Why does the Canon F-1 seem to get relatively little love?

[jonmon6691]

The Canon F-1 and FT/FTb/TX use no such resistors. There isn't anything to wear down on the metering circuit, save for the CdS cells itself. But i've yet to find one of those cameras with a aged (worn down, faulty) CdS cell or cells.

Technically the shutter speed and ISO part of the equation is factored in using a similar resistor, but I've never heard of it having any issues.

 

[flavio81]

Technically the shutter speed and ISO part of the equation is factored in using a similar resistor, but I've never heard of it having any issues.

No, the Canon F-1 uses no variable resistors that move with the shutter speed dial or aperture dial. That is, no variable resistors that move frequently under normal use. Thus, they don't have any "resistor wear down" problem, which is indeed present on some Nikon F2 cameras, all Nikkormats and all Nikon F cameras.

When you move the aperture ring, the lollipop within the viewfinder moves. And when you move the speed dial (or the concentric ISO dial), the galvanometer itself is shifted in position. All these changes are purely mechanical, not electrical. Moreover, they don't depend on strings and pulleys. The only string is there is used solely for displaying the shutter speed at the finder, so it's superfluous.

It is a really reliable system.

 

[bambiwallace]

hi dynachrome
when i was a careless college student in texas i would leave my canon f-1s in my car all the time. the heat really did a number on them. even though i rarely shoot a rectangular format now, i have two or three that need overhauling. could you please tell me where you got the overhaul of your f1s done?
thanks!

 

[dynachrome]

First, about the repairs: all of my recent overhauls of Canon F-1, F-1n and New F-1 have been done by Ken Oikawa California. Next: I saw to complaints about the F-1 on the previous page. It is true that Canon says the mirror lock-up won't work at 1/2000. This must be a very small problem. Mirror lock-up is much more useful at slow end of the shutter speed dial. Who would want to use stop down-metering with a motor drive? Many years ago I used a Pentax Spotmatic Motor Drive camera. It had stop-down metering but I would meter first and then shoot X number of frames. If you want to use a film camera with a motor drive and with an automatic exposure mode and which responds quickly to changing lighting conditions, the original F-1 of 1971 is not the right camera. Yes, you could use the Servo EE finder and a motor drive but the Nikon N90S I got for $25 will be much more suitable. The original question posed in this thread was shy the F-1 didn't get more respect. Half a century has passed since the F-1 came on the scene. If you haven't made peace with their quirks by now, you probably never will. I respect my F-1, F-1n and New F-1 cameras by keeping them up and using them. I have many other cameras and still get much enjoyment from using the Canons.

 

[jonmon6691]

No, the Canon F-1 uses no variable resistors that move with the shutter speed dial or aperture dial. That is, no variable resistors that move frequently under normal use. Thus, they don't have any "resistor wear down" problem, which is indeed present on some Nikon F2 cameras, all Nikkormats and all Nikon F cameras.

When you move the aperture ring, the lollipop within the viewfinder moves. And when you move the speed dial (or the concentric ISO dial), the galvanometer itself is shifted in position. All these changes are purely mechanical, not electrical. Moreover, they don't depend on strings and pulleys. The only string is there is used solely for displaying the shutter speed at the finder, so it's superfluous.

It is a really reliable system.

Thanks for correcting me, that era of mechatronics is so different from today that I didn't even realize I was making an assumption when in fact I was. I tried to find some video of how this works, this was the closest I was able to find, unfortunately he doesn't move the shutter speed dial with the cover off which I'd really love to see in action.

 

[jimgalli]

Paul Simon.

 

[benjiboy]

the Canon F-1 uses no variable resistors that move with the shutter speed dial or aperture dial. That is, no variable resistors that move frequently under normal use. Thus, they don't have any "resistor wear down" problem, which is indeed present on some Nikon F2 cameras, all Nikkormats and all Nikon F cameras.

This is why second-hand Canon F1,s and New F1,s are much better buys than Nikon F,s and F2,s. I have five Canon F1,s, and every one of them has an accurate light meter and agrees with each other within less than half a stop.

 

[George Mann]

This is why second-hand Canon F1,s and New F1,s are much better buys than Nikon F,s and F2,s. I have five Canon F1,s, and every one of them has an accurate light meter and agrees with each other within less than half a stop.

Some F2's have wirewound resistors which shouldn't wear out during the life of the camera.

CDS photocells often go bad however.

 

[benjiboy]

Some F2's have wirewound resistors which shouldn't wear out during the life of the camera.

CDS photocells often go bad however.

How would you know which Nikon F 2 has wire wound resistors? and New Canon F 1,s photocells aren't CdS, there twin Silicon SPC cells.

