My new New F-1

cerber0s · Nov 7, 2023

I took a chance on this at an online auction. There was no descripion other than Canon F1 with motor drive, and one photo. I asked the seller if it worked, which he said it did. It got here today and the thing is MINT! And mint is not a word I use lightly. It looks like it just came out of its box and was never used. The date code suggests it was made in 1991. It came with the PK focusing screen.

Unfortunately the mirror comes up too slowly so I’ll spend another $250 on a CLA. I ”only” spent $380 on the camera, so considering the condition I think it’s well worth it.

Laurent · Nov 7, 2023

Congratulations, this is a dream camera!

Sirius Glass · Nov 7, 2023

Enjoy your new to you camera. Now go shoot more film.

gordrob · Nov 8, 2023

It is in beautiful condition. Time to hook up the motor drive and shoot some film.

cerber0s · Nov 8, 2023

Laurent said:
Congratulations, this is a dream camera!

Thanks! Yes, it sure is.

Sirius Glass said:
Enjoy your new to you camera. Now go shoot more film.

Oh, I will. A 100 shutter actuations or so and the mirror is moving better. Will do a test roll tonight.

gordrob said:
It is in beautiful condition. Time to hook up the motor drive and shoot some film.

That’s a good way to use a lot of film!

tokam · Nov 8, 2023

cerber0s said:
Thanks! Yes, it sure is.

Oh, I will. A 100 shutter actuations or so and the mirror is moving better. Will do a test roll tonight.

That’s a good way to use a lot of film!

... and build up some biceps . I have an F1-N with the 'plain', non-AE prism and the standard screen for this was the partial are metering pattern.

At some point I may be tempted to buy the Power Winder for it, if just to get shutter-priority auto exposure. Not sure that I would want the extra weight of the motor drive with the extra batteries.

eli griggs · Nov 8, 2023

Great buy on a great camera; enjoy.

benjiboy · Nov 9, 2023

tokam said:
... and build up some biceps . I have an F1-N with the 'plain', non-AE prism and the standard screen for this was the partial are metering pattern.

At some point I may be tempted to buy the Power Winder for it, if just to get shutter-priority auto exposure. Not sure that I would want the extra weight of the motor drive with the extra batteries.

Unlike the Motor Drive FN you can remove the Power Winder FN in daylight without exposing the film, so it's easy to remove if not required.

Chan Tran · Nov 9, 2023

benjiboy said:
Unlike the Motor Drive FN you can remove the Power Winder FN in daylight without exposing the film, so it's easy to remove if not required.

Yes but then it won't rewind the film.

cerber0s · Nov 10, 2023

eli griggs said:
Great buy on a great camera; enjoy.

Thanks, I am

Does anyone know what the difference between the PK and PJ focusing screens is?

Theis is how they are described.

PJ:
“Together with the Bright Laser Matte K, the brightest screens of the system. The screen is especially effective with 50mm to 200mm lenses and dark subjects or when using small working apertures. Available in all three metering patterns.”

PK:
“An extremely bright screen which offers the same unobstructed, sharp image as the Bright Laser Matte J. Recommended for 300mm telephoto lenses, or longer. Also suitable for photomacrography and close-up work. Darkening is absent even when the lens is stopped down.”

So essentially the same screen but one is for long lenses and one is for short lenses. Where lies the difference?

Tony-S · Nov 11, 2023

cerber0s said:
A 100 shutter actuations or so and the mirror is moving better. Will do a test roll tonight.

You may find that "exercising" the mirror may bring it back to full functionality. If it only has limited actuations for a camera from 1991, this may be a solution.

cerber0s · Nov 11, 2023

Tony-S said:
You may find that "exercising" the mirror may bring it back to full functionality. If it only has limited actuations for a camera from 1991, this may be a solution.

Thanks! Yes, it’s now working perfectly. I suspect it might change if it gets cold though.

benjiboy · Nov 11, 2023

Chan Tran said:
Yes but then it won't rewind the film.

I had a Canon Motor Drive FN Tran, and because it took 12 AA batteries it was so enormously heavy so I almost never never used it.
I am happy to forgo the power film rewind function for the reduced weight of the Canon Power Winder FN's reduced weight, and the convenience of being able to remove it from the camera in daylight without exposing the film.

dave olson · Nov 23, 2023

I have two F1's, both the new model. I have one without any winder/drive, and one with the power winder. Most of the time I prefer shooting in the manual mode or AE. The motor drive has never tempted me. It takes 12 batteries if I recall. That alone is a lot of weight. The winder is a lot less heavy, and moves the film right along.

benjiboy · Nov 26, 2023

dave olson said:
I have two F1's, both the new model. I have one without any winder/drive, and one with the power winder. Most of the time I prefer shooting in the manual mode or AE. The motor drive has never tempted me. It takes 12 batteries if I recall. That alone is a lot of weight. The winder is a lot less heavy, and moves the film right along.

