Canon F-1 User manual

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 Welcome to the large family of well satisfied F-1
 owners. The F-1, along with its seemingly
 endfess arrav of features and accessories for use
 in the home, the laboratory or for professional
 work, is the product of many years of studious
 research coupled with the development of
 Canon's superior camera technology. The Canon
 F-1 epitomizes the high quality and performance
standards that Canon prides itself in. We at
Canon hope that you make the most of your
new F-1 and have many rewarding experiences
with your F-1 system.

BeforeUsing...
Please read this instruction booklet thoroughly,
familiarizing yourself carefully with the F-1  ,
master the basic functions of the camera
completely and you will be ready to fully utilize
your new F-1.                                                                                                                                                                    ill-il
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   Canon F-l System
    The system built around the F-1, from its initial
     stages, is designed to satisfy all possible photo-
I    graphic needs. Both versatility and variety were
    prime concerns for Canon's planning and
I,    designing staff . The system's ten thousand
    component parts are all built with a degree of
     accuracy which the complete interchangeability
    of the system requires. Furthermore, tests have
    demonstrated that the reliability of the Canon
    F-1 and its accessories is to an extent as of yet
    unmatched by any other product in the photo-
     graphic industry. The F-1's accessories, including
    powerful motor drive systems, a unique Servo
   EE Finder, the Booster T Finder for dim light
     situations, the Film Chamber 250 and the
    incomparable F D  series of  interchangeable
     lenses, lend the versatility to the F-1 that makes
    the F-1 and all-embracing photdgraphic system.


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I  Canon Eooster T Finder with electronic timer for insufficient
    Four Main Accessories                      light photographyt                                                                     I  Canon Servo EE Finder for shutter priority EE photography
                                                          r  Canon Motor Drive Unit and Motor Drive MF fortimer photog-
                                                         raphy and high speed photography.
                                                          r  Canon Film Chamber 250 for shooting 250 frames
                                         Unmanned photography is possible in combination of these
                                                                   accessories.





      *For details, please refer to pages

Technical Data
      I Type: 35mm single-lens reflex camera with focal plane shutter. Picture size:24 x 36mm.
      I  lnterchangeable Lenses: Canon FD series lenses with aperture signal lever. FL and R series
     of lenses are also compatible.
     r  Standard Lens: Canon FD 55mm f|1.2 S.S.C., FD 50mm f/l.4 S.S.C., or FD 50mm f/1.8
     S.C.r  Viewfinder: Removable pentagonal prism viewfinder. lnterchangeable with Servo EE
     Finder, Booster T Finder, Speed Finder, Waist-Level Finder.
     r  Viewfinder Attachments: Angle Finders ,A2 and B, Magnifier R, Dioptric Adjustment
     Lenses, Eyecup R, Rubber Eyepiete Ring.
     I  Focusing Screen: Fresnel lens, standald focusing glass with split-image/microprism  range-
     finder and eight other interchangeable types. With metering beam-splitting condenser.
     I  Field-of-View 97o/o of actual pciture area. O.77 X magnification with standard 50mm lens at
     infinity.
     I  Finder Information: Meter needle and aperture needle, outside shutter speed coupling
    range indicator, stopped-down metering and battery check, shutter speed scale, metering limii
    marks.
     !  Dioptric Adjustment Lenses: Viewfinder with lensless ring (R-1); interchangeable with    R+3, R+2, R+l.5, R+l, R+0.5, R0, R-0.5, R-2, R-3, and R-4 dioptric adiustment lenses.     t  Mirror.: Ouick return mirror with shock-absorbing mechanism. Possible to lock mirror in
     up-position, requiring manual operation of the-aperture.
     I  Lens Mount: Canon breech-lock FD mount.
     I  Function: FD lenses; Full aperture metering, automatic diaphragm operation. FL lenses;
    Stopped-down metering, automatic diaphragm operation. R  lenses; Stopped-down metering,
    manually operated diaphragm.
     I  Shutter: Focal plane shutter using a super thin titanium screen. Designed for elimination of
    functioning noise. Possible to lock shutter release button.    r  Shutter Speed Dial: With shutter scales and ASA film speed scales. Two coupling pinsfor
     settingI  ShutterattachmentsSpeeds: B,are1-1provided.|2OOO. Multiple series. Equiinterval index. X contact at "60'j.    r  Film Speed Scale: ASA 25-3200     I  Self-Timer: Built-in. Activate with shutter release button. Approx. 10 sec. time lag.     t  Exposure Adjusting Mechanism: Built-in. Using a CdS photocell. Coupled to shutter speeds,

