Canon F-1 from 1976

April 2, 2026April 2, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Happy to say that my most recent F-1 purchase from Japan did not disappoint. It’s hard to imagine a camera from January 1976 can still be this nice.

I see these early F-1s as little bits of Canon art – few cameras can match the design, elegance, and toughness of these gems.

The Canon patch was included with a bunch of early 1970s Canon brochures. I believe it was made at the same time the F-1 was released.

My 1978 limited edition Canon F-1 in OD paint. Only 3,000 (or fewer) were made and only for the Japanese domestic market.

I believe the seller undervalued his camera by quite a bit. He did describe it as *Top Mint*, which is accurate. It’s unfortunate that more sellers don’t realize that when you call a camera mint, this is it.

It’s one of the best 35mm SLR cameras ever made.

Brochure from the late 1970, just before the F-1’s March 1971 release.

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Comments are always welcome; I’ve learned a great deal from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by. While there, visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios, hosted on Etsy). – Chris Whelan

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris. Copyright © 2015-2026 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

wordless wednesday

April 1, 2026April 1, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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Wow, what a rare Canon!

March 31, 2026March 31, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I never knew this existed.
The Canon EF in a commemorative edition for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. It was never offered for sale, and only a few were built for Canon’s own use. Photo: Joseph DeLora.

Previously unknown Montreal 1976 EF camera.

The F-1 Montreal 1976 was Canon’s first Olympic Games special-edition camera.

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Happy SUNday! – more cameras

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

As I continue to reduce my camera collection, I’ve added these two gems to my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com.

The original Nikon F 35mm SLR film camera was introduced in 1959. Here is my 1969 model.

Introduced in 1971, this is a mid-1973 model of the Canon F-1 35mm SLR film camera.

You can’t ask for a better camera in the Nikon line.

Canon’s top-of-the-line camera for a decade.

Off subject, here is a beautiful picture that a dear friend took along the north coast of Long Island.

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Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

wordless wednesday

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

The Canon ‘Eagle’ – it’s likely a Phoenix

March 24, 2026March 24, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Could the Canon ‘eagle’ be a phoenix?

I’ve always viewed the Canon Seiki logo of the mid to late 1930s as a phoenix rather than any other bird. To me, the feathers on the rear of the head do not suggest an eagle or a vulture. The phoenix is almost always depicted with its wings outstretched.

I showed my wife the SEIKI logo and told her it was for a Japanese camera from the mid-to-late 1930s. She identified it immediately as a phoenix. When I mentioned that some see it as an eagle or vulture, she reminded me of how important a phoenix is in ancient Japanese culture.

The feathers on the rear of its head, which are a prominent feature of the logo and of a phoenix, whereas vultures are generally identified by a ‘bald’ head.

*A common trait of vultures found in Asia (Old World vultures) is their reliance on exceptional eyesight to spot carrion from high altitudes. They also have bare or lightly feathered heads to keep clean while feeding on carcasses.

If I were picking a logo for a new camera company in Japan in the 1930s, I would seriously consider the phoenix.

*In ancient Japanese culture, the phoenix—known as the Ho-o or Hoo—is considered the most sacred bird, symbolizing the imperial family, fire, the sun, and the virtues of faith, duty, and mercy. Often paired with the dragon (representing the emperor) to symbolize marital bliss and harmony, the Ho-o is a powerful emblem of longevity, rebirth, and political authority.

What do you see? An eagle, a vulture, a phoenix, or something else? Canon never acknowledged what it was.

Many thanks to my good friend Paul Sokk for providing some of his images. You can visit his wonderful site at https://leica-copies-japan.com/Canon.html#canonstory

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Anniversary dinner. Nothing fancy, just good (like us).

March 23, 2026March 23, 2026Chris and Carol 2 Comments

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Happy SUNday! – Rare Canon A-1

March 22, 2026March 22, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

From what I understand, Canon Japan may have authorized a third party to produce this limited-edition A-1 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Japan Camera Show in 1979. Other similar special editions were also made for Pentax and Minolta, and possibly others, although no concrete evidence exists.

Only 20 were produced and were only available in Japan at the show.

Its design was typical of many of the best-known Japanese camera manufacturers at that time. Canon, Contax, Nikon, and Yashica all produced similar commemorative editions featuring lizard-skin finishes and unique badges.