My Canon F1 came to me just after I’d committed to no more cameras. I have about six or seven good cameras working in a rotation and for the most part I’m an SLR shooter, (I have a a Leica M4-P which I’ve yet to fully engage with, it is a very nice ‘thing’ though). It all happened after I’d been chuntering away about wanting a super simple, super sexy, 35mm SLR, that gave me the things that I love about the Leica without without having to compromise on the stuff I like about SLRs in general.
It came to me with perfect paintwork, a broken meter, and a few nice lenses. I added a 55mm f/1.2 to the bag and have basically just shot that since. I took the pictures below back in sunny August, while on the Street Hunters meet up. This was the first outing of my F1 with the 55mm and I was super pleased with the results. I shot on portra which both looks great and has massive dynamic range. (It smoothes the rougher edges of my slapdash metering).
I love the feel and the speed with which I can shoot it and the simplicity of operation, I like the meaty-ness of it, and the lack of ergonomic consideration. I also really like the shutter lock. At 1.4 kilos it is not light or compact, but it has become my daily driver, (unless I’m trying to engage with the M4-P).
James Greenoff’s ramblings and further photography can be found at www.jamesgreenoff.com, and on instagram at instagram.com/jamesgreenoff .
Apart from being potentially, a lethal weapon, the F1 is a sweet camera. Very smooth, beautifully built and I’d say quite good ergonomically.
Having handled your F1 & 55/1.2 combo, it is indeed a bit of a beast. However the end justifies the means, as they say. I like your choice of Portra to show it off. Thank you James.
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I am a big sucker for old glass and very thankful that Nikon allows me to use my
Nikkor 1,2/50 AIs and Nikkor S 1,2/55 (Ai modified) further with my DSLRs.
This lenses have a lot of potential used in the right way and its a sort of challenge
to master it on open aperture too !
For random street photography I wouldnt suggest to use it you will bes spotted
as a pro on the first sight……
Hi, I reread your F-1 article. These were spectacularly well-built cameras, the epitome of mechanical precision and craftsmanship. If I wanted to start with a new 35mm system camera, I would be tempted to seek out the F-1 (but I have a Spotmatic in great condition, so I do not need another 35mm kit). Three questions:
1. Did you get the meter fixed?
2. Have you looked for the neat accessories, such as viewfinders and screens – and lenses?
3. Are you still using it?
Ciao, keep photographing!
https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2016/03/come-to-supermarket-in-old-wan-chai.html
https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2016/03/time-warp-hong-kong-in-1950.html
Hey, yep i’m still using it, although sporadically – just finished a roll that had been in there for 6 months – I didn’t get the meter fixed although I’m considering it more and more. Since I’ve been using Portra and meterless cameras I’ve been pretty slapdash with my metering. Which is less of a worry with C41. I’ve wanted to shoot more black and white of recent and I love and have HP5. I’ve been carrying a spot meter but it just isn’t as quick.
I bought it with a few lenses, a Vivitar 135mm f/2.3, an 85mm f/1.8 and something widish, I sold most of them and bought the f/1.2 – I did get it with a WLF which I’ve used a few times, I’d like to get a 35mm for it at some point, but no rush.