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film speeds and f/stop. Match needle tvpe, TTL full aperture metering mechanism. Central area
metering system, meisures 12o/o of the picture area. Stopped-down m-etering possible with non-
FD lenses. Stop-down lever and index. Locking of the lever possible.
r  Exposure Meter Coupling Range: With ASA 100 film, EV 2.5 lfl1.2 at 114 sec.)to EV 18
lf 111 at 1l2OOO sec.).I  Meter Battery: One 1.35V mercury battery.
r  Battery Checker: Built-in.
r TTL Full Aperture Metering System: Servo EE Finder and Battery Case in combination.
Full aperture metering with FD lens.
r  Ulira-low lllumination Metering: Metering possible with ASA 100, between EV 15 lf /22 at
1/60 sec.) and EV -3.5  (f 11.2 at 15 sec.), with use of the Booster T Finder.r  Synchronized Flash: FP and X contact. Automatic time lag adjustment.
r  Flash Socket: Screw-in/plug-in type.I  Accessory Shoe: Flash Couplers D, L.
r  Canon Auto Tuning (CAT) System: Diaphragm control by recharge completion signal and
focusing distance signal. Proper aperture is determined with the built-in mirror by using the
Speedlite 133D, Flash-Auto Ring A2lB2, Flash Coupler L and the prescribed FD lens.
I  Synchronizing Range: FP class: 1/2OOO-1fi25 sec. and 1/30 sec. or slower. Speedlite: 1/60
sec. or slower. M, MF class: 1/30 sec. or slower.
r  Film Loading: With multislit film spool.
I  Film Windin"g: Short-stroke windihg possible. Single operation 139" winding lever. Play:
 30"
I  Film Rewinding: Performed by rewind button and crank.
I  Multiple Exposure: Possible by operating film rewind button.
r  Back Cover: Removable for Film Chamber 250 and Data Back.
t  Bottom Cover: Removalbe for Motor Drive Unit or Motor Drive MF.I  Frame Counter: Additive, self-resetting type activated by opening back cover.
I  Size: 99.5 x 146.7 x 49.5mm (3-15/16" x5-314" x 1-15116"1
r  Weight: Body: 8459 (t  lb. 13-13/16 ozs.). With FD 50mm f/l.4S.S.C. Lens: 1,1509
(2 lbs. 8-9/16 ozs.)i
                                                             Subiect to change without notice.

Follow these simple steps
          for
ilormal photography:
I   f-ouO the film. (See pages 15-17.)





                           (See page 25.)2 Set the ASA film speed.

3 Wind the film advance lever. (See page 18.)



4 Remove.the lens cap.

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5 f-oof. through the viewfinder and focus.
   (See page 31 .)
6 Compose the picture.




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I  Determine the exposure with built-in meter.
   (See pages 26-28.1



I  Press the shutter release button gently.

Mercury Battery loading and Checking
The built-in exposure meter of the Canon F-l functions
only when the mercury battery  is properly loaded.
 I  Insert a coin into the groove of the  ! compartment cover and turn it to the left to removebattery
the cover.
 I  Insert the battery into the compartment with negative& pole first.
 I  Replace the compartment cover and turn to the rightu to tighten.
I  Before inserting the battery, wipe off fingerprints or
stains on the battery poles with a dry cloth. Unclean
poles may cause corrosion and damage the camera.
I A 1.35V H-D mercury battery should be used    a                                                     -Mallory PX-625 or Eveready EPX-625 is recommended.
Do not use 1.4V mercury batteries.
I  Be sure to insert the battery in the correct direction.
Otherwise, the meter will not function properly and the
cover cannot be screwed-in.
t   lf the camera will not be used for an extended length
of time, the battery should be taken out of the battery
compartment to prevent possible damage to the termi-
nals from battery corrosion.

