Canon EOS 1V

[nkg]

User reviews welcomed.

[smashey]

I never thought I would ever have a top flight EOS camera in my hands, but thanks to the publics obsession with Digital the price of a good second hand 1v has plumeted. I'm offering these observations to help those who find themselves tempted, much the way I was.

Now it's fair to say you need your wits about you to pick out a "good" second hand film camera - the job is made a bit easier with the 1v. For a start the camera records the number of rolls that have been loaded into the body. Just turn the Camera on and press the M.Fn button found under the side flap. This roll count can't be reset by the user so it's the equivelent to the Mileometer on your car.

Another thing in the BIG Canon's favour is it's inherent build quality. It really is biult to last a lifetime. You may have seen press photographers slinging their gear around with wild abandon, but that's because they can. The range of pro gear they let rattle around in the bags often belongs to the photo pool, not themselves, and they are confident that no matter how casually they treat the camera it will work perfectly for them every time.

Freelance and wedding photographers will generally treat the gear with more outward care, and I suspect this was the source of my 1v. With around 140 rolls run through it, my imaculate EOS 1V HS body was offered by my local trusted dealer at £550/€750 and came with Six months warranty. Only slight rubbing on the hot shoe mount seperated it from showroom condition.

If you're looking to buy and want a mint condition example be sure to check the for internal signs of wear. Marks on the film pressure plate, slackness of the door catch, scratching around the lens mount are all signs of heavy use, even if the outer shell is spotless. With the 1V it's more likely to look polished rather than worn. Haggle for a lower price if it does look well used, but don't be put off - remember the camera is designed for a hard life and even a scruffy example is likely to give an enthusiast years of faithful service.

While your checking it's worth hanging a fairly heavy lens on the body and checkinghow secure the mounting ring is. There will always be a small amount of rotational slack on the bayonet mount, but the lens should feel generally secure.

I've traded up from the EOS 3 - another dream camera, that is available at incredible prices now - so the control layout and feature set was very familiar to me, even so I felt lost without the user manual. PDF versions are available on the web, but try to get the original if you can - it's another indication of how well the camera has been cared for.

If it's the first time you've handled a large, you'll probably already be reaching for you're credit card. The heavy, solid build is incredebly well balanced, and although it's the weight of bag of sugar and a good 3-400g heavier than the EOS 3, it doesn't feel it in use. Worth bearing in mind though - the extra weight will have to be carried around by you.

In operation the EOS 1V is phenominally fast - lightning doesn't stand a chance. But....
And this is something that supprised me but... the focussing is not always as faultless as the EOS 3's. It looks like the 1V has been optimised for focus speed when using the L series lenses - with their wider appetures. My old EOS 3 worked more consistently in low light, low contrast situations using the 28-135 IS f4.5-5.6. It's only a slight difference, and in normal lighting and medium contrast material you'll never notice any hesitation, it's easily the best autofocus body with any lens of f4 and better.

The other area where you might favour the 3 is the matter of the eye control system, not included with the top of the range EOS 1V. For me (specticle wearer) this is no great loss as I didn't use it. Eye control can be a great feature when well implemented, as in the 3, but it was not for me.

If you do wear spec, the veiwfinder of the 1V is particularly welcoming. Very bright, 100% view, with diopter adjustment, and a black-out shutter.

All in all, the 1V is a fantasic camera, and so it should be for the list price it was originally sold for.

Am I pleased that I traded my owned from new EOS 3 and £200 for a second hand 1V? Absolutely.

Would the same camera be for you? I'd like to think so, but also try out the EOS 3 - fantastic build, virtually identical features, Eye control and can be more forgiving with slower lenses.

Either awy, there has never been a better time to pick up a great bargin. Good Luck.