Canon New F-1
Intro Specs Usage Recommendations
Canon New F-1 (about $250 used if you know How to Win at eBay), FD 50mm f/1.2L and AE Power Winder FN. enlarge.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
March 2025, April 2009 Better Pictures Canon FD Reviews FD Lenses Flash All Canon Reviews All Reviews
Canon New F-1 (about $250 used if you know How to Win at eBay), FD 50mm f/1.2L and AE Power Winder FN. enlarge.
Canon New F-1 (about $250 used if you know How to Win at eBay), FD 50mm f/1.2L and AE Power Winder FN. enlarge.
Introduction top
Intro Specs Usage Recommendations
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This was Canon's last attempt at a pro manual-focus 35mm SLR.
The New F-1 was such an ergonomic train wreck for serious 35mm shooting that Canon correctly gambled that they could trash the entire FD system and create a brand-new EOS system with its own EF mount, and that pros would finally flock to Canon (which they did), which has more than made up for the few FD users who went apoplectic when Canon rendered the entire FD system obsolete in 1987.
Canon guessed correctly; the EOS system became and is still the world's top pro system today in 2025, and since the pros all shot Nikon back when this came out, Canon took a gamble that ticking-off every consumer shooter by changing to a new lens mount would cost them less than the gain they had by dethroning Nikon from being the world's top pro action, news and sports cameras.
The New F-1 is a beautiful and impeccably well-made camera so you're always drawn to it, but when you shoot it, it's such a pain you quickly remember why you left it sitting in your sock drawer the last time. The huge system compatibility charts showing innumerable finder, lens, drive, remote and other options were always draws, but when shooting you realize that you have to buy and then interchange all that baloney to shoot one thing or another — NOT convenient. This is a camera for guys who want a nice camera to play with at home, not one for people who want results and the ability to concentrate on their picture rather than the camera.
It was NOT a pro camera, but instead one designed to help Canon sell loads of accessories to rich amateurs by making it seem professional.
Among the reasons the F1 was such a dismal flop for pro use is that you have to buy different finders to get different meter patterns and exposure modes. Pros never shot it because we have no time to be changing finders (even if they were free) when we can just move a switch on a Nikon to change something. Canon rules today, but for 35mm manual focus, it was Nikon.
For instance, you had to buy and use the 2 FPS Power Winder FN to get the shutter-priority exposure mode! Canon screwed New F-1 users by locking-out the shutter-priority mode unless you bought either this AE Power Winder FN or the AE Motor Drive FN.
I'm serious. I thought my Canon New F-1 was broken, since everything worked perfectly except that the shutter wouldn't release if I had the lens set to A, and lo and behold, a very careful read of the Canon New F-1 user's manual admits that the shutter is locked out when the lens is set to A unless you attach one of these winders, and have good batteries in it.
The "AE" of each of these model names means that the winder or motor drive enables the Tv shutter-priority mode of the New F-1. What a raw deal; do you really want at least another full pound of weight around your neck just to get one more auto mode? Metering modes depend on which finder is attached. This is great camera for people who like to buy accessories, but a flop for real-world shooting.
Tough, extremely well made camera, possibly the toughest Canon's ever done.
Quiet and no vibration!
Hard to turn the small, stiff shutter knob as you shoot.
Rewind feels nice!
Smallish frame counter, even-numbered Red at 12, 20, 24 and 36.
DOF preview only works if lens set to aperture manually. Av meter still reads in stop down, and with this you can compare exposure accuracy!
Specifications top
Intro Specs Usage Recommendations
Weight
29.480 oz. (835.8g) with batteries, strap lugs and bottom caps, but no lens, strap, film or body cap.
New F-1, strap lugs (no strap), AE Power Winder FN, and batteries: 44.475 oz. (1,260.9g).
New F-1, strap lugs (no strap), AE Power Winder FN, batteries and 50/1.4 FD: 51.775 oz. (1,467.8g).