I
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            Film Loading
             The Canon F-l accepts any standard 35mm film in a
                 daylight loading cartridge. Be sure not to load film in
                    direct sunlight.
                                                            as possible while                       I  Pull up the film rewind crank as far                       I pressing the safety button. The cover will then open.
                       I Open the cover fully. Place the film cartridge in the             c film compartment so that the emulsion faces the lens
            when the film is unwound as illustrated on page 14.
               Push the film rewind crank down. The crank fork will
                    slip into the film cartridge. In case the crank does not
                    fully return, turn it slightly to the left or right.
                       I  Pull the film out from the cartridge and insert the           u film tip into the slit of the film take-up spool.





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.1I Turn the film advance lever and wind the film around   the film take-up spool.
                                                 take-up f Check to insure that the teeth of both theu spool and the film advance sprocket engage the
perforations in the film.
 ft Close the back cover. lf the film is slack,the cartridgeu will rise and the back cover will not close.
 I  Leave the lens cap on and take two blank shots, I time turning the film advance lever and releasingeachthe
shutter. The frame counter will advance from the "S"
mark to " 0 ". With one more advance, the camera will
be ready for the first shot.

Memo Holder
The memo holder on the camera's back cover is useful
for keeping data like film speed, location, shooting. For
example, after tearing off the end of the film box which
specifies the type of the film being used, it can be
inserted into the memo holder as a constant reminder.

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                        Checking Correct Film Loading
                      The film is properly loaded and advanced if the film
                           rewind crank rotates when you wind the film advance
                                  lever. lf the film rewind crank does not rotate, take out
                              the film and reload it.
                           Setting the Film Speed
                       When loading the film, be sure to set the film speed scale
                                   at the proper position.
                        Repacking a Bulk-Loaded Film
                                          lf you are using  f ilm that has not been wound
                            commercially, be sure to trim the tip of the lead
                           between perforations.





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Film Winding
      The film advance lever winds the film, cocks the shutter,
     and prepares the diaphragm and mirror for the next
        shutter release all in one motion.
        Turn the film advance lever until it stops. The film         I          I will be advanced one frame and the shutter cocked.
     The frame counter is simultaneously advanced to the
       next number.
         I When the shutter release button is pressed, the mirror     c flips up, the diaphragm closes down to the preset
       f/stop and the shutter operates. The advance lever can
       then be wound for the next frame.
         I  Be sure to set the shutter lock lever at "A".
         I  Winding may be accomplished by moving the lever
       with several short strokes.
         I   lf the shutter does not function, check to make sure
       the winding process is completed as the shutter will not
       function unless winding  is completed.





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              Frame Counter
               Each winding will advance the number of the frame
                 counter, indicating the number of pictures taken. When
               the back cover is opened, the counter automatically
                    returns to the starting position "S".

               Safety Device for Shutter
             When the shutter lock lever around the shutter release
                button is turned to the "L" position, the shutter button
                     is locked and will not move. This device is especially
                  useful in preventing an accidental shutter release of a
              wound camera.

                Attaching the Cable Release
             The optional Canon Cable Release can be attached to
                the F-l by screwing it into the threaded hole in the
                  center of the shutter release button. Even if the shutter
                  lock lever is at the "L" position, the shutter will operate
               when using the cable release.
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Shutter and Aperture Adjustment
Exposure is adjusted by the shutter speed and the
aperture. The shutter speed controls the exposure time
and the aperture controls the amount of incoming light.
Shutter Speed Dial
Adjust the shutter speed by turning the shutter speed
dial to the desired speed as indicated by the numbers on
top of the dial. The dial cannot be turned between
"2OOO" and "8". The numbers on the shutter speed dial
correspond to shutter speeds between 1/2OOO of a
second and one second counting counterclockwise on
the dial. The "8" position, indicating bulb exposure, is
used when making exposures of more than one second.Thus, when set at "B", the shutter remains open as long   I
as the shutter release button is depressed.
I Be sure to set the dial at one of the click-stop
positions. At the "8" position, adjust it to the white dot
just below "B".
t When it is necessary to make a time exposure, first set
the shutter speed dial at "8". Keep the shutter release
button depressed and turn the time lock lever to "L".
Thus, the shutter will remain open even if the finger is
removed from the button. When the lever is returned to
"A", the shutter closes.
I Time exposure ls also possible by using a lockable
cable release.
t   lt is possible to perform extended exposures of up to

