My very long (and expensive) journey into film photography started out with the iconic Canon AE-1 Program and a 55mm f/1.2 SSC lens which my mom helped me buy from Midwest Photo Exchange in Columbus OH. It was a good camera to start out with, but I quickly outgrew the basic features of the AE-1 Program. I eventually upgraded to a Canon A1, which added some nice features like a multiple exposure override lever and a digital meter readout. But even that wasn’t enough, and I landed on the Canon F1n. Having invested in the 24mm f/2.8 SSC, 55mm f/1.2 SSC, and 100mm f/2.8 SSC, it made sense to upgrade bodies rather than jump lens platforms and mount. First available in 1981 as Canon’s top of the line film camera, the F1n was the last in a confusingly named line of FD mount profession 35mm SLRs. The F1 series was released in the following order: F1, F1n, New F1 (or the F1n latest version).
Tech Specs
One of the things which really stuck out to me about the F1n was just how satisfying it feels to hold. It’s a heavy SLR, and I personally find the weight reassuring. There’s barely and plastic on the F1n. It has some handy features common to top-of-the-line SLRs of the era like Nikon’s F series: interchangeable focusing screens and viewfinders, a fast maximum shutter speed of 1/2000 sec, and an optional AE winder/grip. The type of metering the camera performs is dependent on the focusing screen you use: A for average metering (matrix), P for partial (center weighted), and S for spot metering. I personally use a PL screen with center weighted metering and a cross split focusing aid. I find A screens to be unreliable and S screens to be too time consuming to use. The camera features match-needle metering where you change the aperture/shutter speed to determine the correct exposure. I prefer this over the meter of the AE-1 Program or A-1 because you know just how slightly over/under exposed your shot it compared to the meter readout. Note that you’ll need the AE Finder FN for aperture priority shooting and an AE Power Winder for shutter priority shooting. Many folks who choose film as a medium do so for a more manual experience, so these accessories are totally optional.
The Verdict
If you are invested in Canon FD lenses and want the best (but not the most recent) FD mount camera you can get, the F1n is for you. However, I think 95% of people would be fine with an A-1 instead. It’s less money than the F1n and has all the features you’d need in an SLR, unless you want interchangeable viewfinders and focusing screens. An annoying quirk of the F1n is you can override the film advance to make a multiple exposure, but it still advances the film counter. You can only take so many so many multiple exposures before the film counter runs out – a problem the A-1 doesn’t have. The A1 is also a lighter camera. Otherwise, the F1n is a technically excellent camera.
While I did appreciate the vertical grip aspect of the AE winder, I often left it off the camera because it adds a lot of weight to the whole package with 4x AA batteries. Photographers today who shoot film are using the medium because of the unique look it provides, the complexity, and the greater perception of involvement the photographer has in the final product. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a photographer who’s shooting film in a sports or action setting, which negates the main benefit the AE winder provides: 4 FPS continuous shooting. That’s another reason I often left the AE winder at home: I missed throwing the film advance lever after every shot, which gives a satisfying thunk after every shot.
The real drawback to the F1n, which I can’t fault the camera for, is the FD mount itself. I ultimately sold my AE-1 Program, A-1, F1n, and all my FD lenses because I just couldn’t stand the breech-lock system anymore. The lock collar needs to be in a very specific position to take the lens on and off the cameras, and the rear lens caps are a pain to deal with compared to my Nikon F mount lenses. I recently combined my 35mm and digital platforms together with my recent purchase of a Nikon F100 and D810. I hope you found this helpful and feel free to send me any questions you might have here!