The Canon EF - the only Canon FD body to sport a Copal Square shutter 

Cool story! And I’d agree that all the viewfinder info is a very nice touch. Glad you’ve put yours back to work!

Thanks for watching! And greetings to you, as well! Yes, the name “EF” is unfortunate. It’s absolutely hidden under thousands of EF lenses if you do an eBay search. It’s not a bad camera, though, it does not get much attention these days.

I do hope it will serve you well! A very fine camera!

Sticking with a brand through 3 different lens mounts definitely shows loyalty. Nikon believed that creating a new lens mount for AF would be a disaster. Maybe they were right. But I don’t think anyone could argue that the release of the EF mount was a bad idea for Canon. Maybe the new RF mount will eventually prove that out? We shall see. Thanks for watching!

Agreed, build-quality seems to be “different” in the A-series (with the exception of the A-1, I think). This EF is built quite sturdy and very much in line with the original F-1. I think this would be one you’d enjoy!

Thanks as always! To me, the EF is equally sturdy to the original F-1. And it has the weight to prove it. But it’s a good one to put on the list!

Thanks! Yes, this one’s a bit of sleeper as it was soon overshadowed by the AE-1. Better built than the A-series (with the exception of the A-1) and of course a bit heavier. But it does work well. Cheers!

All this is excellent advice, and I agree. A lot of times I can just start shooting without a plan and like you said - before I know it, the roll is done. I had a lot of “distractions” on this shoot and they all just sort of piled up to the point I almost just said “forget it”. And the heat has been unbearable. It makes doing anything outdoors a complete chore. And I always look like (and feel like) a drowned rat by the time I’m done with a shoot. I do like your method of mixing up the rolls and doing batches at a time. The surprise or wow factor has got to be pretty good with that.

@@vintagecameradigest Well the problem with it is the chemicals.. I have been using Cinestill kits.. There mono bath for black and white has been kinda ehhh .. I over dev the first two rolls so far with it.. And the color kits will do up 24 rolls I think.. The color C41 kit is not too bad.. I have had decent luck with it up to almost 30 rolls. So its worth the price. The problem I have is I do not shoot a ton.. Im lucky if I have a mix of around 20 to 30 rolls TOPS in an entire year.. So often the film sits in a dark box in there plastic canisters until I get 24+ rolls. What I would like to do is learn how to get one time use chems and mix small batches for one or two rolls at a time. I could then actually take a camera somewhere and shoot a couple of rolls and come home and the next day develop them and have no worries about the chemicals going bad over a few months time. Id like to ask you this.. If you do not mix the chemicals but yet open the bottle does the chemicals go bad anyway? Some people say they can keep unmixed chemicals for years.. Is this true and can you point me in a direction of where I could get some color C41 chemicals that can be mixed into very small one time use batches.. Thanks :).

My experience is the same as yours for C-41. I tried the CineStill kit, but unless I have a bunch of rolls saved up to do all at one time, it goes bad before I get my money’s worth. I really don’t know if there exists any 1-shot options for color processing. These kits seem to be about as efficient as it might get. Black & White is a completely different story, though. My go-to developer for many years has been D-76. I’ll keep the stock solution in a brown glass gallon container, and when I’m ready to dev, I’ll mix up a 1:1 dilution then discard when done. The other b&w chems - stop bath, fixer - can be reused. I keep stock fixer in a brown gallon jar, too. But pour out 1L into a separate container. I’ll use that smaller container for several processes before discarding it. Then refill from the gallon. If you’re looking for devs with incredible shelf lives, Rodinal and HC-110 are good choices. Mix up working solutions from the concentrates as you need, then toss. The concentrates will last a LONG time. I’ve heard stories of Rodinal users having the same bottle around for a decade. Obviously they need to shoot more :-))

Yes, that design was brilliant. I have no idea why they didn’t implement that on subsequent models. Seems a no-brainer.

