Produced in Japan from April 1976 to 1984, this is still a highly collectable camera. Has a cloth focal plane shutter that is electronically controlled. This cloth shutter limits the max shutter speed. It wasn't until Canon introduced the T-50 with its vertically travelling metal blade shutter that flash sync speeds increased.
The Canon AE-1  it was the first microprocessor CPU-equipped SLR. :-) is has a shutter speeds 2 s to 1/1000 s. This was an amateur level camera.




In 1971, the first of the new FD mounted cameras was introduced. The professional level F-1. It was avaliable from  March 1971 until 1976 when they did a mid update to the F1-n. With the motor drive the camera is able to shoot up to 9 frame per second. Still the highest speed of any motor driven camera at the time and most digital cameras today. Of course this needs 20 AA batteries ACK!!!!There was a NiCad version but.. they are still over $150 on ebay. There was a 1976 Olympics version but the only thing that is different is the olympic symbol.
I have put the F-1n differences from Wikipedia on a previous post.

In 1981, there was a NEW F-1 produced. My Naval camera is one such camera. THis was also in my previous post.

The Canon FT QL. My body has Code is O so  1974. This camera was intended to be used by the advanced amateur photographer, with many of the same features and same build quality as the F-1.

The AT-1 is a pared down AE-1. It was produced purely for export and never sold in Japan. It was produced in 1976. This camera has no shutter priority auto-exposure mode that the AE-1 has.

F-1

Canon F-1 The professional workhorse of the 1970s for canon.

The first F-1 was released in March of 1971 and was updated in 1976 to the f-1n. There are very few obvious clues as to the differences at first glance. The main one is the F-1n has a film reminder holder.
Wikipedia has a list of all the changes.

"In 1976, the camera was revised slightly. This revised version is sometimes called the F-1n (not to be confused with the 1981 New F-1). All told 13 improvements were made. These changes were:

1.Change the standard focusing screen from the A style (microprism only) to E style (split image with microprism ring).
2.Widen the film advance lever offset from 15 degrees to 30 degrees.
3.Decrease the winding stroke from 180 degrees to 139 degrees.
4.Increase the maximum ASA from 2000 to 3200.
5.Added a plastic tip to the advance lever.
6.Changed the mirror to transmit more blue light, thus making the image brighter.
7.Added a detent to the rewind crank to allow it to stay put when pulled out.
8.Added the capability to take a screw-in type PC sync socket.
9.Spring load the battery check position of the power switch.
10.Increase the size of the shutter release cup.
11.Added a soft rubber ring around the eyepiece.
12.Added a film reminder holder to the camera back.
13.Simplify multiple exposure procedure.
"

I highlighted the easiest means of seeing which is which.

The NEW F-1 was from 1981 and continued to around 1992 although it was in the catalogue until 1994. This camera looks the same as the F-1n and reall very hard to tell the different, the easiest way for me, is to open the back and see the manufacture date.

I managed to get one of each although my F-1n is needing parts like a prism and a base plate. It works fine and I did manage to find a B type prism.

Been reasonably quiet

Real life getting in the way. Unlike most of the population, I don not have holidays coming up of the holiday season and work has been a nightmare that I just can't seem to escape.

Still in between shifts I managed to get to Camberra to take photos of President Obama as Airforce 1 Arrived and his motorcade. I didn't get to Temora, work, although gave me leave to go, rostered me for a late shift on friday and so I didn't have time to drive down. :-(

I did see the Sculpture by the sea and spent a Day with David in the city where I had a A-1 fail and we had to find a new battery. RATS. SO here is a pictorial summary of these past weeks. SOme digital and some film. (The stains are from the uneven development in daylight tank. Was showing Fabian how to make photos develop and didn;t use my normal Patterson tank. D'oh!)

where I spend over 110hours in 14days every f/night

Airforace 1 Arrives in Canberra

Airforce 1 in Canberra

Picton Fire House

Tiny Helicopter

Run Away

Canon 7D Version of Airforce 1

Woosang Farm Nikon FE2 ProImage Film

Woosang Farm Nikon FE2 ProImage Film

Woosang Farm Nikon FE2 ProImage Film

Woosang Farm Nikon FE2 ProImage Film

Woosang Farm Nikon FE2 ProImage Film

Kodak Telemax Point & Shoot Lomography Lady Grey Film

Tmax 3200 Fun with GRAIN

Nothing compares to film grain. You do not get the same result with a digital simlation
Enjoy! All taken with Canon A-1, I developed the film myself but had to get a professional scann as my scanner doesnt like b&w :-(

Been comparing

I have had the opportunity to use a Nikon for the first time in my life. My friends know that I am a Canon girl but only by default as my husband was the dedicated Canon guy with an existing system so I inherited his cast offs.. hence I use Canon.

ANYWAY I received a broken Nikon FE2 film camera. The Mirror would not return to its position after a shot, the shutter wouldn't open at all at any speed except bulb, so I got it very cheap with a nikon 50mm lens (YAY). I took this camera and the defective Rollei 35 to the camera doctor. I had to pick up the AE-1Program anyway.

Fabian was happy to get his AE-1P back but stuck with my A-1 huh. fickle kids.. So I had the guy look at the Nikon. He laughed, put in two batteries and handed it back with a $10 bill. WHAT!! I got a nikon for next to nothing due to the lack of batteries. THAT is so cool!! The Rollei, on the other hand has stripped winder gears, so you can test it and all works well, but as soon as you put a film in it, it will not roll on the film. ARRGHHH Lets hope its cheaper than the AE-1P repair. That camera needed a new AE unit. UGH.

So the Nikon was now my camera for the weekend as Fabian was not giving up the canon..
As we wanted to go home with David, Fabian and I wandered around Hyde Park shooting in Black and White. We both had a good time and we headed home happily.
I was surprised at the Nikon, I found it almost impossible to get the Film door open, I had to download the manual to even find this out, It doesnt have exposure lock that the canon had and so I left it in Aperture priority mode for the weekend. I nearly switched to my canon. BUT that would be giving up..

I spend the weekend with the Nikon. It grew on me and I was amazed I got the results I did, considering I was not used to this camera.

Would I convert?? No. Will I sell the Nikon?? Not yet, I want to play with it more. Will it be a daily camera like the canon?? No. The canon is chunkier and makes a more satisfying click, I can buy a canon FD/FL lend for under $20 and this makes it perfect for children learning photography. There are many many bodies under $50 there are more modes so the learner can go from Full Auto to full manual step by step just like digital. The Nikon cannot do that.
Nikon says its lens are backwards compatible, but modern lens do not work on the film bodies. People pay a premium to get a nikon lens only to find they dont work as advertised. Try to find a working nikon lens for under $50..

Was fun :-) And I am glad I have a nikon, I can say I have tried the dark side...