Electric FD | Canon EF Review

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

The EF is one of the few (and only one made by Canon) that corrected itself when 1,5V instead of 1,35V. So the metering is always right

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Yes! It’s a great feature that helps make the EF a great camera! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@mikegutterman3427]

Another great video Alex! Thanks for using one of my tracks! You rock!

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Cheers! 🍻

[@theoldcameraguy]

Interesting electromechanical hybrid camera - Love the composition of the phone booth image.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Thanks! Yes the phone booth shot is a favourite and a surprising find in downtown Oakville! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@1973sonvis]

Great review! I really enjoy my EF! Important fact about the batteries: The EF actually has a voltage regulator which allows the use of modern 1.5 volt batteries. No modification needed, just slip in your modern LR9 or V625U (alkaline) or the S625PX (silver oxide), it works fine! :)

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Yes! That is a major plus to the EF! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@alfredog6620]

That will actually throw your metering off use air zinc batteries such as the Rayovac 675 hearing aid batteries.

[@sputumtube]

Will LR44 batteries work in this camera?

[@1973sonvis]

@@sputumtube Don’t now, but I guess so - if it fit in the chamber. I use 625.

[@carlgarner9477]

It's also the only Canon camera with a copal square vertical travel metal shutter, if you can live without a motordrive because it can't take one. Look for later models starting 4xxxxx as they came with split image focusing aid, it's a definite sleeper and can be had at reasonable prices.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

The mighty Copal Square! I will keep that series in mind if I ever get one! Thanks for watching! 🍻

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Great review! I had an EF years ago. When I took it to get CLA'd, the tech told me that this model has an Achilles heel which can't be fixed. He said that a part in the advance mechanism was made of a then-new plastic compound which became brittle with age. When it inevitably broke, the camera would be useless and couldn't be repaired as parts are no longer available. My heart sunk, as I really liked the look and feel of the EF.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Oh what horrible news! Hopefully you can find a new copy! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@vincentgraffeo9030]

Great history lesson.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Thanks! 🍻

[@10rollsoffilm11]

Excellent review, Alex! If I ever decide to dip my toes into the FD mount waters, this would probably be the camera I'd look for. I also like the idea of combined electro-mechanical shutter where 1/2 sec and faster are mechanical (and battery-independent) while 1 sec and longer are electronically controlled - kind of the best of both worlds 😉

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Thanks! Yes the EF is an excellent choice to get your feet wet with the FD system! Thanks for watching! 🍻🍻

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice! I had a a-1 and later upgraded to a fun!

[@dainneater6944]

Thanks for the video. I almost picked up one of these from a Goodwill store a few years ago. I already had a Konica AutoReflex T that I was messing around with at the time, so I let it go. So many fun cameras out there, so little time.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Also you can’t go wrong with that Hexanon glass! And yes, so many cameras so little time! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@hansemannluchter643]

According to the repair-manual, there are no less than 4 versions of "The Black Beauty" : First version had a microprism focusing-screen. Version 2 and later, had a split image/microprism focusing screen, and changes to the electronics. The service-manual describes how to update the electronics, so EF cameras that have been serviced may also have been updated... Personally, I like Canons breech lock system, it's A LOT better than M42 screw mount. BTW: If you have an EF with apparently dead light-meter, check that the little exposure-lock button moves freely. On the last one I bought, a version 1, the meter didn’t work, so I was a bit disappointed initially, as the shutter-priority mode doesn't work without a functioning meter. On closer inspection, I noticed the exposure-lock button was stuck in the "lock" position, due to "finger-grease" etc. A drop of isopropanol, and a gentle massage, freed the button and the lightmeter worked perfectly fine again...

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Interesting! Thank you, I didn’t realise that there were four varients! 🍻

[@hansemannluchter643]

​@@AlexLuyckxPhotoNeither did I before watching your video, the one I had (still have it) was with split-image/microprism focusing screen, so, being a camera-collector, I knew I had to find the service-manual.. The one I found was full of handwritten comments, so the source is probably a working Canon-repairman. Another issue is that there's at least one capacitor in the circuit, and although early 1970's Japanese capacitors are high-quality, they don't last forever. The values can drift, or they simply die. So, an EF with nonfunctioning electronics could be caused by just that one component..

[@jimwlouavl]

Great history of Canon. An AE-1 was my first SLR; it’s like this was a prototype for that.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Thanks! Yeah the EF seemed to be one of those ‘signs of things to come’ cameras. Thank for watching. 🍻

[@ZommBleed]

Curious as to what stock of film you used for this video. Love the deep tones and contrast. Looks like fine grain, too. Reminds me of some of my old Acros 100.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Delta 100 in Rodinal 1+50 and Agfa APX 100 (Original Stock) in Ilfotec HC 1+31. Thanks for watching 🍻

[@geoffpedder]

Very cool camera. You can use new 1.5v batteries no problem in it, unlike a lot of cameras of this era that used the mercury cells

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Good to know! Thank you for the tip and for watching 🍻

[@BlancGivre]

Are you using 1.35V or 1.5V batteries? If using 1.5V ones, is the metering still accurate?

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

I can’t remember in this case (camera was a loaner), but the EF has an internal circuit that will adapt to either a 1.35 or a 1.5 without any metering issues!

[@perelandrauk]

Really enjoyed this one Alex, but it is rather in my wheelhouse. While my first film SLR was one of the EOS line (which after many years has just died), the camera that gets most use is my AE-1. Some of the lenses are absolutely stunning and the basic 50mm 1.8 is by far my favourite of the bunch. I do own an A1, but everytime I use it I find myself thinking how much more I enjoy using the AE-1.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Cheers! Yeah the EF is one that I would want if I shot Canon FD! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@hansemannluchter643]

Are you certain the 50mm 1.4 is "more desirable" than the 50mm 1.8? Back in the 1960's and 70's those superfast lenses often came at a IQ-price fully open...

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Both are solid lenses, but most people today want that f/1.4 because all they do is shoot wide open. Personally a 1.8 is just as good.

[@hansemannluchter643]

@@AlexLuyckxPhoto Yeah, but wide open is wide open, I have several vintage lenses where the "slower" version gives much better IQ than the supposedly superior "fast" version. Also, you can often buy A LOT of film for the price difference 😁