Unique Canon F-1

April 9, 2026April 9, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

A Canon New F-1 (1981 onward) made for the Canadian military.

Its unique outer shell provided protection and a better grip.

I don’t know much about this camera set. Not sure about the red leatherette either. This may be an aftermarket kit and not made by Canon.

For more, here is a link to the seller’s listing. https://www.ebay.com/itm/317595123655

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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.

Early Canon F-1

April 8, 2026April 8, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My early F-1, July 1971, with a matching July 1971 50mm f1.4 lens and a November 1971 instruction book (PUB. NO. 5366G). These very early books are almost harder to find than the cameras.
What’s interesting about this camera is that the serial number is less than 3,000, but the date stamp inside reads L712C, indicating July 1971. I have an August 1971 camera, and its SN is just shy of 20,000. My guess is that, for whatever reason, this body sat around long after its serial number was issued. The ‘C’ after the date stamp may tell the story that we’ll never know.

If you’re a Canon F-1 fan and a collector, you can’t go wrong with these first edition F-1s.

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New arrivals in my camera shop this week.

April 3, 2026April 3, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Hi all! Lots of new items in my Etsy Camera Shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com.

I have hundreds (maybe thousands) of neat items in my extensive collection. Contact me if there’s something you’re looking for. I may have it!

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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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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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In my camera shop this week (on sale).

March 13, 2026March 15, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’ve run my camera shop on Etsy for just shy of 10 years. Hundreds of happy customers and clients. Here is a sampling of what I have this week.

Visit http://www.ccstudio2380.com

The Nikon F2A set is exceptionally nice and complete. It even features a Nikon motor drive!

The Canon New F-1 is a limited edition 1984 LA Olympics set.

Sales brochures. I have hundreds of brochures and instruction books.

I ship nearly worldwide. Please reach out if there’s something specific you are looking for – I likely have it! Here are two of the best 35mm SLRs from the late 1970s and early 1980s (see below).

(Sold) The 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Special Edition Canon F-1.

The Canon F-1 LA Olympic set was just sold from my Etsy Camera Shop – thank you!

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Canon P*rn…

February 27, 2026February 27, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

They could have crossed paths in the past. The F-1 is from August 1971, and the lens’s SN (36594) could have been a late-in-the-run model. Anyway, I have them displayed together ATM.

The <E.P> marks indicate that they were purchased at a U.S. military exchange, likely in Japan.

Canon FL 28mm f3.5 lens with its correct Canon lens hood.

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When it all comes together.

February 8, 2026February 8, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My early Canon F-1 set.

Part of the fun of collecting is when all of the bits come together. My Canon F-1 is from 1971, the first year of the F-1 (released in March). The lens is from late 1972 and is affectionally known as a chrome nose (for obvious reasons). The chrome filter is from 1963, but it would have still been the appropriate filter for this later lens. The lens hood is an all-metal model designed for this lens. Even the rear lens cap is correct.

It’s a beautiful lens that Canon described as a super-wide-angle lens back in the day.

Top view with the correct front lens cap.

The beauty of collecting these early Canon F-1s is that they are still very affordable and still plentiful. Because of their popularity, they are easy to have professionally repaired and adjusted by qualified technicians at a reasonable price.

The early F-1. Serial numbers start at 100001, so my F-1 was number 2,597 and was assembled in July 1971.

1971 price list. It wasn’t an inexpensive camera.

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Canon Chrome Nose 28/3.5 Lens

January 23, 2026January 23, 2026Chris and Carol Leave a comment

An early Canon wide-angle lens with its desirable chrome nose.

I enjoy collecting these lenses. They are from the very earliest days of the Canon F-1, and they have a heft to them that’s very reassuring. Lots of brass and glass. The lens weighs 290 grams.