A true first for Canon Camera Company – 1959

September 6, 2025September 6, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Canon Canonflex

Canon’s first 35mm SLR. This one is likely from late 1959 as the serial number is just below 6,000. If you have a chance to get your hands on one, you’ll see straight away that the build quality is top-notch. This one is in mint condition and, except for the slowest speeds, operates like new. The Canon Super-Canomatic R 50mm f/1.8 lens is crystal clear. It’s also an <E.P> marked body. It shares lots of DNA with my early F-1 from August 1971, which is also <E.P> marked.

Canon’s first 35mm SLR. Released in May 1959.

Although modern and advanced for 1959, it didn’t catch on. Sales were reported as being disappointing. It’s reported that just shy of 18,000 were sold.

My camera’s serial number indicates it was number 5,998 in the first production run. The prism is removable, just like the 1971 Canon F-1.

The film advance lever was mounted on the bottom. Unusual but not unheard of for the period. The <E.P> mark was somewhat common in the 1950s, especially on Canon’s rangefinder cameras.

It looks just like any modern Canon film camera through the 1980s.

A snip from the instruction book from January 1960.

It’s claimed that you could shoot and advance up to 3 frames per second!

Shared DNA. The Canonflex on the left and my Canon F-1 (1971) on the right.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

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.

Canon F-1 Family

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

My original Canon F-1 from 1978 is on the upper left (with the motor drive)—the Canon O.D. F-1 is my most recent acquisition.

With their original instruction booklets.

With an early Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 chrome nose lens.

OD F-1. A limited edition olive drab version from early 1978.

My earliest model. The serial number indicates that this camera was in the first 20,000 built in 1971. It also has the <E.P> mark.

It’s one of my favorite 35mm SLRs in my collection.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Happy SUNday!

February 23, 2025February 23, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Out and about with my Canon New F-1 and Canon NFD 24 f/2.8 lens.

Wadsworth’s on Centre Street, downtown Fernandina Beach Historic District.

Pirate Pete standing guard outside the Palace Saloon (Florida’s oldest).

Unfinished renovation of the former Marina restaurant at the west end of Centre Street.

Fujifilm 200 color negative film. Processed and scanned by The Darkroom in San Clemente, California. I enjoy using my classic Canon FD lenses. The contrast and clarity always leave me satisfied with the results.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Comments are always welcomed, as I’ve learned quite a bit from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by, and while you’re at it, feel free to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios hosted by Etsy). – Chris Whelan

Canon New F-1 and Fujifilm

February 18, 2025February 18, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Canon New F-1

Canon FD 24mm f/2.8 Lens

Fujifilm 200

Fernandina Beach Historic Post Office c1911.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Today’s Kit – Canon F-1

February 4, 2025February 4, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Today’s Kit
Canon New F-1 with NFD 24mm f/2.8 lens.
I love the ‘Canon Red’ braided strap.

As smooth as silk. The F-1 is a joy to use.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Monster Mash

January 25, 2025January 25, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Monster Mash

Choose or not. I use both.

The MF drive handles better for me. Its grip is so big that I feel confident toting it by my side.

Canon’s film eaters: The F-1 is on the left with the Motor Drive MF, and the Canon New F-1 is on the right with an AE Motor Drive FN. The grip on the New F-1 is slick, so it feels less secure in my hand. The most significant difference between these two is that the New F-1 is a shutter-priority AE camera, and with this motor drive, all one needs to do is focus. The original F-1 would need the rather large Servo EE Finder to achieve the same performance results.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Ready for an outing: Canon OD F-1

January 17, 2025January 17, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

My Canon OD F-1 is ready for another outing. I’m not sure yet which lens or lenses I’ll take along. I typically choose a wide-angle lens as it best suits the close quarters of my town’s historic district.

OD is for Canon’s limited edition Olive Drab camera, released in early 1978 and limited to less than 3,000 units, mainly for the Japanese domestic market. The strap is a recent addition. I purchased it from a seller on Etsy who makes these custom straps. It’s not an exact color match, but it’s close enough for me.

Here are a few images from an outing a couple of weeks ago.

The Palace Saloon on Centre Street, Fernandina Beach Historic District.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

twosday 2 fer

January 14, 2025January 14, 2025Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Yashica’s first rangefinder camera is on the left, and Yashica’s first SLR is on the right.

The Canon EF is a close cousin to the F-1. The EF was released in 1973, and the original F-1 in 1971. This OD F-1 (olive drab) is the only Canon F-1 in a color other than black.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

More Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok 1978

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Standing guard at Wat Phra Kaew.

Mid-December in Thailand. With Kodachrome 25 loaded in my Canon F-1.

Canon FD 24mm f/2.8 SSC wide angle lens.

A super wide-angle lens is the only way to capture the wonder that is this temple.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/ccphotographyai

Facebook CC Photography of Amelia

Flickr Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Photographing ‘Mickey’

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I was out and about in Sheung Shui, New Territories, near the Chinese border in January 1979. The dog never stopped watching me, and neither did the gentleman on the other side of the fence.
Photograph by my friend Jim with his Nikon F2. Me with my Canon F-1.

I believe this was a day school in Fanling, Sheung Shui. I can’t find this building today on Google Maps but, Lot 1584 shows up. I don’t see Police Station Road either.
Canon F-1 with FD 55 mm f/1.4 lens on Kodachrome.