AE Cap: 0.5g
winder cap: 1.5g
Usage top
Intro Specs Usage Recommendations
No light on bottom shutter-speed finder readout, just the right hand aperture readout
Meter
Beware: light coming in the eyepiece will alter the reading.
Power Winder FN: 2 FPS
Needed for shutter-priority mode. Winder may be turned off for Tv mode, but the batteries have to be OK.
Geared offset tripod attachment to camera with 25% geared advantage.
A complex kludge: Can't change camera's battery with the winder attached.
New F-1 has three threaded covers on bottom. Have to remove two of the three (the winder coupler cover and the AE coupler cover (unmarked), drop them inside each other, and stick them in a compartment inside the winder battery box as not to lose them. God help yo if you have no manual. If you pulls off the rewind cover by accident you could fog your film.
Take out batteries of not using 3 weeks or more.
Rated for 20 36-exp rolls with carbon-Zinc.
Carbon-Zinc, Alkaline or Ni-Cd AAs.
Have to reset the winder's frame counter with a button, and if not 36 exp, have to manually set it. To set, have to PRESS IN the SET wheel and turn in direction of arrow. It stops the winder so it doesn't rip the sprockets at the end of the roll. Winder counts down while camera counts up.
If you don't set the count-down counter, winder does have a torque sensor and stop by itself. I suspect need for built-in stopper is for use in extreme cold.
Red numbers: 36, 24, 20, 12 and 6-0. Great to have it on back of camera where I can see it.
OK to wind by thumb.
8s - 1/2,000 OK in Tv mode, bolt, B and A not OK.
S mode: fires, and holds until you release.
C Mode: Fires and advances. Take your finger off and it stops, leave your finger down and it fires again.
Vertical release always works, even if winder OFF! You will have to wind film by thumb, or just turn the switch lock to L to prevent it from shooting.
Feels great, but vertical grip is painful and square.
Stops after winders counter hits 0. Red light on back lights to tell you you're empty.
If you want a free frame, turn off winder and use your thumb.
To rewind
Reset winder's counter so the winder gets back to normal operation. (Light stays on anyway)
Rotate R button (between shutter dial and camera' shutter release), then press down.
Rewind.
Advance the thumb lever the rest of the way to clear the red light.
To get the last frame:
Turn off winder.
Advance with the thumb lever.
Shoot and repeat.
When you hit the end, press rewind button and rewind.
Turn on winder to clear the red light.
Bulb shutter position has to be pressed on-camera; fires at 1/1,000 from either winder button.
With no battery in camera, the New F-1 works fine between 1/90 and 1/2,000 and bolt. Only the camera release button works.
Multiple exposures
Press and rotate R button on-camera.
Shoot away with the winder's release. Frame counters advance, but film doesn't, which is idiotic!
To clear, make your last shot with the camera's own shutter button.
Why? Rewind button doesn't clear when using winder's releases, but does clear when camera's shutter pushed halfway.
Remote Control
Turn off winder so you don't fire it when plugging in.
Use a 2.5mm plug.
Turn winder back on and have at it.
AOK to use cable release in New F-1.
Weights
Winder FN, no batteries: 11.545 oz. (327.3g)
Winder FN and batteries: 14.980 oz (424.7g)
Winder FN, batteries and two captive caps from the F1:15.050 oz.(426.6g)
New F-1, Winder FN, and batteries: 45.120 oz. (1279.1g)
New F-1, Winder FN, batteries and 50/14: 52.415 oz. (1485.95g)
Battery cover cap and end cap seem like weak plastic
Recommendations top
Intro Specs Usage Recommendations
For an electronic manual focus 35mm SLR, look at the Nikon FA or Nikon F3 instead. You'll thank me!
PLUG
I support my growing family through this website.
If you find this as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.
The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
Thanks for reading!
Ken
Home New Search Gallery How-To Books Links Workshops About Contact