Canon F1 Instruction Manual

							11 HOW TO CHOOSE A SHUTTER SPEED
11 How to Choose a Shutter Speed
The shutter controls exposure by the length of time it remains open. The basic
function of shutter speed is to provide correct exposure, but you can also use it to
control the expression of your sub jects motion and to control the eect of camera
movement. 11.1 Freezing Motion
The faster the sub ject is moving, the higher the shutter speed required to stop the
action. To freeze the motion of a pedestrian, for example, choose a speed of at least
1/60 sec.; for a moving car, as fast as 1/1000 sec. The motion of the motorcycle in
this photo was frozen at 1/2000 sec. 21 
						

							11.2 Blurring the Sub jects Motion11 HOW TO CHOOSE A SHUTTER SPEED
11.2 Blurring the Sub jects Motion
Blurring part of the picture can give a convincing sense of action. To blur the sub-
ject, simply set a shutter speed which is too slow to freeze its action. In this photo
it was blurred at 1/15 sec. 11.3 Panning
You can blur the background while keeping the sub ject relatively sharp by pan-
ning. Choose a shutter speed suitable for the sub jects motion and release the
shutter as you follow the movement, turning the upper part of your body. 22 
						

							12 APERTURE
Blurring part of the picture can heighten the sense of action. In most cases, how-
ever, image blur is undesirable. To avoid blurred pictures from camera movement,
choose a shutter speed of at least 1/60 sec. for handheld shooting with a standard
lens.
With a telephoto lens, it is advisable to use faster shutter speeds. The rule of thumb
is to use a shutter speed no slower than the reciprocal of the lens in use. This means
that for a 100mm lens, the shutter speed should be at least 1/125 sec.; for a 500mm
lens, it should be at least 1/500 sec.
12 Aperture
The size of the aperture determines the amount of light allowed to reach the lm.
The apertures are indicated by a series of numbers, called f/stops or f-numbers,
iV`hich can be found on the aperture ring. The smaller numbers are called large
f/stops while the larger numbers are called small f/stops. This is because the smaller
numbers represent larger apertures which allow more light to pass through the lens.
The largest f/stop on the lens is called the lens maximum aperture; the smallest
f/stop the lens minimum aperture. The maximum and minimum apertures dier
depending on the lens.
Each time you turn the aperture ring from one f/stop to the next smaller one,
the amount of light allowed through is exactly halved. Using f/2 as a standard, the
amount of light striking the lm will change according to the f/stop indicated below.
How the Aperture Aects the Picture
In addition to controlling the quantity of light, the aperture in
uences depth of eld
which, in turn, aects the way a picture will look. When your sub ject is in focus,
there is a certain area in front of and behind it which will also be in focus. This
range of sharpness is called depth of eld. f/stop (1.2) 1.4 (1.8) 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 11
Brightness ratio 3 2 1-1/4 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32
f/stop 16 22 32
Brightness ratio 1/64 1/128 1/256
23 
						

							12 APERTURE
The smaller the aperture, the wider the range of sharpness. This is illustrated by
the picture above which was taken at f/22. Compare it with the photo to s right.
This extended depth of eld is especially good for such sub jects as landscapes.
The larger the aperture, the narrower the range of sharpness. An aperture of f/1.4,
for instance, can isolate your sub ject from its surroundings. This is often used to
blur a disturbing background in portraiture.
Depth of eld is also greater the shorter the focal length of the lens. A 24mm lens,
for example, will show greater depth of eld than a 50mm lens, provided the aper-
ture and shooting distance are the same. Depth of eld is also greater the longer the
shooting distance, and is generally greater in the background than in the foreground
by a ratio of two to one. 24 
						

							13 EXPOSURE MODES
13 Exposure Modes
The New Canon F-1 is basically a manual-exposure camera capable of through-the-
iens, full-aperture metering and stopped-down metering with the Eye-Level Finder
FN. It can be converted to automatic exposure (AE) simply by attaching the suit-
able AE accessory, such as the AE Finder FN for aperture-priority AE, or the AE
Power Winder FN or AE Motor Drive FN for shutter-priority AE. Manual exposure
is still possible with one or both of these accessories attached.
The following exposure modes are possible with the New Canon F-1:  Match-needle Metering
 Shutter-priority AE
 Aperture-priority AE
 Stopped-down (Fixed-index) Metering
 Stopped-down AE
Detailed information of these modes is provided in the sections entitled Eye-Level
Finder FN, AE Finder FN, and Shutter-priority AE.
13.1 Full-aperture Metering
With a Canon FD lens, metering is done with the lens at maximum aperture. This
is called full-aperture metering. The lens diaphragm does not close down until the
shutter is released. Afterwards, it reopens automatically to the maximum aperture.
One of the primary advantages of full-aperture metering is that you are able to view
and meter the sub ject with the viewnder at its brightest.
1. Match-needle Metering
Set the desired shutter speed and turn the lens aperture ring until the meter needle
bisects the aperture ring. The position of the meter needle is determined by the
lm speed, shutter speed and the lighting conditions. This manual mode is suitable
for virtually all sub jects.
2. Shutter-priority AE
Set the desired shutter speed and the camera automatically selects the proper aper-
ture according to lighting conditions. This AE mode is suitable for most sub jects
but especially useful in action photography. 25 
						

