Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
p.2 #1Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
Desmolicious wrote:
You are right about the Italian designer, I didn’t know that.
From Google:
The original 1989 Canon EOS-1 (and its predecessor, the T90) was designed by renowned German-Italian industrial designer Luigi Colani, often cited for his "biodynamic" design philosophy. His work on the T90 heavily influenced the ergonomic, contoured look of the EOS-1 series.Meanwhile, Nikon was using the Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro for the 1988 Nikon F4. I suppose the Japanese photo industry recognized the value of Italian designs back then.
EBHGiurgiaro also designed the F3, which I think is the most beautiful camera design ever. The F4 wasn’t his best work IMO 
The F4 inspired the game Tetris.
. Tetris was before that. The F4 looked better than the F4s, and the F4e was even uglier.
The EOS 1 series was more graceful in comparison. The T90 was earlier and really cool though I did not even use the FD system.
EBH
andrewd01 wrote
EB-1 wrote
andrewd01 wrote
James Markus wrote
I picked up an EOS-1 about 8 months ago for about $100. The AF is great, and I need a diopter adjustable viewfinder. Coming from both Nikon and Canon digital background - it was my first Canon film body. I was really impressed with how it fit my hand. Think I read an Italian designer is responsible for that or it was the N90S from Nikon? In any case, I can shoot digital and film with the same lenses on both manufacturers (and Pentax 645 as well). Here is one of my first Eos-1 shots.From Google:
The original 1989 Canon EOS-1 (and its predecessor, the T90) was designed by renowned German-Italian industrial designer Luigi Colani, often cited for his "biodynamic" design philosophy. His work on the T90 heavily influenced the ergonomic, contoured look of the EOS-1 series.
EBH
. Tetris was before that. The F4 looked better than the F4s, and the F4e was even uglier.The EOS 1 series was more graceful in comparison. The T90 was earlier and really cool though I did not even use the FD system.
EBH
Feb 05, 2026 at 04:01 PM
p.2 #2Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
EB-1 wrote:
You are right about the Italian designer, I didn’t know that.
From Google:
The original 1989 Canon EOS-1 (and its predecessor, the T90) was designed by renowned German-Italian industrial designer Luigi Colani, often cited for his "biodynamic" design philosophy. His work on the T90 heavily influenced the ergonomic, contoured look of the EOS-1 series.Meanwhile, Nikon was using the Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro for the 1988 Nikon F4. I suppose the Japanese photo industry recognized the value of Italian designs back then.
EBHGiurgiaro also designed the F3, which I think is the most beautiful camera design ever. The F4 wasn’t his best work IMO The F4 inspired the game Tetris.. Tetris was before that. The F4 looked better than the F4s, and the F4e was even uglier.
The EOS 1 series was more graceful in comparison. The T90 was earlier and really cool though I did not even use the FD system.
EBH
This is all style. Like angular sports cars versus contoured models. Now you have me looking at the F4. I had two F3 HPs, and haven't got a negative thing to say about them. All of these bolt on battery or power packs make the bodies ugly in my opinion. Just the bare body does everything I need. What a dangerous forum for my wallet.
Desmolicious wrote
andrewd01 wrote
EB-1 wrote
andrewd01 wrote
James Markus wrote
I picked up an EOS-1 about 8 months ago for about $100. The AF is great, and I need a diopter adjustable viewfinder. Coming from both Nikon and Canon digital background - it was my first Canon film body. I was really impressed with how it fit my hand. Think I read an Italian designer is responsible for that or it was the N90S from Nikon? In any case, I can shoot digital and film with the same lenses on both manufacturers (and Pentax 645 as well). Here is one of my first Eos-1 shots.From Google:
The original 1989 Canon EOS-1 (and its predecessor, the T90) was designed by renowned German-Italian industrial designer Luigi Colani, often cited for his "biodynamic" design philosophy. His work on the T90 heavily influenced the ergonomic, contoured look of the EOS-1 series.
EBH
. Tetris was before that. The F4 looked better than the F4s, and the F4e was even uglier.The EOS 1 series was more graceful in comparison. The T90 was earlier and really cool though I did not even use the FD system.
EBH
This is all style. Like angular sports cars versus contoured models. Now you have me looking at the F4. I had two F3 HPs, and haven't got a negative thing to say about them. All of these bolt on battery or power packs make the bodies ugly in my opinion. Just the bare body does everything I need. What a dangerous forum for my wallet.
