The viewfinder attached to New F-1 in the figure above is "AE finder FN".

The greatest of the heavy-metal FD's

1981

It was right after ten years from the birth of "F-1" which Canon declared to be remained unchanged that a successor to the F-1 came on the market. The New F-1 employed electronical & optical technologies cultivated through ten years of time, and became the flagship model with many functions and automatic operation for a new age. As a result that the camera was electronically controlled, it realized high-level system AE. And yet, the camera's basic controls were followed from the F-1 so the F-1 users could easily manage it with little difficulty.
Like most professional 35mm cameras of the 1970s and 80s, the F-1 had interchangeable viewfinders. To remove the viewfinder, one depressed the two small buttons at the rear sides of the finder, and slid the finder toward the back of the camera. Originally, a viewfinder's sole function was to provide a means for picture composition and focusing. With manual focus SLR camera development Paramount's during the late seventies and early eighties, however, some manufacturers came out with more creative usage with this feature. This camera shipped with a standard pentaprism finder, called an "eye level finder" by Canon. My collection have the AE Finder FN. If you find you need to frequently switch modes in your work, then this is the finder for you. Used alone, the AE Finder FN gives aperture-priority AE, plus manual override. Install either power drive, however, and you have shutter-priority AE, as well. With other SLRs, it is easy to forget which mode you are in if you switch modes repeatedly. The AE Finder FN reminds you of the current mode by shifting the exposure read-out from the right to directly beneath the image. A window provides a direct reading of the aperture setting on the lens (New FD lenses only), next to the shutter speed scale. In manual or shutter-priority AE mode, the display remains on the right.

First introduced in Sep. 1981.
Camera type : 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera
Picture size : 24 x 36mm
Standard lens : Canon FD f1.2/50mm
Lens mount : FD mount
Viewfinder : Interchangeable Eye-Level Pentaprism Finder
Finder magnification : 0.8x (Eye-Level Pentaprism Finder)
Finder coverage : 97%
Focusing screen : New split prism rangefinder in the center encircled by laser matte screen with microprism rangefinder
32 (13 types) interchangeable focusing screens for three metering patterns.
Metering indicator, exposure match needle, shutter speed display, aperture display, stopped-down metering needle, and various warnings provided.
Metering : TTL full aperture match needle manual metering (SPC employed)
AE Finder FN and AE Motor Drive FN provide shutter speed-priority AE.
Light reading : selectable out of Spot light reading at center (3%), partial light reading at center (12%), center-weighted light reading
Exposure compensation : from -2 to +2 EV
Metering range : EV 1 - 18 (ISO 100, f1.4)
Film speed range : ISO 6 - 6400
Shutter : four-axis horizontal-run focal-plane shutter with metal curtain
Shutter speeds : Hybrid shutter -

Mechanical shutter : B, X (1/90 sec.), 1/125 - 1/2000 sec.
Electronic shutter : 8 - 1/90 sec.

Built-in self-timer with adjustable timer and beeper, Multiple-exposure enabled
Flash sync contact : X-sync with German socket with locking pin, hot shoe
Film loading : Camera back with safety latch, slotted take-up spool
Film advance : Film wind lever - 139 deg. stroke, play at 30 deg., ratcheted winding enabled.
Frame counter : automatic resetting forward counting type
Film rewind : collapsible rewind crank
Power source : 2CR-1/3N lithium 6V battery x 1 or 4LR44 alkaline battery x 1
Body dimensions : 146.7 x 96.6 x 48.3 mm
Body weight : approx. 795 g

The New F-1 was officially introduced in March and only started marketing in September, 1981. Its introduction had long been awaited by the industry as the successor to the Canon's earlier successful entry into the professional arena with the original Canon F-1 - Canon's top of-the-line 35mm camera during the 70's and the model that gained a initial foothold for Canon into demanding professional users' market.

The decade long intense research and development along with careful image building planning, they also actively sought the opinions of professional photographers of all persuasions to accumulate useful input for consideration during the conceptual, designing stage. This legacy of experience and insight into the special requirements of the professional proved invaluable in developing a camera for upgrade: the New F-1.

Undoubtedly, the professional photographic world had a serious contender and a new option to look at other than the Nikon now - which had its clear supremacy before the arrival of the New F-1, despite the original F-1's courageous attempt earlier with the F-1. In many ways, the New F-1 was aimed to better off than its "virtual" rival, the Nikon F3. It is the only professional camera available during the eighties that has shutter priority automation capability Canon has thus established and held a strong hold in the sports, wildlife and action packed market. The pool for serious users was also expanding in a very rapid pace, after realizing what the New F-1 system has to offer.

Thus, after a generation from the original F-1, Canon System finally gained its status and had the endorsement of users around the globe as a truly professional photographic system, of which, much has to thank for with this awesome camera and its system accessories.

Download User Manual (.doc) - .zip

Main Body.jpg (34k) Check if PDF is more practical..

Back View.jpg

Marketed	September 1981
Original Price	With standard Eye-Level Finder FN: 201,000 yen (w/FD 50mm f/1.2) ( 181,000 yen (w/FD 50mm f/1.4) 149,000 yen (body) $1,250.00 US$ in 1981
Instead of being a next-generation successor to the F-1, this camera was called the "New F-1," and not the "F-2." With the first F-1 in 1971, Canon promised that the camera would remain unchanged for 10 years. This promise was fulfilled. During those ten years, there were remarkable advances in electronics, precision manufacturing, and optics. The successor to the top-of-the-line F-1 had to incorporate the best electronic technology for better automation, versatility, and specifications. For metering flexibility, the New F-1 uses interchangeable focusing screens to change the metering pattern with a segmented metering element. For automation, system AE is incorporated for optimum operation. The camera's basic controls are also the same as the old F-1 so F-1 users can easily adapt to the New F-1.