							13.2 Stopped-down Metering 13 EXPOSURE MODES
[For this mode. the AE Power Winder FN or AE Motor Drive FN must be attached
to the camera and the lens set to the A mark.]
3. Aperture-priority AE
Set the lens to the desired aperture and the camera automatically selects the proper
shutter speed according to the lighting conditions. This AE mode is useful for
portraiture and still photography such as landscapes where depth of eld is of im-
portance.
[For this mode, the AE Finder FN must be attached to the camera and the shutter
dial set to A]
13.2 Stopped-down Metering
Stopped-down metering is necessary whenever you are using a non-FD lens, such as
the Re
ex 500mm, which has a xed aperture, the TS 35mm lens or any of the older
FL lenses. It is also necessary whenever you insert accessories which do not have
a full-aperture signal pin, such as bellows or extension tubes, between the camera
body and lens. Stoppeddown metering is possible, though unnecessary, with an FD
lens. For correct exposure, set an aperture smaller than f/2.8.
For stopped-down metering, the lens diaphragm must be closed down (stopped
down) to the working aperture. Since the diaphragm will open and close as you
turn the lensaperture ring, depth of eld can be easily checked.
1. Stopped-down (Fixed-index) Metering
Set an aperture and unlock the stop-down slide by pushing it in and then releasing
it. Turn the shutter dial (or aperturering) until.the meter needle is in line with the
stopped-down metering index.
2. Stopped-down AE
Set an aperture and unlock the stop-down slide by pushing it in and then releasing
it. The camera will automatically select the proper shutter speed for the lighting
conditions.
This AE mode is especially advantageous in such elds as photomacrography and
photomicrography.
[For this mode, the AE Finder FN must be attached to the camera and the shutter
dial on A.] 26 
						

							14 METER MODE SELECTOR
14 Meter Mode Selector
There are three ways to turn on the meter, each designed to suit particular metering
requirements. To set a meter mode, simply turn the mode selector so that its index
aligns with the desired setting.
NORMAL
The meter turns on only while the shutter button is pressed halfway (except for B
and  S  settings on the shutter dial). This mode is suited for AE photography.
HOLD
The meter turns on the moment you press the shutter button halfway and stays on
for 16 seconds even if you remove your nger from the shutter button. It automati-
cally turns o after the specied time, thus conserving battery power. This mode is
particularly suited for manual exposure and any situation in which you need more
time to meter.
LIGHT
As on HOLD, the meter, once activated, stays on for 16 seconds even if you re-
move your nger from the shutter button. In addition, the aperture scale in the
viewnder is illuminated for the same period of time. This mode allows you to
meter in low-light situations.
In the HOLD and LIGHT modes, you can cancel the meter reading any time
within the 16 seconds simply by pressing the battery check button. Each mode-ids
also cancelled when the shutter is released. If you have turned on the meter on the
LIGHT setting and wish to cancel only the illumination, turn the mode selector
to HOLD or NORMAL. The meter will continue to read, automatically turning
o after 16 seconds.
Note:
With the AE Finder FN attached and the shutter dial set to A, a dierent
scale than that used for match-needle metering displays exposure information for
aperture-priority and stopped-down AK. Consequently, there is no display illumi-
nation in the LIGHT mode when the shutter dial is on A. 27 
						

							15 WHICH VIEWFINDER DID YOU PURCHASE?
15 Which viewnder did you purchase?
Eye-Level Finder FN AE Finder FN
28 
						

							16 EYE-LEVEL FINDER FN
16 Eye-Level Finder FN
With the Eye-Level Finder FN, an aperture scale and the pre-set shutter speed
are displayed to the right of the eld of view. Focusing Screen FN-PE, which
oers selective-area metering, is supplied with the New Canon F-1 Eye-Level Finder
combination. 16.1 Match-needle Metering
1. Turn the shutter dial to the desired speed.
2. Look into the viewnder and focus the sub ject.
29 
						

							16.1 Match-needle Metering 16 EYE-LEVEL FINDER FN
3. Place your sub ject so that it lls the rectangular area in the center of the
viewnder. This shaded portion is the light measuring area of the cameras
silicon photocell and is 12% of the eld of view. 4. Turn the meter mode selector to the desired mode. Then lightly press the
shutter button halfway to turn on the meter.
The meter needle should be outside of the exposure warning zones. If it is
in either zone, turn the shutter dial until the meter needle moves out of the
zone. 5. For correct exposure, turn the lens aperture ring until the center of the aper-
ture needle aligns with the meter needle. The diameter of the circle is equiv-
alent to one f/stop, and exposure adjustment is possible in one-half f/stop
increments simply by turning the lens aperture ring. one f/stop
one half f/stop
Notes:  The aperture needle moves only between the minimum and maximum aper-
tures of the lens in use.  The meter does not operate with the shutter dial on B or S.r
30