Next Canon FD Camera - Recommendations?

Hi everybody. Happy vallentines day...

Need some advice from the forum.....

I have a Canon F1-n (new), with a motor drive, that I can operate blindfolded. I love it for all the F1

greatness. Having said that, I would like to pick up another FD camera body to play around with this year. I

was looking at the A1, but after researching, it seems "similiar" in functionality to the F1. A few articles on

the T90 caught my eye, as the T90 seemed like the canon technology bridge to the EOS series.

 

Any recomendations?

 

Thanks all...

<p>I used an A1 for about 10 years, but never really fell in love with it. Different story with the T90, it just felt better in my hand, seemed a little more straightforward in use, and still have and occasionally use it. If you can get your hands on one to try, you might find it does the trick for you, although moving from the F1-n you might find nothing quite meets your expectations. If it helps, go to www.butkus.org and read thru the manuals of both the T90 and A1, or www.mir.com for a broader comparison.</p>

<p>How 'bout "accessorizing" your F-1n with the available viewfinder options? Or spend that money on some new glass!</p>

<p>T90 - The ultimate FD camera. <br>

A1 - Great lightweight shooter</p>

<p>Read up on some issues that crop up on the T90. Great camera but subject to dirty shutter magnets and loose body mount</p>

<p>I absolutely love my T90. I've been using it for three years now. I am aware of the EEEE issue, but it's only happened to me once, while touring Perú. All I had to do was pull out the battery tray for a few seconds to reset the camera. The T90 just feels like an extension of my arm.<br>

<br />FD cameras I currently own:<br>

New F-1 (with the works)<br>

AE-1<br>

AE-1 Program (with the works)<br>

T50<br>

T70<br>

T90 - this is the camera I grab when I want to take pictures. The others? All great, especially the New F-1. The T90 just stands head and shoulders above in my opinion. When I travel I use the T90 as my workhorse with the New F-1 as the backup. Over the course of many tours and crazy weather conditions I have never needed that backup. The New F-1 just gets used as a change of pace once in a while.<br>

<br />If anyone's concerned about the magnet issue with the T90 during long storage, just hold the shutter down while in Bulb and take the batteries out. </p>

<p>The F-1N is my favorite FD camera, because it's so customizable. If you're sure you want to get another, IMHO, the best bet would be:</p>

<p>(i) a T90, if you can get one in good shape. You may want to pay for a Sweringen overhaul, and you should put a minimum of a roll a month through it (preferably twice that.)</p>

<p>OR</p>

<p>(ii) an EF, a 1970s camera with certain advantages, including a silicon blue meter and mirror lockup. This is the only FD camera with this very useful combination of features. It also works with alkaline 625 cells (or, better, silver 625s).</p>

<p>If you just want a lightweight walking-around camera, a T70 is a great choice, and they sell for practically nothing nowadays. As in all things, YMMV.</p>

<p>I have at least one of every pre-EOS SLR that canon made and my favorite, by far, is the New F-1. I usually have a spot metering screen and standard prism but some times use a Speed Finder FN or Waist Level Finder FN-6X for macro work.A T-90 is my second choice paired with a Speedlite 300TL, or Macro Ringlite ML-2 on a 200mm f4 Macro lens. The T-90 would be an excellent second FD camera if you want to go up-feature. If you want a lighter walking around camera, an AE-1, AE-1P, or even an A-1 would be good choices depending on what features you want.</p>

<p>The T-90s use 4x AA batteries including 1.2v rechargeables, TTL flash metering, 1/250 x-sync, 1/4000 shutter speed, automatically selects ISO for DX film cartridges, selectable metering area without changing screens to name a few.</p>

<p>If you get a T-90 be sure to fire the shutter a couple dozen times a month to avoid the shutter freezing and getting the dreaded EEEEE error. And you might also want to try and find a copy of the T-90 handbook from Fountain Books. Long out of print but worth looking for and much more informative then the manual.</p>

<p>I recommend the New F1 AE, I have four of them that I used professionally for about 25 years, and although I have had a T90 for about 20 years that I use occasonaly when I need TTL flash I wouldn't take it with me on an assignment as the only camera when I had to come back with publishable pictures not excuses</p>