The protruding shutter speed dial makes the camera so much more user friendly: it is, after all, the only dial you need to change when using the camera. It was a master stroke of design.

Indeed!

Thanks for watching! Isn’t that what we’re all after now? To get back to that youthful enthusiasm with photography? I know I am. Now go finish that roll 😁

I think I should probably “walk a camera” more often. Just to have it with me. I’d probably be surprised at what I might end up with. I think with this shoot I was forcing some totally arbitrary parameters on myself. I “needed” to do this, and I “needed” to get that, and so on. And the heat made the whole thing unbearable. So yes, I agree - sometimes it’s just fine to not photograph. Take a deep breath. Come back another time. Cheers!

I’m inclined to agree with you here. There’s just something about the A-1 that doesn’t “speak” to me. It’s an absolutely fine camera, but it will be one of the last ones I’ll actually reach for.

I tend to flip-flop back and forth between Ilford and Kodak - depending on what prices I feel like paying. I’m in an Ilford mood currently. I prefer Tri-X very slightly over HP5. But I’m glad we still have the choices. Cheers!

Yes, that’s the problem with me and my cameras. There are a few, though, that I’ve not had any issue letting go, not forming an attachment of any sort. But it’s not the norm, lol.

I did not mention that about the Silicon cell, even though I did read all about that in the manual. And so missed another item of interest. But yes, moving away from CdS was revolutionary.

You are correct in pointing out that glaring oversight. It’s definitely a missed opportunity. And it would make 100% sense to include that. Why it did not occur to me at all - I have no idea. Some weeks I’m on point. Others…not so much. But I appreciate the feedback. Cheers!

Nice! The EF is one camera I just don’t hear much about. Never have. But I’m glad I got the chance to use this one and get a feel for it.

You’re too kind. But I appreciate it! The design of that wheel had to surely inform - in some way - the control dial that showed up over a decade later on the T90. It proved that sort of control was useful? I suppose? But then they didn’t seem to leverage it at the time. The ridged edge of the dial did make later appearances on the AE-series. So that enabled it, at least, to be operated with one finger.

I wonder if that was part of why we never saw this shutter again in a Canon? The whole hybrid shutter thing sounds complex, even for today. It must have seemed like magic in 1973.

I appreciate that! The whole shoot would’ve been better with color film, I think. The backlit trees would’ve been really nice. And that particular shot would’ve been super. Cheers!

Many thanks! And I really appreciate the opportunity to handle this one!

Lol! Thanks very much!

Many, many thanks! This model is just one I’ve never heard much about. I’ve seen it around, of course, but I never hear of someone who has one. Until now, that is. It does seem rugged enough. I’d say it’s on par with its F-1 sibling. Definitely underrated.

You’re correct. The A-1 was only in black. And of course the F-1 (any model). Before this one, I’d never seen one for myself. Not a bad camera. The 300mm f/4 is a nice one as it’s internal focusing and quite sharp. The one I have is the non-L version, so doesn’t have the ED glass. But I can’t say I find any problems with it.

The truth hurts sometimes, lol. Glad the shots didn’t make it so completely evident :-))

Thanks! This camera was actually the first one I’ve taken on loan from a viewer. And it was immaculate. Told me they paid about $65 USD for it. Unreal. And yes, I have many other Canon’s in the lineup! Stay tuned!

Old School Magic - maybe that should be the name of this channel…. Thanks for watching and the kind words!

Thank you ! And thanks for watching!

I think having a secondary digital camera - as you suggest - makes a lot of sense. Less pressure and not worried about wasting film and money. Even though I am doing these videos and do need some subject matter on a recurring basis, this was the first time I genuinely had less fun. Usually, I’ll find *something* that’ll spark my interest, and I’ll end up satisfied. And I’m usually happy with at least some of the results. Maybe I chose a poor location and film stock. I do think color film would’ve been a better choice for this. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to send out for processing, so I went with B&W. It was a good lesson for me not to try to fit a square peg in to a round hole.

