Canon F-1 35mm SLR

The Canon New F-1 is one of those cameras that reminds you why shooting film can be so enjoyable.

Introduced in 1981 as Canon's professional 35mm SLR, it was built for photographers who wanted a reliable, adaptable camera with complete control over their photographs.

And more than forty years later, there's still plenty to appreciate.

The solid metal body has a reassuring weight, the manual controls feel wonderfully mechanical, and the optical viewfinder keeps you connected to what's happening in front of the lens.

There's no screen to check after every photograph. Instead, you choose your settings, focus your subject and trust the process.

The New F-1 offers manual exposure control, a built-in light meter and compatibility with Canon's extensive range of FD lenses. Its interchangeable viewfinder system also makes it an interesting camera for photographers who enjoy experimenting with different shooting setups.

It's equally at home photographing everyday life, portraits, travel or street scenes.

Available in two options:

Body Only: Ideal if you already have Canon FD lenses or would prefer to choose your own.

With Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 Lens: A versatile setup with a classic standard lens that's particularly lovely for portraits, everyday photography and experimenting with shallow depth of field.

These are vintage cameras, so cosmetic wear and signs of previous use are to be expected. Please refer to the photographs of your selected variant to assess its condition and what's included.

Whether you're adding to a collection or looking for a traditional 35mm SLR to take out and shoot, the Canon New F-1 is a lovely piece of photographic history that's still very much about making photographs.

Best for

Film photography enthusiasts, street photography, portraits, travel, everyday photography, experienced manual shooters and collectors of classic Canon cameras.

What to expect

The Canon New F-1 is a manual-focus 35mm SLR, designed for photographers who enjoy controlling their settings.

Its built-in light meter helps guide exposure, while the interchangeable Canon FD lens system gives you plenty of flexibility.

The camera uses a combination of mechanical and electronic shutter operation, so a compatible battery is required for metering and certain shutter speeds.

If you choose the Body Only variant, you'll need a compatible Canon FD lens before you can start photographing.

The 50mm f/1.4 Lens variant offers a ready-to-shoot lens combination, subject to film, battery and operational condition.

Developing

The Canon New F-1 uses standard 35mm film.

You can shoot colour negative, black and white or slide film depending on the results you're after.

Once you've finished a roll, rewind it into its cassette and have it developed using the appropriate process.

Colour negative film generally uses C-41 processing, while black and white and slide film require their respective processes.