<p>At one time I had all of the FD bodies (apart from the more obscure A-series variants such as the AV-1), but now I am left with (multiple copies of each of) just four: F-1/F-1n, F-1N, FTb-N, and EF. I had a couple of T90's, and loved their functionality, but found that I just reached for my EOS 1-V if I wanted to shoot film with a more "modern" camera.</p>

<p>Since you already have an F-1N, I would recommend that you get an F-1 or F-1n. They are beautifully built all-mechanical (apart from the meter) bodies. The EF is also a beautiful body, which, in addition to the features Dave has mentioned, has a vertical-travel, metal-bladed shutter. However,the EF is not as customizable as the F-1: it doesn't have interchangeable viewfinders or focusing screens, nor does it support a motor drive.</p>

<p>According to a Canon repair expert I asked, using the T90 is tantamount to roulette. While all cameras can fail, unexpectedly, properly maintained ones are less likely. Except the T90. According to him, even recently serviced T90's can and do fail. Mine did. </p>

<p>Other than my F-1 series cameras, I love the old AE-1 Program.</p>

<p>You have to bear in mind that all the FD series cameras are more than 25 years old , the majority of them have never been serviced since they were manufactured and the A and T series cameras in particular have already outlived the useful life they were originally designed to last, so if you buy them and need reliability you need to allow in the purchase price the cost of professional service. </p>

 

<p>Is this some sort of internet record? We're two pages into a lively exchange of opinions and nobody yet has used "clearly" or "arguably" to prop up their viewpoint! Nor has anyone referred to their favorite as "iconic".<br>

Nice work, gents!</p>

<p>The other favorite of mine beside the F-1s is the EF.<br>

<br />I have had one for about37 years and has been a true classic.</p>

<p>Ed</p>

<p>I have never thought of the A-1 as being similar to the New F-1. Its layout is different, it has an exposure mode that the F-1 doesn't have, and its viewfinder info is completely different. Plus, it doesn't respond to the actual aperture values that you set on the lens. It shows only the apertures it recommends, which is indicative of all A-series cameras, except for the AT-1.</p>

<p>The T90 is certainly a great camera. I own one, and I love it. If you've never tried one, you should. It might be just what you're looking for. However, it should be noted that the T90 shares the same feature deficit as the A-series Canons -- no indication as to the actual aperture set on the lens; only the recommended value is shown.</p>

<p>Now, if you're like me and when in manual mode you want to see a needle respond to aperture changes, your options are limited. Basically, you're looking at three cameras: the aforementioned AT-1, which is battery dependent and looks almost identical to the AE-1, the original F-1, and the FTb.</p>

<p>If you've never tried an original F-1, I highly recommend you do so. I own both original and New F-1s, and while the New F-1 is a great camera, I still like the old F-1 better. The old F-1's meter may not respond as quickly as the New F-1's does, but it is always spot-on. And you don't have to change focusing screens for different metering patterns because there's only one. A 12% partial pattern that works really well. Plus, the old F-1 has mirror lock-up, something the New one doesn't have. Viewinder info isn't as complete as the New F-1's, but it's all you need.</p>

<p>The FTb can be thought of as a little brother, or backup, to the old F-1. It has much of its capabilities -- mirror up for one and the same metering pattern for another. Plus it has a quick-load feature that actually works. Viewfinder info is a bit more sparse than the F-1's, but it's plenty good enough for determining accurate exposure.</p>

 

<p>I haven't tried the T90 yet, but I do have a T80. Seems to work fine.</p>

<p>I would after more than 25 years after the last production of all the FD cameras in particular the consumer grade A and T series I would be very careful unless you are prepared to pay more than they are worth having them serviced, there is more chance that the professional F1 and New F1 that is in apparent good condition would probably be a better buy since they were designed to have a ( ie. the Titanium shutter unit good for at least 150,000 exposures) longer serviceable life and they were better built of better materials to last longer and is more worth spending the money having serviced if they develop a fault</p>

<p>That's quite the run-on sentence, Ben. Have you been reading James Joyce?</p>

<p>It's more than 25 years since I read The Dubliners.</p>

All. Thank you all for your replies. I learned alot about

the Canon FD lineup, and appreciate all the

responses. I ended up picking up a nice conditioned

T90 with an "unexpected" FD 50mm f1.4 SSC lens attached, in

mint condition, for $60.00. (I hope discussing price

does not violate forum rules). I figure the lens is worth

that alone. I only have the f1.8 bayonet version, and i

probably would never have bought the 1.4 outright, so

this will be a nice addition. I hear the 50mm 1.4 is one

of Canon's better FD lens.

