Canon F1N

[CT]

Well I finally got round to putting a roll of FP4 in it and banging off half a roll. I always knew this was likely to be my perfect 35mm SLR and I'm not disappointed, in fact I'm totally in love?

Fully manual and AP auto - what more do you need - although it also does shutter priority with a winder or motor drive attached. The real surprise for me though was the beautuiful viewfinder - this is the easiest camera to manually focus I've ever used with it's laser etched screen, and incredibly, the split image doesn't black out even stopped down to f/22.

When I came to load it this morning there was a tiny bug trolling around in the viewfinder, but how great to slide off the prism, flip out the screen and launch the little sod into space throgh the kitchen window.... job done!

The fact that the whole build quality feels like you could hammer nails in with it is just wonderful.

Colour me chuffed.

 

[Knikki]

Canon F1N?

Can still remember trying to sell them when they were new and often think about getting one when I pick them up at the camera fairs but so far resisted.

They really are nice cameras glad your finally stick some film through it.

 

[excalibur2]

Well I finally got round to putting a roll of FP4 in it and banging off half a roll. I always knew this was likely to be my perfect 35mm SLR and I'm not disappointed, in fact I'm totally in love?

Fully manual and AP auto - what more do you need - although it also does shutter priority with a winder or motor drive attached. The real surprise for me though was the beautuiful viewfinder - this is the easiest camera to manually focus I've ever used with it's laser etched screen, and incredibly, the split image doesn't black out even stopped down to f/22.

When I came to load it this morning there was a tiny bug trolling around in the viewfinder, but how great to slide off the prism, flip out the screen and launch the little sod into space throgh the kitchen window.... job done!

The fact that the whole build quality feels like you could hammer nails in with it is just wonderful.

Colour me chuffed.

A great camera for a F1 ver T90 debate and maybe add in the EOS1v

 

[CT]

A great camera for a F1 ver T90 debate and maybe add in the EOS1v

Oh indeed...like for like though -I was really referring to non AF cameras of that period.

 

[j37r]

I think all 3 versions of the F1 are great cameras, I have the F1n made in 1981, built like a brick, totally mechanical, only needs a battery for the meter.

Weighs a ton and would make a useful weapon if needed, I also have the T90 and an A1 as well, sometimes it's difficult to decide whether to take the F1 or the T90 out, so I take both, as each have their own qualities.

All these cameras are a delight to use, FD lenses are excellent quality and extremely good value these days.

I feel more confident using these than my 350D, but that's just me.


John

 

[Thmaga]

Id love for my Canon EF to have replaceable focus screens, mines filithy and blacks out quicker than i'd like, the camera is a dream to use, but that's defiantly something id change if i could.

 

[excalibur2]

****FD lenses are excellent quality and extremely good value these days.****

Indeed, so my T90 is only used for special use and I'm quite happy shooting with T70, AV1 and FTb (when it was working)...as well as other cameras makes/lenses/formats.

 

[killwilly]

Has anyone had any success using FD lenses with a digital camera, if so what converter/adapter do you use?
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[excalibur2]

Has anyone had any success using FD lenses with a digital camera, if so what converter/adapter do you use?

Well after reading about it on forums over a long time, it seems to do the job properly it's only worth it for some of the very best (and expensive) canon FD lenses, but you can get cheap adapters but lose focussing over a certain distance, and also it depends on your camera as some lenses (and of any make) can hit the DSLR's mirror.
Some of the new cheaper digital cameras out now can use FD lenses e.g Panasonic G1

 

[MartynK]

I think all 3 versions of the F1 are great cameras, I have the F1n made in 1981, built like a brick, totally mechanical, only needs a battery for the meter.

Weighs a ton and would make a useful weapon if needed, I also have the T90 and an A1 as well, sometimes it's difficult to decide whether to take the F1 or the T90 out, so I take both, as each have their own qualities.

All these cameras are a delight to use, FD lenses are excellent quality and extremely good value these days.

I feel more confident using these than my 350D, but that's just me.

John

I have a Nikon F2, which is very similar to the Canon F1. Bullet proof build quality, big/bright VF, interchangeable heads and screens and no battery dependency. The things we just took for granted then......................

 

[TheBigYin]

Has anyone had any success using FD lenses with a digital camera, if so what converter/adapter do you use?

