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The F-1 was Canon's first successful professional-grade SLR system, supporting a huge variety of accessories and interchangeable parts so it could be adapted for different uses and preferences. Their earlier profession Canonflex of 1959 had failed due a premature introduction -- before professional accessories were ready.

After five years and a large investment in money and labor, the top-of-the-line 35mm Canon F-1 system was born.

The FD lens mount was newly developed for the new line of FD lenses. The new lens mount enabled fully-coupled automatic exposure metering. The camera system also included the first accessory ever for remote picture-taking with the camera. The many accessories enabled seamless and instant compatibility.

The camera was built to endure 100,000 picture-taking cycles, temperatures ranging from -30 C to 60 C, and 90% humidity. Being a highly durable and reliable camera, the F-1 gained many followers including pros. Except for a one-time revision, the camera was manufactured and sold for ten years.

The name Canon F-1 describes two very different cameras: a fully manual model, and a later electronically controlled model. The latter is often termed the New F-1 or F-1N. Finders designed for the F-1 do not fit the New F-1, or vice-versa. The New F-1 is most commonly seen with a pentaprism finder with an accessory shoe. Thus the simple way to tell the two models apart is by whether or not there is an accessory shoe atop the finder. To enumerate it correctly. There are three cameras named F-1. It is important to pay attention to the correct spelling. The first F-1 was also the only "F-1" (year of introduction 1971). The second F-1 was correctly called "F-1 Later Model" (in Japan) or "F-1n" in the rest of the world (introduction in 1976). The last is the "New F-1" (release year 1981).

The Canon F-1 system has 10,000 parts to begin with in manufacturing. To use the enormous amount of different parts to produce its basic bodies and those added-on accessories to suit different photographic purposes was one thing, method of joining them to make it precise, functional, reliable to work with and most of all, lowering the time cost was another. For example, between the camera and a standard lens has 24 joining parts - there are five mounting parts, eight attachment and eleven coupling parts, all of them must maintain perfect interchangeability.


Name: Canon F-1
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°: 673598
Production Date: Dec 1973
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera
Series: F Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: Canon FD 55mm f/1.2, FD 50mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.8
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal curtains. X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000 sec. Built-in self-timer (self-timer lever also functions as a stop-down lever). Multiple exposures enabled.
Dimensions & Weight: 147 x 99 x 43 mm, 820 g
Production Period: March 1971 - 1981
N° Produced: 380.000
Original Price: 100,000 yen (w/FD 50mm f/1.4)
Indexed Price (Approx.): 2.580 EUR
Avg Ebay Value: 260-400 EUR
Source: Canon Camera Museum, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com