That’s good advice. It’s what I should’ve done. But I’d put this manufactured pressure on myself to keep up with a schedule, etc, etc. I really just needed to take a breath. Luckily it doesn’t happen too often.

Man…what a beautiful story. I can identify with a lot of what you mention. If not for photography, where would I be? Indeed. It’s been a life-shaping passion for me. I do imagine our grandmothers had a bit in common. Mine didn’t like to have her photo made unless she was dressed to the nines and wearing it proudly. Several months before she passed away, I had visited her and asked if I could just take a photo of her hands. She thought that was weird, but she let me. And I really think that turned out to be one of my favorite “portraits” of her. Anyway, yes, I think we do have good days and bad days. On this particular day, I was just distracted to the point where I should’ve just packed up and came back another day. I just tried to force it. Lesson learned. Many, many thanks for the comment and story. I think we all can appreciate the wisdom in that.

@@vintagecameradigest of course man anytime. it looked like a good time to drop the story. Don't really like to share it because during that time the uncertainty and everything made me really sick, and since she lives with me everything was off because she wasn't around. I shot differently during that time. At this point I could care less about what people think about my work or whatever, just carrying the analog camera is enough for me to step out of my comfort zone and into the greatest opportunities I've ever had. I've been able to meet the likes of all walks of people from celebrities to homeless and I'm grateful this art has given me the power not only to meet them but share my joy with them as well. The only time I don't have it on me is when I'm at work, and at work it's in my locker. I've have literally told somebody to wait and I've walked to the locker and back just for a photo of them. There's a certain thing that a hobby like this has over an individual and it's not explainable. Some of the greatest photographers of all time unknown and known had it. I see that in your love for the cameras and how you speak of them and presumably like how you've said in your videos teach it as well. Using old cameras like the Bronica S2A, Rolleiflex, Hasselblad 500, etc have changed my entire view in life from death and depression to life and joy. Even using aliexpress toy cameras, old digital CCDS, motorola razr, pinholes etc has shown me just how amazing this stuff can be, the fact I can communicate a message through a 5 dollar aliexpress toy is remarkable. Photography is only a couple hundred years old, and this is only the beginning. Imagine what photography can be like in a thousand years... Okay that's enough ranting for now. But like I said before if you need to talk to us or me feel free to let us know, there's something about being able to share stories and experiences with the same bug!

You know, it took me a long time to discover that the fun of all this revolves around Creating. Sometimes it’s creating photos. Sometimes it’s creating videos. Sometimes it’s creating music. But a beautiful thing about any art form, I think, is to create something new and positive and get that energy out into the world. But even MORE beautiful is to create it for one’s self. Like you mentioned, it doesn’t have to be any particular camera - expensive vs Ali express - as long as the process of creating is sparked and acted upon. I can not imagine myself as a non-creator. Everyone has different ways of creating. I think some either don’t recognize that ability in themselves or don’t know how to tap into it. That’s why I treasure the classes I get to teach. It’s an opportunity to help others develop or tap into that creativity and get a sense of fulfillment. Anyway, I think you and I could go on about this for days. Glad we’ve been able to connect here. I’ll look forward to future discussions!

Thank you! I have the original model F-1 (that I do love) that will be featured at some point. I’ve yet to get my hands on a New F-1. But it is on my list!

Another reason I should pick up a Nikkormat at some point. So noted.

Glad you think so! I at least had a moment of inspiration when shooting the camera for the thumbnail, lol. Sometimes I over-think them, and sometimes I don’t think about them enough. We’ll see how it helps this episode perform!

@@vintagecameradigest clean minimal, single subject and big bold text just as you have here is what works best for my camera reviews and overview content! Keep this style going if it does well!

I absolutely will. And I appreciate the encouragement!