 

[Duceman]

My first and only F-1, purchased a couple of weeks ago, is set to arrive back today from its CLA. Am anxious to run a roll of film through it.

 

[George Mann]

How would you know which Nikon F 2 has wire wound resistors?

Sover Wong has the info on his site.

 

[George Mann]

New Canon F 1,s photocells aren't CdS, there twin Silicon SPC cells.

You know, there is a lot of hoopla over how superior SPC is, but they tend to be too sensitive, which often requires one to meter the scene more carefully than otherwise.

I greatly prefer the good working set of CDS in my late model F2 Photomic (wirewound resistor) to my F90x for casual shooting.

SPC's advantage is primarily in it's low light performance.

 

[benjiboy]

You know, there is a lot of hoopla over how superior SPC is, but they tend to be too sensitive, which often requires one to meter the scene more carefully than otherwise.

I greatly prefer the good working set of CDS in my late model F2 Photomic (wirewound resistor) to my F90x for casual shooting.

SPC's advantage is primarily in it's low light performance.

Not only it's " low light performance" George but S.P.C,s have a better spectoral response to colours.

 

[swchris]

Next: I saw to complaints about the F-1 on the previous page. It is true that Canon says the mirror lock-up won't work at 1/2000. This must be a very small problem. Mirror lock-up is much more useful at slow end of the shutter speed dial. Who would want to use stop down-metering with a motor drive?

This was me.

I remembered there was something strange with the motor. I erroneously quoted the stop-down problem, which, you are right, is not that much of a problem.

But what really is annoying is that you cannot use B with the motor drive (set at S). Why that? That and the (also minor but you have to remember it) unavailable 1/2000s with mirror up make me enjoy the F2 much more.

 

[benjiboy]

This was me.

I remembered there was something strange with the motor. I erroneously quoted the stop-down problem, which, you are right, is not that much of a problem.

But what really is annoying is that you cannot use B with the motor drive (set at S). Why that? That and the (also minor but you have to remember it) unavailable 1/2000s with mirror up make me enjoy the F2 much more.

I can't imagine any situation when I would need to use B with a motor drive, or 1/2000 sec. with the mirror up on any camera I have ever owned in more than sixty years of photography.

 

[dynachrome]

I meant to write two complaints. As I must have mentioned earlier in this thread, for me, it's not Canon vs. Nikon or Canon or Nikon. It's Canon and Nikon and many others. I am in agreement with benjiboy and I prefer the Canon F-1 models to the versions of the Nikon F2. I have and sometimes use Nikon F2 cameras and I respect their capabilities and build qualities but I still prefer the Canon F-1s.

 

[George Mann]

Not only it's " low light performance" George but S.P.C,s have a better spectoral response to colours.

Still, I prefer CDS and even Selenium
for daytime photography.

 

[Huss]

I can't imagine any situation when I would need to use B with a motor drive, or 1/2000 sec. with the mirror up on any camera I have ever owned in more than sixty years of photography.

Have to agree with you. What a weird comment.

 

[MattKing]

I can't imagine any situation when I would need to use B with a motor drive, or 1/2000 sec. with the mirror up on any camera I have ever owned in more than sixty years of photography.

Astro-photography and an intervalometer that also controls the length of exposure?
You did say "imagine".

 

[benjiboy]

Astro-photography and an intervalometer that also controls the length of exposure?
You did say "imagine".

l can see from a purely academic standpoint that you are right, but
what proportion of the potential buyers Matt would need this facility ?.

 

[MattKing]

l can see from a purely academic standpoint that you are right, but
what proportion of the potential buyers Matt would need this facility ?.

What proportion of camera owners actually use a motor drive, mirror lock up or even 1/2000 shutter speed?

 

[George Mann]

or even 1/2000 shutter speed?

For those of us out in the bright, harsh southwest, 1/1250 to 1/1600 is the norm.

 

[benjiboy]

What proportion of camera owners actually use a motor drive, mirror lock up or even 1/2000 shutter speed?

I agree with you Matt if you are referring to SLR cameras in general, but both of these cameras were professional models that because of the high price very few of the camera buying public could afford when they were currently manufactured, for example, I remember in the 1980,s when I used to sell them at a professional dealer the Canon New F1 body with the AE finder was £930 a price most hobbyist photographers wouldn't or couldn't pay when the national average wage was £6,000 a year

 

[drkhalsa]

I can't say which model Canon is in this video, but in the opening sequence this photographer is using a manual focus Canon.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/82421513?h=29c53a1615

 

[benjiboy]

It looks like a Canon A1 to me, it's definitely not an F1 because of the position of flash sync. socket, no F1 had them on the front.