I’m Switching to the Canon F-1
Image taken by Kevin Thayer.
A few weeks ago, I stopped in at our local camera store (Cameraworks) where I noticed one of my favorite cameras was on sale for $150 dollars. A knowledgeable shooter would recognize the Canon F-1 and know that one in this condition can be listed for up to $400. I was told the metering was basically useless in this camera, but I am already used to self metering using the myLightMeter Pro app on my phone. (It’s pretty accurate and only costs $4).
$150 later I was the proud new owner of a Canon F-1 and off to the races. (Little Formula One joke for ya.) Kevin and I decided to head out for the day and test some new ideas. His Canon EOS-R’s Atomos Ninja capabilities, and my new Canon F-1. We headed up Cheyenne Mountain via Old Stage Road and then over to Garden of the Gods. The following shots are on a fresh roll of Kodak ColorPlus 200.
The results out of scanning were not completely up to my standard. The blacks were crushed. I did not get the usual vibrancy I am used to with ColorPlus and I believe all around the camera was shooting a little bit dark. Which is expected on a used F-1. After some retouching in Lightroom, I landed on these shots being my favorite.
All in all, I do love the F-1 paired with a 50mm. I love the look of the removed prism (Which is totally a TikToker type take.) The metering was not THAT far off. So, with some minor adjusting in the future, I think it will be perfect.
Garden of the Gods is a GREAT spot to test cameras. It’s one of the most popular spots for tourists, so there’s plenty of subject matter. With how large the rock formations are, their long shadows are perfect for assessing dynamic range. If you’re interested to see the capabilities of an EOS R paired with the Atomos Ninja V, Kevin’s final product from the day can be seen here.
Let us know what you think about these findings. And your opinion on the results!
-Jarrell