Feb 05, 2026 at 05:30 PM
p.2 #3Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
I actually really like the F4. Love the dials - no menu diving etc. Both that I owned were the smaller standard version, and both had clear/leak free LCDs. I also had no issues w the AF - focused way quicker and more accurately than I could do manually!
Problem is they are not fully compatible w G lenses - you could only use them in P or S. I sold my F4s because I had the F6.
Problem is they are not fully compatible w G lenses - you could only use them in P or S. I sold my F4s because I had the F6.
Feb 05, 2026 at 05:38 PM
p.2 #4Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
James Markus wrote:
This is all style. Like angular sports cars versus contoured models. Now you have me looking at the F4. I had two F3 HPs, and haven't got a negative thing to say about them. All of these bolt on battery or power packs make the bodies ugly in my opinion. Just the bare body does everything I need. What a dangerous forum for my wallet.
The F3 had one major flaw, the terrible flash system. The sync speed was 1/80th so tons of ghosting outdoors. There was no normal hot shoe, just that funky collar around the rewind. The EL/ELw/EL2 had 1/125th many years earlier and the FM2/FE2 had 1/250th. The F3 was nearly bulletproof otherwise. My F4 was the least reliable pro Nikon body I ever used with 3 different failures. It was just too complicated with too much new technology at the time.
EBH
This is all style. Like angular sports cars versus contoured models. Now you have me looking at the F4. I had two F3 HPs, and haven't got a negative thing to say about them. All of these bolt on battery or power packs make the bodies ugly in my opinion. Just the bare body does everything I need. What a dangerous forum for my wallet.
The F3 had one major flaw, the terrible flash system. The sync speed was 1/80th so tons of ghosting outdoors. There was no normal hot shoe, just that funky collar around the rewind. The EL/ELw/EL2 had 1/125th many years earlier and the FM2/FE2 had 1/250th. The F3 was nearly bulletproof otherwise. My F4 was the least reliable pro Nikon body I ever used with 3 different failures. It was just too complicated with too much new technology at the time.
EBH
Feb 06, 2026 at 03:39 PM
p.2 #5Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
EB-1 wrote:
The F3 had one major flaw, the terrible flash system. The sync speed was 1/80th so tons of ghosting outdoors. There was no normal hot shoe, just that funky collar around the rewind. The EL/ELw/EL2 had 1/125th many years earlier and the FM2/FE2 had 1/250th. The F3 was nearly bulletproof otherwise. My F4 was the least reliable pro Nikon body I ever used with 3 different failures. It was just too complicated with too much new technology at the time.
EBH
Nikkormat's had 1/125th flash sync. They also had the vertical travel Copal Square shutter'.
James Markus wrote
This is all style. Like angular sports cars versus contoured models. Now you have me looking at the F4. I had two F3 HPs, and haven't got a negative thing to say about them. All of these bolt on battery or power packs make the bodies ugly in my opinion. Just the bare body does everything I need. What a dangerous forum for my wallet.EBH
Nikkormat's had 1/125th flash sync. They also had the vertical travel Copal Square shutter'.
Feb 06, 2026 at 05:16 PM
p.2 #6Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
I used a 1n freelancing back then and thought it much easier to use than Nikon's F5. I've been thinking about getting a 35mm camera for fun and they do seem good value. Only problem is I let my EF lenses go a long time ago and would need to get probably a 35 1.4L and 85 1.8 which makes it less of an impulse purchase!
Mar 30, 2026 at 09:23 AM
p.2 #7Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
panos.v wrote:
Most beautiful SLRs for me would be Leica R9. And the R8. Ok and the F3.
I had both, still have the R9. I wouldn’t exactly describe it as beautiful but it nice that they copied the design of the R8/9 from the Zenit 212…
The Zenit was released in 1994. Leica released their shameless copy in 1996.
I owned the 212 as well as the earlier Zenit TTL. I will give Leica credit where credit is due and admit the R8/9 were better cameras.
Most beautiful SLRs for me would be Leica R9. And the R8. Ok and the F3.
I had both, still have the R9. I wouldn’t exactly describe it as beautiful but it nice that they copied the design of the R8/9 from the Zenit 212…
The Zenit was released in 1994. Leica released their shameless copy in 1996.
I owned the 212 as well as the earlier Zenit TTL. I will give Leica credit where credit is due and admit the R8/9 were better cameras.
Mar 30, 2026 at 11:35 AM
p.2 #8Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
I was always impressed how Leica solved the problem of protruding controls shearing off when your camera swung against a wall. Always hated that. For such comfort, I guess butt-ugly is a small price to pay.
