Winder FN for Canon F-1 New

[bsharpe411]

Until recently my only use of a power winder has been with my Canon A-1. I'd

shoot until the motor stopped and the light came on; then turn the winder power

off, push the sproket release button, and rewind as usual.

 

I just bought the Winder FN for my F-1 (new) and was surprised to find

the 'set/counter/reset' controls on th back. It didn't come with instructions, but I

found it at http://www.canonfd.com/aefnind.htm. I "skimmed over" the instructions

and then loaded a 24 exp. roll without setting the counter to '24'. Sure enough, the

motor stopped in mid-cycle and the light came on at about 26 exp. on the camera

counter.

 

The real problem came in trying to rewind the film, because I could not engage the

rewind button 'R' on the camera, and thus the rewind crank was frozen. I thought

I'd need to pull the film out in a darkroom, however I first took off the winder and

depressed the small pin on the bottom of the F-1 below the sproket wheel. That

freed up the sproket to allow me to rewind normally.

 

I just tried a test roll of film - first according to the instruction sheet for setting the

counter (it worked fine); then I let the film come out to the end of the roll as the

winder again stopped and the light came on, even though the winder counter

thought I had more exposures. Opening the back without rewinding the film, I saw

that the winder drove the sproket wheel strong enough to tear the film sproket

holes.

 

A second "in depth" reading of the instruction book warned at this might/would

happen if you fail to set for the correct exposures. Lessons learned...(1)stop

trying to squeeze out those last 2 exposures when using this combo and (2) read

the damn instructions before assuming you know it all.

[awahlster]

"(2) read the damn instructions before assuming you know it all."

 

This could go on the tombstones of 90% of the photographers I know. LOL

 

until next time enjoy that winder Bob I have one on both my F-1N's Only real Motor Drive I have (except for the built in ones in the T-90's) is the MA I have for my A-1. And it has it's own quirks.