Accurate metering system, durable housing, reliable camera

no new lenses, no new accesories, second hand expensive

Canon F1 is very durable and reliable camera, which works excellent in every situation. Wievfinder is very clear and bright, easy to use. No need for battery (except light meetering system) Light meetering system is very accurate.

Customer Service

excellent

Similar Products Used:

Canon A 1, 650, Contax RTS, Olympus OM 1, 3 ti

Build like tank. Easy to operate, accurate, reliable.

Not avaliable any more.

The best manual camera I ever use. Mount the FD 35-105 and you will have the best quality you can get.

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF, CANON A1, CONTAX RX

See other reviews! I couldn't possibly list all the good things about this camera!

The F1-N has a major problem with the mirror mechanism. It's not a design problem, it's a lubrication problem. many people may have noticed that their mirror rises very slowly and that this causes the shutter to release long after the button is depressed. This is due to the fact that the grease on the lever that moves the mirror up has become very dry and sticky. This problem is easily fixed, unfortunately it needs to be done by a professional repair person.

The F-1N is a legend. If you can afford one, I highly recommend buying one. Most likely it will need some servicing, but it is seriously built like non other. It is a fine photographic instrument. If taken care of properly, your great-great grandkids will be able to use it.

Customer Service

I have been the Canon tech at a Canon Authorized Service Center for the past four years. I can tell you this much: The F-1N is one of the toughest cameras to work on. It has a ton of springs and levers and crucial adjustments. If you have this camera repaired by someone who doesn't know what they're doing, they will most likely royally screw up your camera. Beware of shops that charge very little for an overhaul. You always get what you pay for. Before Canon stopped repairing this body, they were charging $210 for an overhaul. Always try to talk to the technician who's going to do the repairs. I really hate when I have to talk to a customer about their camera, but I can always tell when someone is trying to figure out if I know what I'm doing. If the tech you talk to doesn't seem to know how to handle the camera and can't give you a very detailed diagnosis of what could be wrong, most likely they have not worked on too many F-1's. This camera is a HIGH precision instrument, don't let some incompetant idiot ruin it. Also, unless your camera was dropped, F-1's rarely need any parts aside from the light seals. Don't get ripped off. I have repaired hundreds of F-1's, and I gaurantee you, parts inside these things don't wear out.

Similar Products Used:

EOS-1N, 650, Elan 2, Nikon......

State of the art since the 70's. Will never be outclassed as long as we still use FILM.

No longer available and prices are getting higher due to a surprising surge of demand. Why?

This camera has just met it's match just recently with the introduction of the Nikon FM3a, an upgrade of the FM2n. Imagine Canon had it right all along more than twenty years ago!!! With TTL, hybrid shutter that works with or without batteries, etc., its like reading the brochure of the all new Nikon FM3a! Whoa! I better look out for more Canon F1,s!

Customer Service

Never needed if handled with TLC.

Similar Products Used:

Canons, Nikons, Pentaxes, Olympus, Bronica.

Tough as extremely tough old boots
Reliable
Simple
Excellent quality

Relatively slow sync speed of 1/90 sec
Obsolete system
Getting pricey

This camera was bought second hand and it looks it! Despite its condition it has served me well by continually delivering superb quality negs and I beleive that it is completely indestructable! So much better than a Nikon FM2 which is a similar price.

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F3
Canon AE1

Solid as a brick. A real Macho machine. Extremly dependable. Feels great in the hands. Inspires confidence.

Flash speed of only 1/60th of a second. Viewfinder not as bright as the more modern models of today. I wish the original F1 had a hotshoe atop the prism. I do not like it on the side. That tended to throw a shadow behing the subject until a got a flash bracket to mount my Norman 200B flash head on.

I love this camera. It is still my favorite 35mm machine. I know I will not have to worry about it failing me. I carry 2 F1 bodies just to be safe, but always use my first original F1 body without having to call on the other one. I love the sound of this machine when it goes off. Sounds like the door on a fine car closing.

Customer Service

Never used it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM, FM2, Leicaflex, Leica M3s.

-Perfectly placed & simple to operate controls
-Feels very solid in my hands with motor drive attached

My shutter recently stopped firing (happened on my old AE-1 too) and the repair shop said it couldn't be fixed because the parts are no longer available -- the only weakness is that I can't get parts for it!!! Any suggestions?

This is the best camera I have ever owned, worked with, or seen ... Rugged, completely manual if needed. If I could have it repaired, it would be the only camera I would ever own. It's hard to buy another one knowing that parts aren't available although I would recommend it to anyone that knows how to use a manual SLR.

Customer Service

Never tried it

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE-1, A-1 & Minolta Maxxum

Absolute precision and durability.
Positive controls

Lack of TTL flash metering.
Too slow flash sync speed.
It's a shame Canon dropped the idea of mirror lock-up, so beloved in old F-1.

I have used dozens of cameras but this is surely the strongest, toughest and most durable beast I ever had.
In fact having an old F-1 I did not exactly intend to buy the new F-1 until I took it in my hands.
The smoothness of all the movements and its solidity simply paralyzes you.
Only this camera along with the old F-1 is taken to the escapades in so called extreme weather conditions.
I use it with all clear matt screen which gives the freedom of composing.
This is the camera being most extensively used by me.
Unlike very "modern miracles" it features hot shoe plus a PC socket allowing you to fire two flash guns.
Big enough and logically marked controlls ; no built-ingadgets.
Very precise light metering.

Customer Service

On the contrary to my A-1 whose electronisc simply died because of its age this incredible machine just work and I believe my son and his son will NEVER EVER need any service for the camera.

Similar Products Used:

Canon old F-1
Olympus )M-4
Nikon Fm2

* Intuitive layout of controls.
* Simple to operate (compared to today's SLRs).
* Rugged as anything you'll ever find (hence "The Tank" nickname).
* You can still use it even when the battery goes flat!

* Side mounted flash annoying. You have to remove the hot shoe adapter when rewinding film.
* With the 80-200mm zoom it's H-E-A-V-Y.
* The batteries for it are hard to find.

I was given this camera by my father who bought it new in 1978 with the 50mm f1.4 S.S.C lens and 80-200mm S.S.C zoom. At the time it was the pride of the Canon range. It's very heavy compared to today's cameras but will withstand harsh treatment.
I recently bought a 35mm lens for it but the optics are far inferior to the 50mm (I can concur with the other good reviews of this lens on this site).
It's getting harder to find the 1.35v mercury batteries but they're only for the exposure meter. You could set the exposure manually if need be.
The flash (Speedlite 133D) is very powerful. Mine's 20 years old and has never needed repairs. The CAT auto flash exposure system no longer works but I can use the flash on manual (but the recycle time is 8-10 seconds with fresh batteries!).
I've just bought a EOS 30/7E with the 28-135 IS USM lens but I'll be keeping the F1 as a backup. They just don't make them like this anymore!

Customer Service

* Tried Canon when the CAT flash system packed it in but no parts are available anymore. They were very helpful nonetheless.

Similar Products Used:

None

-Solid(!!)
-well to operate
-all the functions I need (with few exceptions)
-hybrid shutter
-still feels like new when using it.

-quite heavy
-shutter a bit noisy

I've been using this camera for more than a year now and must say that it perfectly suits my needs. The FD lenses are affordable and sharp.
The camera feels like made out of one piece.
Once the mirror hung up. Besides that it still is like new.
Good camera!

Customer Service

They can still fix everything but the prices are immense.

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE 1; A1