I also have 2 Canon New F1 bodies Dave, and I find the ability to switch the Power Winder FN between them at will in daylight without inadvertently exposing the film extremely useful.
I also have 2 Canon F1n's and Canon Power Winder F, to whom the same remarks apply.

eli griggs · Nov 26, 2023

I liked the F-1N ae 12 cell motor drive as a tool for quick action, sports, dancers, races, and when I had one with my first F-1N, I used Nicad rechargeables, which pretty much gave full power up until they were drained.

I'd probably use them again, should I decide I need a faster F-1N motor than the winder it currently uses.

Same for the F-1n's.

benjiboy · Nov 27, 2023

eli griggs said:
I liked the F-1N ae 12 cell motor drive as a tool for quick action, sports, dancers, races, and when I had one with my first F-1N, I used Nicad rechargeables, which pretty much gave full power up until they were drained.

I'd probably use them again, should I decide I need a faster F-1N motor than the winder it currently uses.

Same for the F-1n's.

Lithium AA batteries are much lighter in weight than alkaline or Nicad ones which is a significant factor when a motor driven takes 12 of them, however I found even with Lithium batteries my Motor Drive FN was still too heavy, so I sold it and bought the Power Winder FN.

88E30M50 · Nov 28, 2023

That's good to know regarding the weight issue. I've been contemplating picking up a Motor Drive FN for my F-1N. I have a motor drive for my A-1 and that has sat in the bag for years due to the weight when batteries are installed. The Power Winder FN sounds like the better choice for me.

benjiboy · Nov 28, 2023

88E30M50 said:
That's good to know regarding the weight issue. I've been contemplating picking up a Motor Drive FN for my F-1N. I have a motor drive for my A-1 and that has sat in the bag for years due to the weight when batteries are installed. The Power Winder FN sounds like the better choice for me.

The F1's are heavy cameras to start with and adding the weight of the Motor Drive and 12 AA batteries it becomes a boat anchor.
I must admit I bought the motor drive originally because it seemed like a good idea at the time but I found the power winder because of its lighter weight, and the ability to remove it at will when not required a great boon.

guangong · Nov 28, 2023

Sometimes it pays to gamble. Great buy!

eli griggs · Dec 1, 2023

benjiboy said:
Lithium AA batteries are much lighter in weight than alkaline or Nicad ones which is a significant factor when a motor driven takes 12 of them, however I found even with Lithium batteries my Motor Drive FN was still too heavy, so I sold it and bought the Power Winder FN.

OK, lighter perhaps, but the camera plus heavy motor drive handles much better, especially with larger, heavier lenses and the 'extra' weight dampings vibrations better

Plus, it puts the vertical axis, the V-pivot point, squarely in the center of the camera/motor drive, for much smoother operations in action environments, if you can normally handle the combination for fast shooting.

IMO.

benjiboy · Dec 2, 2023

eli griggs said:
OK, lighter perhaps, but the camera plus heavy motor drive handles much better, especially with larger, heavier lenses and the 'extra' weight dampings vibrations better

Plus, it puts the vertical axis, the V-pivot point, squarely in the center of the camera/motor drive, for much smoother operations in action environments, if you can normally handle the combination for fast shooting.

IMO.

I'm almost in my mid eighties Eli, I just couldn't carry the weight.

eli griggs · Dec 2, 2023

benjiboy said:
I'm almost in my mid eighties Eli, I just couldn't carry the weight.

Yes, I'm 65 and have arthritis, fatigue syndrome, and am waiting for new hips, which is why I'm using a car and cart for most things and why I've got the $10 Leica request up, incase i do go walking, so i do understand.

Even without a motor winder, I do not currently have motor drives for any camera, the F-1s are heavy enough, but I still love to shoot them and use my CL analog for short trips out.

My experience with the motor drive and batteries made using the FD 300mm L, the black f4 one, ideal for wildlife and sea birds.

benjiboy · Dec 3, 2023

eli griggs said:
Yes, I'm 65 and have arthritis, fatigue syndrome, and am waiting for new hips, which is why I'm using a car and cart for most things and why I've got the $10 Leica request up, incase i do go walking, so i do understand.

Even without a motor winder, I do not currently have motor drives for any camera, the F-1s are heavy enough, but I still love to shoot them and use my CL analog for short trips out.

My experience with the motor drive and batteries made using the FD 300mm L, the black f4 one, ideal for wildlife and sea birds.

I can still manage to use my Power Winder F for my F1n's and the Power Winder FN for my New F1's, but not with long heavy lenses.

DTC · Dec 5, 2023

Beautiful and very well made camera! But really HEAVY! Makes a Nikon F2 or F3 feel like lightweight. Still, I am tempted from time to time to get one.

My new New F-1

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