Bill Smith's Photography

  I'm really happy with what I got out of my last rolls of expired in 2009 Kodak Max 400, using the Canon New F-1, on this week sealed my decision it will be the platform of choice for this fall's photographic retreat in Northern Muskoka (Fingers Crossed).  Camera: Canon New F-1, FDn 50 f14 lens.  Film: Kodak Max 400, expired in 2009 and freezer stored. 

  The Canon New F-1 was the other 1980s Pro camera body, produced from 1981 to some time in the early 1990s (nobody really knows for sure when Canon stopped making them). It was pro body designed to go toe to toe with the Nikon F3HP.  Using the New F-1 recently with a period correct FDn lens kit (50 f1.4, 28 F2.8 and 85 F1.8 lenses), it was a reasonable carry kit, the body itself is built like a truck. Unlike the Nikon F3HP which was electroncially controlled save for 1/80 of a second, the New F-1 had a hybrid shutter than ran off batteries from 1/60th and below and all the speeds above were electronic. I also love Canon's meter read out, the F3 began Nikon's love affair with LCD meter readouts which as time has progressed shown to be quite delicate.  The only knock against the New F-1 if you want apeture priority, you need both the AE prism head and the motor drive, that and using 4SR44 batteries which aren't as plentiful as Energizer 357's but you just buy in bulk ahe...

 I dragged my friend Nicole up for a quick hike a few weeks ago, the sun was out and it was gorgeous and she needed a break from her studies. The day was prefect, I mean not a cloud in the sky which can be difficult for a photographer, so don't make the sky the focus, it was a really nice late fall day. I know we'll return at some point, when exactly, probably next year.  I chose  to run with my eye level prism Canon New F-1 with an FDn lens assortment to keep the weight down a bit. the older breach lock lenses are much heavier. The film was freezer stored expired in 2009 Kodak Max 400. On seeing the scan results, I'm rethinking my NLP Billie Bear kit, again, just take my two Canon New F-1's one for colour the other for black and white and rock by and large an FDn lens kit to save weight. I do have that 100-300 F5.6 L series zoom lens for telephoto work.  Camera: Canon New F-1, FDn lenses.  Film: Kodak Max 400, expired in 2009 and freezer stored.  ...