Difference between Canon F1 and F1N

<p>What is the easiest way to tell the difference?<br>

thanks</p>

<p>Here are several major, easily spotted differences<br>

1. The F-1N has a hot shoe, the F-1 doesn't<br>

2. The F-1 has a combination self timer/stop down lever on the front right side, the F-1N has a big hand grip sort of thing(that's really the battery cover) on that side<br>

3. The F-1N has a silver button to the left of the lens mount, there's nothing there on the F-1<br>

4. The F-1 is painted glossy black, the F-1N is painted matte black<br>

5. From the back-the F-1N has a lever next to the eyepiece, the F-1N doesn't<br>

6. The small round switch on the back left is marked "on-off-check" on the F-1, and "normal-hold-light" on the F-1N<br>

7. From the bottom-the F-1 has one one screw cap for the battery, the F-1N has three screw caps to allow it to interface with the motor drive. Also, the F-1N has a row of electrical contacts on the bottom that are not present on the F-1N.<br>

8. From the top-the F-1 has shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/2000 and bulb. The F-1N has speeds from 8s up to 1/2000, as well as bulb, flash(lighting bolt) and a red A.<br>

9. Also from the top-the F-1N has a rewind button right behind the shutter button on top<br>

10. The ASA setting is on a separate dial under the rewind crank on the F-1N, and on the F-1 is integrated into the shutter speed dial<br /><br />There are plenty of other differences-the F-1 and F-1N are really totally different cameras that just happen to share the same name. These should be plenty, though, to let you positively identify one or the other when looking at one.</p>

<p>Check this old thread:    http://www.photo.net/canon-fd-camera-forum/005brn</p>

<p>Matt, To my knowledge all the various New F-1 bodies (F1N) had a right hand palm swell on the front of the camera to accomodate the 6V battery.  The F-1 and F-1n (note lower case n) have the battery compartment (1.3V Mercury cell) on the bottom of the camera under a "coin-like" cap.</p>

<p>Don B in Hampton Roads</p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>4. The F-1 is painted glossy black, the F-1N is painted matte black</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>This is all you really need to know.</p>

I use the Canon Camera Museum as the ultimate reference source for this. It lists three different models, F-1, F-1N and New F-1.

 

The F-1N is basically the same as the F-1 but with a few minor improvements. Both are gloss black and have a self-timer lever clearly visible on the front.

 

The New F-1 is matt black and has no self-timer lever at the front.

 

Advertisers use different conventions and it is worth studying their pictures to be sure of which one they are referring to.

<p>I also see the labels as F1, F1n, and F1N. The F1 and the F1n are very similar.</p>

<p>Yeah, I think its prudent to establish which "N" is in question.  I always took the F1 and F1n (note lower case) to be the mechanical, first generation cameras, and the F1N to denote the New F1.  But I am told (by folks on this forum who forgot more about these cameras than I am ever likely to learn) this is not always an established (or even observed) practice.<br>

The New F1 is easy to spot - no self timer/mirror up lever on the passanger side of the lens. Oh yeah, that and being a totally different camera with 0 part interchangeability witht he F1 an F1n.<br>

The differences between the F1 and F1n are more subtle. Which is it that you're seeking to distinguish?</p>

<p>The most significant difference is the old F1 used the banned 1.35v mercury batteries, the new F1N uses the easily obtainable 6v PX28 silver oxide, or PX 28L Lithium batteries.</p>

<p>The old F1 or F1n is fully mechanical and independent of battery need to function. The F1N [new] gives you half of the shutter speeds without a battery in the camera but you lose the other half of speeds. It is a hybrid camera.<br>

I have used both cameras extensively, and I feel more at ease with the F1N. I have many different viewfinder screen that allow me to obtain spotmetering/partial spot/average metering. I have a battery cord for the motor drive FN that lets me use this camera fully metered in very cold weather. The 6X viewfinder is also a very useful accessory for the F1N.<br>

I use the F1n [old] with mirror lock-up for long exposures and very long lenses to reduce vibration due to a mirror slap.</p>

lets not forget: for hands on id (mainly for the first 2 versions)

Canon F1 - 1600 iso

Canon F1n - 3200 iso

Canon New F1 - 6400 iso

Wow, this thread was a fun trip down memory lane.

 

While the max ISO difference is there, I've never liked pointing this out as a reliable method of ID since it typically will require you to handle the camera and manually adjust the ISO.

 

For me, the easiest way to tell the F-1(original) apart from the F-1n(revised) is the plastic tipped film advance lever. Also, the F-1n had the film box tab/memo holder on the back door, something the very first version lacked. There 11 other changes(13 total) although these are the most obvious ones.

 

Between the differences in shape, differences in finish(matte vs. gloss), presence/absence of a hotshoe, and control layout there's really no way to confuse the F-1N(which I've taken to referring to by it's proper name, the New F-1, to avoid abiguity) with the either of the earlier F-1s.

 

BTW, I know Canon/Nikon debates are old and stale, but I was given some NICE Nikon equipment a few months ago and have acquired some additional items and have been trying to give the system a fair chance. One of the things I was given was an F3, which is a camera that was more or less directly competitive with the New F-1. There's a lot to like about the F3 and it does a few things the New F-1 doesn't-namely it has MLU and I appreciate the fact that it can be directly powered from the motor drive without requiring a special cable and the use of certain battery packs. That aside, I really think Canon knocked it out of the park with the New F-1 and I consider it a high point of early 1980s/"Classic" 35mm SLR design(I'm putting the T90, EOS-1 and F4 in a separate category even though all came out in the late 1980s). I intend to write up a side-by-side review of the two(or maybe even brave a Youtube video) once I've had some more time with the F3, but the New F-1 to me is just a superb all around camera.

Hello, my f1 goes until ASA 1600 (not 2000) it has the letter Q = 1976. I read that non-revised versions could go to ASA 2000 and then with the revision to 3200. Taken from wikipedia:

 

1. Increase the maximum ASA from 2000 to 3200.
   

Do I have a broken ASA selector or this is just a mistake on the wikipedia entry?

1600 is correct. Either I'll claim credit for the mistake when I wrote that list in 2007, or someone has edited it in the mean time :)

 

I'll fix it.

Looks like it was my mistake when the list was written. I'm surprised it's gone 10 years without being challenged.

 

2000 ASA for the first model of the F-1 is correct,as it is mentioned in the Canon F-1 manual. You can go 1 step higher than 1600 (there is a little green dot below 1600) and that is 2000, just checked it with my F-1.

acinos you are correct... Just checked my F-1 (L - 1971) goes to 1600 plus an extra green dot. which does move the meter

Yes, I can confirm that on this 1976 F1 model. I can get to that dot and see the exposimeter go higher. So after all the wikipedia entry was right.

 

Now that I have you, and aware this might not be the right thread. I have bought today a Data Back FN and can't seem to understand if it will be safe to use it on the F1 old? I can close the door but see there's a slight difference between both on the top side. Has anyone used an FN data bank on the old F1?