20

butkus.us                         Aperture                                                                                                       aAperture Ring             Scale            30 seconds by using the optional Booster T Finder,
                                          super sensitive meter finder for measuring subjects under
                        Coupling Pin to      dim light.
                        Flash-Auto Ring       I The "60" position is the X synchronization  speed,
                              A2lB2     the highest shutter speed which can be used with
                                            electronic flash units such as a Canon Speedlite, and
                                        the fastest shutter speed at which the entire film area is
                                       exposed at once. Although 1/60th of a second does not
                                seem to be a really fast shutter speed, the effective
                                                                               111000th of a                                          ,rA,,        exposure time is equivalent to a flash of
                                  Mark    second or faster. This speed allows the very brief                                      for AE                                  photography)  duration of the electronic flash to expose the entire film.
                                   Aperture
                                       Incoming light and depth-of-field are adlusted by turning
                                          the aperture ring to the desired f/stop.
                    A number scale, which has become the international
                                          standard, has been devised to express the size of the
                                        aperture in relation to the focal length of the lens
                                    whereby the aperture size is divided by the focal length
                                          of the lens until the numerator of the resulting fraction
                                                             is reduced to one. Thus, the magnitude of these fractions
                                               is inversely related to the size of the aperture, i.e., a
                                            larger number on the scale signifies a smaller aperture
                                         while a smaller number signifies a larger apefture. Since
                                    both circular area and linear dimension are involved in
                                 the computation of this scale, an aperture, usually
                                    termed a full f/stop, is one-half or twice as large as the
                                            adjacent apertures indicated by the scale.

I The aperture ring of most Canon FD lenses  is
equipped with click-stops for full and 1/2 f/stops, but
can be set between these click-stops.
I The maximum aperture of a lens may not be one
included by the international standard. lf it is not, the
second f/stop will not designate an aperture one-half as
small as the maximum f/stop.
I  The relation between the aperture and the amount of
 light entering, using  f l2 as the base, is as follows:

f/stops.*:
1.2 1.4 1.8 2 2.8 3.5 4 5.6 8  11  16    22
Exposure Ratio:                                                FD Somm f/1.4 S.S.C.
                                       1164 111283  2 1.25 1 112 1/3 1/4 118 1116 1132*f/stops       on the international scale are in heavy type.
Presetting of Aperture
Set the aperture ring to the desired f/stop. The
diaphragm will close to the set f/stop only for the
 instant that the shutter is released. Thus, for example,
with FD lenses, the subject can always be seen through
the viewfinder at the full aperture opening even after
the f/stop has been set by the aperture ring.
The FD lens has only one aperture ring. When this lens is
mounted on an F-1 or FTb camera body, the diaphragm
.can be operated manually by pushing the multi-purpose
 lever. The aperture can then be closed down to any
desired f/stop by turning the aperture ring. When the
 lever is reset to its original position, the diaphragm                                                                                      Au tomatic/M anual
 returns to its maximum opening.                                                          Apertu re Lever
22

