The ingenious details that went into the purely mechanical design of early SLR cameras are incredible, and this in-depth video gives you a remarkable insight into how the light metering system functioned inside the legendary Canon F-1.
Alec Watson of Technology Connections gives a comprehensive lesson in the exposure triangle before going on to explain how this led to the design of the F-1’s light meter. The Canon F-1 was launched by Canon in 1971 and is regarded as Canon’s first SLR camera designed for professional use. Its build was completely mechanical with the exception of the battery-powered light meter that, as this video explores, is an inspired piece of design.
The F-1 featured Canon’s new FD mount, which was in use until Canon shifted to the EF mount in 1987, bringing a dramatic change: autofocus. The FD mount hung on for a few more years, however, with the last model to use the technology being the T60, which was launched in 1990.
As you might expect, there are plenty of F-1s floating around secondhand, and you can typically pick one up for a couple hundred dollars. As this video from Watson notes, however, you’ll need to be a little creative in getting a battery to work with the light meter.
Do you have an F-1? Do you use a hearing aid battery to keep the light meter working? Let us know in the comments below.
At age 16 I worked as a busboy for six months to be able to buy a Canon F-1 and a couple FD lenses. The match needle interface for the camera was simple and dependable. I loved it and still have the body sitting in the back of a closet.
You also mentioned the T60. I didn't own that body but did have a T90 which ended up being my favorite manual focus Canon camera. I actually begin my professional career with 2 F-1s and the T90.
My last F-1 with its big-assed MF motor drive is sitting in a glass case in my studio.
I still have my F-1. It too is mostly a display queen, but I sometimes break it out as a prop, or if I shoot some film. Meter with my old Gossen Luna Pro F.
Great article.
I took my F1 (old model) to Afghanistan in 2002. It's a beast of a camera in tough conditions.
The modern batteries work fine; just overexpose your shots a bit, since the hearing aid batteries of today have lower voltage.
I still shoot my F1. It's a fine platform to mount some of the most versatile set of optics ever created.
When I was working for a news paper I was the only photographer with a Canon F1 ,, I really liked it a lot ,all the others photographers had Nikon
Yep, Canon was the "contrarian" choice at the time.
As soon as someone makes an adapter, you can finally use FD lenses on a Canon without interfacing optics. :-) I know a guy who picked up a mint 300mm f/2.8 L for $300. He never uses it tho, I was thinking of buying off of him and throwing it on my Olympus, or I should say throw my Olympus on it. ;-)
There are already FD-to-RF adapters on the market. Chinese fabricators jumped on that tip immediately.
Sh.... I owend a F-1 in the seventies. Great camera. Used a Gossen light meter with it.