Canon spent five years developing the F-1, showed it at Photokina in 1970 and put it on sale in March 1971 as its professional system camera, launched with the new FD lens mount. It was designed to survive 100,000 shutter cycles and temperatures from -30°C to 60°C. The shutter has titanium-foil curtains and runs from 1 s to 1/2000 s with no battery at all, so the cell only powers the CdS meter, which reads a central patch of the frame. Finders, screens, backs and motor drives all swap, from a waist-level finder to the Servo EE Finder that added shutter-priority auto. The US Army issued it as a standard field camera, and Canon made Montreal 1976 Olympic editions and an olive-drab OD F-1. The F-1n of 1976 brought 13 small changes. The New F-1 of 1981 is a different camera that shares the name.
The variants
The 1976 F-1n is the same camera with 13 refinements, including a shorter advance stroke, a plastic-tipped lever, ASA up to 3200 and the Type E screen as standard. The 1981 New F-1 is a separate design with a hybrid shutter and a 6 V battery, so check which one a listing really is.
Battery
Many meters from the 1960s and 70s were built for 1.35 V mercury cells like the PX625, which held a steady voltage until almost flat. Mercury cells went off sale after EU and US laws in the 1990s, and a 1.55 V silver-oxide or alkaline cell can throw readings off in a meter that doesn't regulate voltage. There are three fixes. Zinc-air hearing-aid cells give 1.35 V but die within a few months. An adapter like the MR-9 uses a small circuit to drop a silver-oxide cell to 1.35 V. Or a repairer can recalibrate the meter for silver oxide. More on batteries and meters.
These were built for hard use, so most trouble is age. The meter was designed for a 1.35 V mercury cell that's no longer made, so it wants a hearing-aid cell or adapter to read right, and the round eyecup and small clip-on accessory shoe go missing and are hard to replace.
Buying guide
We'd buy an F-1 titled tested or working, and $189 to $245 delivered gets one. There are at least 120 listed, and most ask $230–410 delivered, with Japan dealers' Early and Late bodies and FD 50mm f/1.4 kits making up most of the page. The titanium-foil shutter fires at every speed with no battery, and the cell only runs the meter, which was built for a 1.35 V H-D mercury cell, so ask what it was tested with and plan on a zinc-air cell or an adapter. Check the photos for the self-timer lever on the front, which marks the original F-1 and not the 1981 New F-1. The $1,035 motor-drive outfit is three times the median, and that money goes on the accessories.
$189.00est. delivered
The lowest-priced F-1 titled as working, a black body with a 50mm f/1.4 at $189 delivered from a US seller. The title says inspected and works but also says read, so check the description for anything it leaves out.
Canon F-1 35mm Black Body SLR With 50mm F1.4 Lens Inspected Works READ
![[Excellent+5] Canon F-1 Black 35mm Film SLR Camera Tested Working from Japan](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/d4sAAeSwMf5qmXOF/s-l500.jpg)
$244.98est. delivered
Titled tested and working, graded Excellent+5 by the Japan dealer, at $245 delivered. No lens is named, so compare it with other bodies, and ask what cell the meter was tested with.
[Excellent+5] Canon F-1 Black 35mm Film SLR Camera Tested Working from Japan
$487.73est. delivered
The Montreal 1976 Olympic model, one of the special F-1 editions Canon made, graded N Mint by the seller. It's a body only at $488 delivered, about $80 over the band for the edition.
N Mint Canon F-1 Montreal 1976 Olympic Model 35mm SLR Film Camera Body Japan 147
$198.00est. delivered
An Early F-1 with an FD 28mm f/2.8, sold as is for parts or repair at $198 delivered. That's about $140 under the median, so it suits someone who fixes cameras or wants the lens.
CANON F-1 Early SLR Film Camera + FD 28mm F/2.8 Lens As-Is For Parts / Repair#L3
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$189.00est. delivered
$175.00 + $14.00 shipping
Buy It Now$175.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Black body with a 50mm f/1.4, titled inspected and works. The title says read.
Seller: elisabetrubi0
99.8% positive
Used$244.98est. delivered
$169.99 + $74.99 shipping
Buy It Now$169.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Black body, titled tested and working. Excellent+5 is the dealer's grade.
Seller: futaba_japan_0517
100% positive
Used$487.73est. delivered
$479.95 + $7.78 shipping
Buy It Now$479.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Montreal 1976 Olympic model, body only. N Mint is the seller's grade.
Seller: marus.59igt
99.5% positive
For parts$198.00est. delivered
$180.00 + $18.00 shipping
Buy It Now$180.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Early model with FD 28mm f/2.8, sold as is for parts or repair.
Seller: iikurat-0
100% positive
![Canon F-1 35mm Film SLR Camera [Body Only] Shutter Works Vintage Camera](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/RgEAAeSwqNVqc4f3/s-l500.jpg)
Used$189.99est. delivered
$179.99 + $10.00 shipping
Buy It Now$179.99
Our take
Body only. Shutter works means it fires, not that the speeds are right.
Seller: nt_collector
100% positive
![[NEAR MINT] Canon F-1 Late Black Film Camera FD 50mm F1.4 SSC S.S.C. Lens JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rT0AAeSwEVVptzdU/s-l500.jpg)
Used$329.99est. delivered
$259.99 + $70.00 shipping
Buy It Now$259.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Late model with FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. Not titled tested.
Seller: asami-camerashop-japan
100% positive
Used$412.00est. delivered
$398.00 + $14.00 shipping
Buy It Now$398.00
Our take
With an AE Prism and 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C., titled tested.
Seller: catlabs.jobo.outlet
99.8% positive
Used$1,035.00est. delivered
$995.00 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$995.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Outfit with motor drive, 250 back and battery case. Three times the median.
Seller: leitzusa
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 11, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay search
