The Canon EOS 1N RS - The Worlds Fastest AF SLR

[John Seaman]

I acquired the EOS1n RS a few months ago, in a kit with a 24mm lens which I subsequently sold – the seller said it was a good camera for street photography. Hmm.

 

The RS is a version of the EOS1n fitted with a fixed pellicle mirror like the Pellix and EOS RT (and the Sony SLT's). I always thought RT stood for Real Time. I'm not sure what RS stands for. It has the 8 AA battery Power Booster PB-E1 permanently attached, with blanking plates where the fixing wheel would be on an EOS 1n, giving it (to me) something of the air of a prototype. The whole idea being to achieve the fastest possible operation – the Canon Camera Museum has more about it:

 

EOS-1N RS - Canon Camera Museum

 

When the EOS 1v replaced the 1n, there was no RS version made as Canon apparently thought the 1v was fast enough as it was.

 

EOS1n RS, 28-80mm Ring USM

In use the most noticeable thing is that the image in the finder is darker than that of a normal SLR and it does not black out during exposure, although it does dim to the taking aperture. The RS was fitted with a 28-80 zoom – the early true USM version with metal mount and distance window. The subject matter, vintage vehicles at the latest Classic Vehicle Show and Autojumble, did not exactly stretch the capabilities of "the worlds fastest AF SLR" but there you go.

 

Triumph

 

Ford Classic

 

Austin 7

 

Riley

 

Triumph Mayflower

 

I can't remember --- its American though

 

Velocette - that's all, thanks for looking.

Edited August 7, 2019 by John Seaman

[ben_hutcherson]

I've always been interested in pellicle mirror cameras, although my experience with a Pellix(which sits on my desk at work) left me a bit sour on actually using them. I'd hope that the newer cameras have mirrors a bit more sturdy than the mylar one in the Pellix.

 

The car backed up to the green 74.5-77 MGB GT is a 1950 Studebaker-the "point" is a dead give-away as to the make.

 

[John Seaman]

Oh right thanks Ben. Here's another shot of the Studebaker from the rear. And one of a Hudson. I salute the folk who keep these things running.

 

 

[JDMvW]

Nice, very nice.

 

I too have an odd-ball Canon EOS 1N, but this one is Kodak's 560 digital:

[JDMvW]

Since the IR filter is out, here it is with a R72 filter for infrared

.

It is full frame.

[John Seaman]

JDM, I've got the DCS520 2MP version, which also gave me the impetus to dabble with infrared. Unfortunately all of the batteries have died including two "new" ones I bought,so it's in honourable retirement (unlike, perhaps, it's owner).

 

Infrared with the Kodak DCS 520 / Canon DC2000

[JDMvW]

My batteries are in their last gasp too, I'm afraid

[Silent Street]

It's been known to have failure of shutter after heavy use, and as with any Canon SLR (1, 1N, 1V, and variants) it should be tested for any sign of emergent problems.

The RS is realtime system.

 

I would get rid of the consumer grade EF lens stuck on the front and go for an L-series lens, which is better matched for speed and focus precision metrics with the pro bodies.

 

My EOS 1N is still in service; bought in 2004 for what was then a king's ransom, then added to with the best of the L-series primes and TS-E lenses.

[John Seaman]

Oh right, RS = Realtime System. Thanks for that.

 

My RS looks little used, and I doubt I will use it much, so hopefully the shutter will survive.

 

Actually the 28-80 lens is the very first and much superior version which like the 50mm Mark 1 had a metal mount and distance scale. It's true ring USM, too, with FTM focusing. I've also got a 70-210 in the same style.