To connect a FD lens to a EF body like yours and still maintain infinity focus requires an adaptor with an in-built lens to correct the difference in registration distance. These are available, but as with anything with alens fitted, quality varies. I bought a cheap one from ebay, and the quality was nothing short of appalling. I then tried a better quality version, with good glass in it, and it was pretty good. Being realistic though, the converter works like a short teleconverter - i.e. it is something like a 1.2x magnification factor to the lens, and loses 2/3 of a stop of light. Not Necessarily a problem if you've got a 50mm f1.4 as it makes a nice 60mm (or 96mm on crop) f2 portrait lens - but beginning to lose the advantage of fast manual glass.

If however, you are wanting to use a FD lens on the EF body for macro purposes, then the adaptors are great - they actually function as a short extension tube, and work really well (indeed - I actually removed the lens and its surrounding mounts from my first cheapo adaptor and use it this way occasionally)

As far as other lens mounts - I believe that one of the better systems for this are the micro-4/3rds cameras such as the Panasonic DMC-GF1 - the lens register distance on this camera is so short, that adaptors for manual lenses are relatively easy to make - it's just a tube of variable length depending on the lens to be used, with a micro 4/3 bayonet on one end and whichever adaptor socket you need on the other.

 

[Rolleikin]

I used a Canon F1 for 18 years (sold it to go digital-DOH) I am always amazed by the viewfinder, so bright compared to the digicams that replaced it it's incredible.
Here is my baby when out of the box in 1984....

Happy times.

 

[CT]

I used a Canon F1 for 18 years (sold it to go digital-DOH) I am always amazed by the viewfinder, so bright compared to the digicams that replaced it it's incredible.
Here is my baby when out of the box in 1984....

Happy times.

Beautiful! If you decided to keep that lens Mark I could find a home for it.

 

[CT]

I have a Nikon F2, which is very similar to the Canon F1. Bullet proof build quality, big/bright VF, interchangeable heads and screens and no battery dependency. The things we just took for granted then......................

Absolutely! F2 and F3 - same sorts of animal. I can'thelp feelig we've gained a lot since, but lost a lot too.

 

[j37r]

I have used FD on EF for over 3 years now, bought a hoya adapter from E-bay.

It works for me, I get very good results from it, A4 prints on the wall as well which receive favourable comments from visitors.

Using the 50mm F1.4 wide open can be poor but stopped down by even 1 stop makes a lot of difference, I have tried most of my lenses from 17mm up to a sigma 600mm mirror and not been dissapointed so far, just remember to use the stop down ring on the adapter or the results are rubbish.



John

 

[killwilly]

I have used FD on EF for over 3 years now, bought a hoya adapter from E-bay.

It works for me, I get very good results from it, A4 prints on the wall as well which receive favourable comments from visitors.

Using the 50mm F1.4 wide open can be poor but stopped down by even 1 stop makes a lot of difference, I have tried most of my lenses from 17mm up to a sigma 600mm mirror and not been disappointed so far, just remember to use the stop down ring on the adapter or the results are rubbish.



John

Hello John.

You might recall that you and I discussed this subject in some depth on the Canon forum last year. Whilst I am quite happy with the results I get from my 100mm FD macro with optics removed from the converter. I am still unable to achieve decent results with any zoom lens and the optics in place, which is supposed to allow the lens to be manually focused to infinity.

You refer to the "stop down ring", not quite sure what that is, or if I even have one on my converter.

I have read a few articles which refer to the Kood FD-EOS converter. Does anyone have experience using this?
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[j37r]

Hi Willy nice to hear from you. Take a look at this adapter currently on E-Bay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Adaptor-Canon...es_CameraLensesFilters_JN&hash=item53e2a117df


Notice the switch on the edge marked A--L, fit the adapter to the camera, put the switch in the L position, fit the lens ,then move the switch to A.

This moves a pin to engage with the aperture lever on the lens allowing you to stop the lens down, without it you are constantly at full aperture with resulting poor images.


John

 

[Thmaga]

Hmm I always dismissed FD-EOS adaptors, preferring to dream of a mythical full frame DSLR that FD glass would adapt to glasslessly ( there isnt one is there!?) But i'm tempted to try an adaptor now...