to slower shutter (1/30 to 1/15), but isn’t felt the other way around (1/15 to 1/30). If it’s actually true, that would be crazy attention to detail from Canon and a very neat hidden little detail.