Mar 30, 2026 at 09:58 PM
|
p.2 #9Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
A good solution is not to swing the camera against a wall. 
What about the Canon T90? I think it was the first of the black rounded bodies just before EOS.
EBH
What about the Canon T90? I think it was the first of the black rounded bodies just before EOS.
EBH
Mar 30, 2026 at 10:35 PM
p.2 #10Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
I never really liked the rounded, blobby look. For ladies, perhaps, not for cameras. Contax was designed by Porche Design (no, not the cars). These bodies have actual edges. Check out that prism housing:
Mar 30, 2026 at 11:04 PM
p.2 #11Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
rico wrote:
I never really liked the rounded, blobby look. For ladies, perhaps, not for cameras. Contax was designed by Porche Design (no, not the cars). These bodies have actual edges. Check out that prism housing:
https://makino.fi/rico/contax/misc/contaxS2.jpg
This guy had the same flash with the Canon 1N. He seems to be loving it compared to shooing his Leica M6:
I never really liked the rounded, blobby look. For ladies, perhaps, not for cameras. Contax was designed by Porche Design (no, not the cars). These bodies have actual edges. Check out that prism housing:
https://makino.fi/rico/contax/misc/contaxS2.jpg
This guy had the same flash with the Canon 1N. He seems to be loving it compared to shooing his Leica M6:
Sep 08, 2026 at 08:36 AM
p.2 #12Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
Fred Miranda wrote:
This guy had the same flash with the Canon 1N. He seems to be loving it compared to shooing his Leica M6:
His excitement is infectious. I also really like the EF 28mm f1.8. Not an L, but excellent image quality.
This guy had the same flash with the Canon 1N. He seems to be loving it compared to shooing his Leica M6:
His excitement is infectious. I also really like the EF 28mm f1.8. Not an L, but excellent image quality.
Sep 08, 2026 at 09:54 AM
p.2 #13Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
James Markus wrote:
His excitement is infectious. I also really like the EF 28mm f1.8. Not an L, but excellent image quality.
I currently have the 24/1.4L (version I) and really love it, but I don't recall ever trying the 28/1.8 back in my Canon days. How fast is the AF on the 28mm? It’s definitely a much smaller and lighter package compared to the L lens.
Here is another one from him:
Fred Miranda wrote
This guy had the same flash with the Canon 1N. He seems to be loving it compared to shooing his Leica M6:I currently have the 24/1.4L (version I) and really love it, but I don't recall ever trying the 28/1.8 back in my Canon days. How fast is the AF on the 28mm? It’s definitely a much smaller and lighter package compared to the L lens.
Here is another one from him:
Sep 08, 2026 at 10:15 AM
p.2 #14Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
Fred Miranda wrote:
His excitement is infectious. I also really like the EF 28mm f1.8. Not an L, but excellent image quality.I currently have the 24/1.4L (version I) and really love it, but I don't recall ever trying the 28/1.8 back in my Canon days. How fast is the AF on the 28mm? It’s definitely a much smaller and lighter package compared to the L lens.
Here is another one from him:
At my age any af lens is fast enough. Or put another way - I never waited on it to achieve focus. Once you get wide enough it really is hard to miss focus - unless you are doing something at mfd wide open. For landscapes the wide end is almost fixed focus territory.
Edit to add samples. I've mostly used it for infrared since 2020
It is very sharp. Inset at 100%
I thought it did pretty good with the sun being at an extreme angle
James Markus wrote
Fred Miranda wrote
This guy had the same flash with the Canon 1N. He seems to be loving it compared to shooing his Leica M6:Here is another one from him:
At my age any af lens is fast enough. Or put another way - I never waited on it to achieve focus. Once you get wide enough it really is hard to miss focus - unless you are doing something at mfd wide open. For landscapes the wide end is almost fixed focus territory.
Edit to add samples. I've mostly used it for infrared since 2020
It is very sharp. Inset at 100%
I thought it did pretty good with the sun being at an extreme angle
Sep 08, 2026 at 10:35 AM
p.2 #15Canon EOS-1N: A Hidden Bargain
I have an Elan 7E and my buddy has the 1N. The 1N feels so incredibly solid and sturdy, but it feels like it weights at least twice as much. Such an awesome camera though, and I'm envious of the ability to swap focusing screens. If it was possible on the 7E I'd love to get one to assist in manual focus which feels nearly impossible, but alas.
Nov 06, 2026 at 12:49 PM