 

The T90 seems in great condition. I have not shot film

yet, but I have fired it quite a few times and so far no

dreaded EEE syndrome. ...although I may have Steve

from Sparks NV give it a once over (CLA) regardless.

 

For those that mentioned to accessorize my lovely F1

(new), i may just do that....I have always had my eye

on the FD 20-35 f3.5 L.

 

Now all I need to do is print out the PDF owners

manual at work when the boss is not looking and get

shooting.... :)

 

Gary.

<p>Gary, if you find a 20-35 L in reasonable condition, don't think just buy it. It is a superb lens, mine virtually lives on one of my New F-1's. </p>

 

<p>As an Avid FD collector ive collected a ton of equipment including quite a few of the camera bodies over the years. The new F1 has the best feel to it in my opinion, I own 3 of these and own all of the finders and quite a few focusing screens so obviously you know how awesome they are.</p>

<p>For the record I actually do almost all of my professional photo work with FD cameras</p>

<p>The T90 is the most technologically advanced. I love these cameras. I own 5 of them. Their biggest issue is the sticky shutter syndrome which usually happens from non use. What happens is there is a little rubber washer that when not in use starts to gum up which leads to sticky shutter screens and a dirty shutter magnet and shutter mechanism. Best way to prevent this? Keep firing the camera. One of my T90s i bought from a friend who used ot on a regular basis for the past 10 years. Never had an issue and he shot easily 2000+ rolls of film through it. Never hjad a CLA during that time and it operates fine.</p>

<p>usually I buy them cheap and then have Steve from Cameraclinic do a CLA on them and then they all work flawlessly. He is the T90 expert and does an amazing job</p>

<p><br />The AE1 Program is a great camera for everyday shooting. Not super sophisticated as far as features go but easy to use. </p>

<p>The A1 is also highly recommended. I love its features, the way it meters and the way it feels (AE-1 and AE1 Program with a motordrive are both awesome)</p>

<p>The original AE1 is also an amazing camera. if you get one get a winder, power winder a2 is the best as the power winder a1 is garbage in comparison</p>

<p>The AT1 and FTB are also pretty cool amazing bodies that meter well and work flawlessly. The shutter movement on the FTB is also pretty awesome as well.</p>

<p>If you get a T90 get the 300TL flash, its a great unit. </p>

<p>Any questions ill be happy to answer them :)</p>

<p>-Tony</p>

Tony. Thanks for the offer of advice. I will take u up

on it once i use it :). I'm sending it out tomorrow to

Steve for a CLA as yes, he does seem to be the

"National" expert on the t90. I did pick up the 300tl

flash as well as the "E" focusing screen, as it came

with the "D"..cross hatch screen. Seems like the E was

the default t90 screen that came with it.

 

Until then, I still have my trusty F1...which I plan on

using tomorrow.....Its supposed to be a nice mild day,

for February anyways, here in New England.

 

Thanks again.

<p>I bought the Canon AE-1 and A-1 when they first came out in the 1970s, and in recent months I've tried a Canon New F-1 and Canon EF. In my revival of interest in vintage SLRs, I've also tried Konica Autoreflex T3, Minolta XD-5, Nikon FA, Nikon FM2, Nikon FE and Nikon FE2 recently. I have decided that the Canon EF is definitely my favorite. It is smoother than the New F-1, solid, precise, ergonomic, easy-to-use and has almost all of the functions I want: automatic aperture/shutter-preferred automatic exposure, silicon meter cells, mirror lock-up, DOF preview, exposure lock, battery-independent shutter and--most importantly--it's an FD camera. If it had 1/4000 second shutter speed and a VF warning for lens set manually, it would be perfect. EF rules!</p><div></div>

In my opinion the best canon FD cameras are the F series ( the original F1, F1n, New F1 and EF )