Canon F-1 Reviews

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Canon  F-1
★★★★★
4.9
100.0% of users recommend this
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Latest Reviews

“You could pound 6" nails in with them”

★★★★★

written by flashinthepan on 23/04/2013

I'm a retired pro,and I bought 2 F1N AE bodys in 1985 and they've just gone on working wherever in the World I've taken them for 28 years whatever the conditions and just done the job. I like them so much when I die they'll have to prise mine from my cold dead hands.

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“I bought my 38 year old Canon F1 with a titanium focal...”

★★★★★

written by on 09/06/2009

I bought my 38 year old Canon F1 with a titanium focal plane shutter at the NKP BX in Apr. 1971. I carried it all through SEA (SVN, Cambodia, Laos) and took a significant number of my pics. as a combat pilot with it. It has worn like iron and, even after 1000s of photo shoots with it on most of the continents, it has required only one minor repair (battery contact). I am currently looking for a replacement 625 battery for it. Even though I have too many modern day digital cameras to count, I still take my best stationary, set up shots with the "fail safe" F1. You can see some of the early pics. I took with it in Laos at the www.ravens.org web page by selecting the "Larry Williams" tab on the site.

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Guest's Comment

Written on: 16/08/2011

I have recently rediscovered film photography after an eight year break from my Nikon FM and FEs. I have owned a T90 for a few weeks and now looking at the F1 - exactly what my idea of a camera is and thanks to Larry Williams great review I have one ready for me to collect from my local camera store. Thanks Larry and I liked to Raven pics. What lenses did you use with the F1. Dave Sharp

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“I love everything about the Canon F-1, from it's metal...”

★★★★★

written by master of disguise on 12/05/2005

I love everything about the Canon F-1, from it's metal body to it's ability to stand up to anything! They really don't make them like this now-a-days, it's hard to get a better bang for your buck, and it's well worth it!

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“After some twenty years of service I had my Canon F-1...”

★★★★★

written by jev on 06/01/2004

After some twenty years of service I had my Canon F-1 factory-refurbished. I will continue to use it for time-lapse and other photo use. I would like to acquire flash equipment for it. Contact me with price, description, etc at [email protected]

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“I carried a Canon F-1 35mm SLR Camera for more than...”

★★★★★

written by thumper06 on 07/08/2003

I carried a Canon F-1 35mm SLR Camera for more than thirty years in VietNam, Thailand, Cambodia, Loas, Bruma, India and throught Europe. The F1 is by far the best SLR 35MM ever made. Wish I could find another body, mine got took out with a bullet in Columbia. Anyone know where I can get a good one? [email protected]. best camera body ever made

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Azazel's Response to thumper06's Review

Written on: 06/10/2003

You can usually find a Canon F-1 for sale at
<br>keh.com
<br>drill down through "New and Used equipment"
<br>
<br> I have bought 4 bodies from them, great company !

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“Canon has made three different cameras called F-1. ”

★★★★★

written by Jeff. on 30/03/2003

Canon has made three different cameras called F-1.

The F-1 and F-1n made from 1971-76 and 1976-81 are almost identical. Complete manual control (shutter, aperture, focus, depth of field preview, mirror lockup), mechanical shutter 1-1/1000, battery used for meter only. Battery is the discontinued Mercury cell PX625. Cheap hearing aid batteries can be substituted but life is short. Only a central rectangle in the image is metered (i.e., it's like a spot meter with a large spot). Lots of reasonably priced, very high quality Canon FD lenses are available on the used market. This camera is substantial (read "heavy"); its inertia makes it easier to hold steady for longer exposures. Retail price in the US is about $300.

The F-1N (1982-1996) is a different camera. It adds electronic shutter timing for the slow speeds, and exposure automation (aperture and shutter priority) with certain finders and motor drives. Mirror lockup was lost. Metering pattern depends on the screen used. Battery is lithium P28, still widely available. Accessories of the F-1N are not interchangeable with the earlier models. Retail price in the US is about $500.

These cameras were highly reliable when new. Many cameras on the used market haven't been used in a long time; they need to be cleaned and lubricated. If they weren't abused (dropped, dunked in seawater, or victimized by a DIY repairer), a clean and lube should be all they need to give a few more decades of service. The CLA should include replacement of mirror foam and light trap seals, which invariably have turned to goo on any camera over 20 years old.

I highly recommend all of the F-1 models, as long as you are prepared to carry a lot of weight in bodies and lenses.

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Jimbo86S's Response to 84524_Jeff.'s Review

Written on: 25/01/2004

This is an amazing amount of background which personally helped me a lot in general with camera shopping.

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Cbrmac's Response to 84524_Jeff.'s Review

Written on: 06/07/2004

Have to agree with the review haveing used the old F1 then the new F1 since it first came out and it has never failed to this day, a camera that if dropped down a flight of steps would no doubt still work a truely proffesional work horse, a camera built to this quality today would be out of the price range of all but a very select few, if someone owns a nice F1 it's seldom they part with them I still regard this camera the best canon ever made.

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Oniko's Response to 84524_Jeff.'s Review

Written on: 15/06/2004

with canon going to auto focus, there is many high quailty FD lenses now on the market to use with these cameras.
<br>
<br>a 100mm 2.8 and 17mm 3.5 cost myself just under US $100.
<br>
<br>less extotics such as 135mm, 200mm, 28mm are now at give away prices.
<br>
<br>it is still very heavy gear, but the results are worth it.

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“There's not too many things in life that can go for 30...”

★★★★★

written by Tom. on 28/12/2002

There's not too many things in life that can go for 30 years without needing repairs...my Canon F-1 is one of them.
I've used this camera everywhere from glaciers in Alaska to architecture in New Mexico and it hasn't failed me yet.

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75373_Andy.'s Response to 60967_Tom.'s Review

Written on: 24/02/2003

The only thing that I don't like about the Canon F1 is that Nikon didn't make it first. Shame that. The Canons that came afterwards weren't a patch on this superb machine.

Andy
Nikon Owner

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