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                            Manual Control of Aperture
                             The manually operated aperture  is used for checking the
                                      depth-of-field when the aperture is stopped-down and
                                       also when performing close-up photography and macro-
                                   photography.
                                              I  When an accessory is to be used between the lens and
                                 the camera body, push the automatic/manual  aperture
                                     lever of the lens counterclockwise  all the way before
                                 mounting the lens. This locks the lever and the aperture
                                                  is set for manual operation. For releasing the lever, push
                                                   it clockwise. With the use of this lock, photography
                              using a manually operated aperture can also beFD 35mm f/3.5 S.C.                                 performed with older Canon single-lens-reflex cameras.
                                              I  ln the case of the lens which has a manual aperture
                                    lock lever, turn the automatic aperture lever of the lens
                                  counterclockwise all the way and set the manual
                                    aperture lock lever at the "L" position before mounting
                              the lens. This manual aperture lock lever locks the
                                automatic aperture lever and the diaphragm can be
                             opened or closed by turning the aperture ring. For
                                      releasing the lever, return the manual aperture lock
                                          lever to the original position at the white dot.
                                              I When using the lens attached in a reversed position to
                                 the macrophoto coupler for macrophotography, set the
                                 automatic aperture lever of thp lens in the position for
                               manual operation, attach the macrohood of the macro-
                   Manual Aperture   photo coupler to the rear of the lens, and turn the                   Lock Lever                                     breechlock mount ring unit it stops.
              A utomatic/M  an ual          t  Refer to page 38 concerning depth-of-field.
              Aperture Lever                                                                    23

Using the Built-in lxposure Meter
The Canon F-1 provides the most accurate light measure-
ment possible with its unique TTL (Through-The-Lens)
system. The built-in exposure meter, which is of match
needle type, is coupled to the shutter speed dial and
preset aperture ring.
The CdS photocell of the exposure meter is placed in the
position closest to lhe beam-splitting condenser lens.
The central area metering system enables accurate
measurement of the main sublect even in back lighting
conditions. The rectangular frame in the viewfinder
represents the light measurement area of the CdS
photocell. Place the main subject within this frame and
measure the intensity of light so as to obtain the proper
exposu re.
r The correction of the full aperture opening of the
lens is performed automatically. Therefore, the opera-
tion does not change regardless of the speed of the lens
used. An FL lens can be used only with stopped-down
metering.
I  Due to the characteristics of the CdS photocell, the
movement of the meter needle may occasionally be
slow at low light intensities.
r When not using the camera, set the meter switch at
"OFF" or attach the lens cap so as to prevent
unnecessary consumption of the mercury battery.
I  Metering at "8" on the shutter speed dial is not
possible with the built-in exposure meter.
24

Exposure Settings
Full Aperture Metering
Full aperture metering can be performed with FD lenses
which have an aperture signal lever and pin.
   Set the meter switch at "ON". I
 t  Set the shutter speed dial at the desired speed.
Q Face the camera towards the subject, look into thev   viewfinder, and check the needles  in the meter
reading window.
I Turn the aperture ring until the metert the aperture metering circle in the meter.needle bisectslf this
adjustment cannot be made, a different shutter speed
must be used.
I The meter needle is coupled to the film and shutter
speeds and moves vertically according to the brightness
of the subiect. The meter needle moves downward when
the shutter is set at high speeds and upward when it is
set at low speeds. When the shutter is set at a slow speed
outside the coupling range (slower than 1/2 sec. with
ASA 100 film), the meter window turns red, and
metering will become impossible even if the aperture is
changed. When the window turns red and metering
cannot be performed, use high-speed film or the optional
Booster T Finder. Refer to "Coupling Range of Built-in
Exposure Meter" on page 29.

26

position, the stop-down lever will return to its original
 position.
 I Set the meter switch at "ON".  I
   Set the shutter speed dial at the desired speed.LI
 I  Face the camera towards the subject, look into theu   viewfinder and press the stop-down lever towards
the lens. The circular aperture needle will disappear from
view and only the meter needle will remain in the meter
window.
I  I"t   the aperture ring until the meter needle appears  '  rn the meter.I   lf you prefer to set the f/stop first, the adjustments
can be made with the shutter speed dial.
I  Because the FD lenses have a full aperture system
with which to fully compensate the built-in exposure
meter, it is best to use full aperture metering with an FD
lens. When performing stopped-down metering, be sure
to close down the aperture to t12.8 or further.

How to "Average" Exposures
When measuring a subject influenced by greatly different
light intensities, take two measurements, one each of the
darkest and lightest parts, and obtain the average value
for the two readings. Then, set the f/stop or shutter
speed at this average value.


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