I see no problem at all with taking a digital back-up. Knowing you have it if you need it really could take the pressure off. And it may turn out that it never even comes out of the bag. I have a shoot coming up soon that I’ll be doing on film. But I’m absolutely gonna have the digital there to help test things out before committing to film. I guess some might think of this a sort of cheating. I think of it as just another tool. Back when all we had was film and you needed to make sure the lighting and exposure was spot-on, we had those Polaroid backs to test the shot. And we didn’t think that was cheating. That was just ensuring you get it right when it counts. So, I say take the digital with you. And make use of it in a way that’ll ensure you get fantastic film shots. Go for it. I’d love to see this on your channel!

@@vintagecameradigest I think that will be my next shoot. The weather has been so dang hot lately. I've been looking to find a time when it is not so hot. I do plan to make it a strobe shoot. I really love the fine grain film stock I plan to use Portra 160 or Porter 400. Your channel has really inspired me to shoot more film. I love my digital, but I can't help but to wonder with all the knowledge that I know now how my images would look on film.

The heat is terrible, indeed. And it puts a serious damper on my motivation. So, I’m trying to figure out some indoor shoots for the next several weeks. We’re doing a trip to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone next month, and I’m SO looking forward to the weather being cool. Using strobes on film was always a bit tricky since you had to absolutely trust the flash meter. That’s why those Polaroid backs saw so much use. But using the digital to get dialed-in is a perfect use of it, I think. I’ll look forward to that video!

I wouldn’t say perfect….but better than average. The ability to set shutter speeds without removing your eye from the finder or rearranging your right hand in some contortionist move was really forward thinking. It’s like the entire camera was some sort of functional experiment that Canon undertook. I’m not sure why they went back to the horizontal-travel shutter after this. We’re there problems with it? I don’t know, and I haven’t been able to find anything that alludes to such. It’s a mystery. But it’s a good camera, no doubt.

Thanks! So, I’ve looked into your question, and the only FD lens I can definitely say has a thoriated element is the first version of the 35mm f/2 with the concave front element. Interestingly, that is one of the lenses I used on this shoot. And it certainly does have a warm cast when you look through it. I can find no info that states that the 300mm f/4 has a thoriated element. However, there does exist two versions of this lens - an “L” version with ED glass, and the plain one (which is what I have). Perhaps there is a special coating on the ED glass that can yellow over time? I can’t say for sure. But if you do find out, please let us know.

Can’t argue with that!

Maybe you’ve touched on something there. Because I really want to approach photography the same way grandkids play. I mean, that’s how I first experienced it. I need to make a conscious effort to always look for the “play” in it. Brilliant! You have no idea how much sense this makes to me right now. Seriously. Many thanks!

The Canon EF is the first one that’s been loaned to me. The rest belong to me. And I’m always looking for good examples and good prices for the ones that are still on my list. I don’t buy as much as I used to since the prices have gone up dramatically. But, yes, I have too many, lol.

First off, I’ll say that I enjoy all the camera brands. Each one has it’s own “personality”. However, I enjoy some more than others. And most of the Nikons are notably more refined in operation than their peers. I learned this the first time I picked up a Nikon FM. It was smooth as butter. The feel of the wind lever illustrated just how much effort the folks at Nikon put into the design. It didn’t just work like it was supposed to. It was better than it had to be.

@@vintagecameradigest I agree, the FM and the FE were particularly fine cameras. The shutter and the mirror were particularly well damped. The only cameras are that I have which top them in the shutter department, are my Leica M2, M3 and the M6.

Yes, Leica’s reputation is certainly well-earned. I doubt anyone could dispute that.

Interesting…I wonder if that’s a know issue with this model?

I've had one for years (like 45 ....), and it has never been battery hungry. In fact, I'd say that is exactly the opposite, with batteries lasting months and months of reasonable usage.

Well, given the choice between the two - and taking an objective look at them - I’d probably go for the EF. A couple of reasons: higher flash sync speed and the huge range of shutter speeds. Of course it may depend on whether you prefer aperture-priority AE or shutter-priority. A