U.S. Navy Canon F-1

December 27, 2025December 27, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Chasing Classic Cameras
After years of searching, I found a U.S. Navy-engraved Canon F-1 (later model, commonly known as the F-1n).
As a bonus, it’s also one of the latest I’ve found in the 10-year run of the original F-1, and obviously, it’s the latest in my collection. This one was assembled in September 1981, which may be the last month of production (I’m still looking, since no exact date has been verified).
Many thanks to a Canon friend who spotted it.

It’s been used but escaped the worst the Navy could have thrown at it.

It started with serial number 100001 (supposedly) and ended in the high six-hundred-thousands. The date code on this one is V918. I haven’t found any F-1s within the 4xxxxx range.

Early and late by ten years. On the left, my earliest F-1, and on the right, my latest one.

This isn’t my image, and I’m not sure of its origin. If it’s a real camera, then this would be the first known serial number.

This is the date code that’s stamped inside my early F-1. The ‘L’ indicates 1971, and the ‘7’ is July. The ’12C’ is an internal code used by Canon, and its meaning is unknown.

My Canon New F-1 (the follow-on model to the original F-1, introduced in 1981) is pictured with my U.S. Navy-engraved FD 400mm f/4.5 lens, which is a bit newer (November 1985).

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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 © 2015-2025 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

A very early Canon F-1.

December 23, 2025December 23, 2025Chris 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.

Almost as new as the day it rolled off the line.

The first F-1s began at 100001. This one should have been assembled in December 1970 or January 1971, based on the low serial number. The F-1 was released in March 1971.

The baseplate is in excellent condition for such an old F-1.

Canon stamps what is believed to be a factory date code inside the film chamber of every camera made. This code indicates that it was assembled in 1971 (L), July (7). The following two numbers are an internal code, as is the ‘C’ – lost in time as to their meaning.

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A special place for Canons, www.ccstudio2380.com

December 21, 2025December 21, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My well-used but super-clean Canon New F-1 (F-1N) limited-edition Los Angeles 1984 camera set.

The LA Olympics F-1 is a favorite with collectors. Most ended up either being gently used or put on display. Fewer than 9,500 were made. My F-1 was obviously a busy camera throughout its life. It was assembled in November 1983, and the lens in October. Most of these were made with the AE finder, which makes mine a bit more unusual because it has an eye-level finder. Everything works as designed.

Canon New FD 135mm f3.5 short telephoto lens set. The 135 is a popular lens for portraits, sporting events, and wildlife photography.

It’s no secret that I love super-wide-angle lenses, the wider the better. I’ve used the 17mm and the 24mm; the 20mm is a nice compromise between those two.

Who doesn’t love a still-mint-condition instruction booklet?

Remembering a sharp camera from the late 1970s. My last cine camera before I got my first video camera.

As I continue to downsize my collection, these special Canons are now available in my Etsy camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com.

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Early Nikon F and Nikon S4

October 30, 2025October 30, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

From well-known Australian photographer and camera collector Bruce Thomas, used by permission.
Both cameras are marked with a ‘T’ on their rewind knobs, indicating Nikon’s approach to identifying tax-exempt or duty-free cameras sold in Japan in the early 1960s. Not to be confused with the more common ‘EP’ mark, which appeared across all camera brands in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and even a few from Canon in the early 1980s.

Nikon S4 top and Nikon F below. The ‘T’ mark appeared in 1960 on some Nikon cameras sold in Japan and possibly in Hong Kong, though there hasn’t been hard evidence yet.

The Nikon F was developed from the Nikon SP rangefinder camera from 1957. It’s easy to spot the similarities between the S4 and F. Finding a mint condition SP today is quite expensive, but there are “plenty” on online auction sites.

A translated Japanese document from Nikon.

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wordless wednesday

October 22, 2025October 22, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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Superstars of the 1970s (and beyond)

October 20, 2025October 20, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

These two from the mid-1970s are not often seen together. The RTS was released in 1975, and I purchased this F-1 in 1978. I considered buying the RTS instead of the F-1, but the representative from Canon at the Navy Exchange store in Yokohama convinced me the F-1 was better, and at the time, a bit less expensive than the Contax. Many years later, I was able to get the RTS, and I added the PMD W-6 as a bonus. The Canon handles better due to its larger rubberized grip, but the RTS is a bit more sporty (designed by Porsche). I use them both. The Contax can eat through film at 5 fps vs. the Canon’s 3.5 fps.

The Canon’s drive is much larger, but the Contax is faster.

Designed to excel in sports and unmanned photography.

I find the large rubberized grip on the Canon to be easy to hold, and the extra-wide base kept the camera stable on a table.

The Contax is super slick; the drive almost disappears into the camera’s body. Conversely, the smaller footprint means the camera is not as stable on a table.

The grip on the Canon is removable, which opens up additional possibilities and accessories..

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1959 Nikon F Blueprint

October 20, 2025October 20, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

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Happy SUNday! – Nikon F

October 12, 2025October 12, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Classic Nikon. This is the last Nikon F in my collection. I enjoy using and collecting the early Nippon Kogaku logo bodies and, of course, a Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f1.4 lens. The camera was built in mid to late 1964. The lens is from 1965. I like it when it all comes together.