"F-1" Responding to the Needs of Professional Photographers

Since the fall of 1964, there had been growing calls from both inside and outside of the company that Canon should embark on production of a most advanced SLR camera to meet the requirements of professional photographers. After five years of development efforts, the "F-1" camera was unveiled in March, 1971. The "F-1" has left the most glorious footprints in the history of cameras.

Developed exclusively for professional photographers, the "F-1" satisfied them with multiple functions and the systematic configuration. More than 180 accessories including lenses and filters were made available for this camera. It proved to be durable, highly reliable and performed well even under the harsh conditions professional photographers are often forced to confront. Thus, the camera gained wide popularity among professional photographers. The "F-1" wasthe official 35mm camera for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, and the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, U.S.A.

Based on technology developed for the "F-1" camera, in 1972 the company succeeded in producing the “High Speed Motor Drive Camera” having the shooting speed of 9 frames per second.

Sixteen new FD-series lens were introduced together with the "F-1." To compliment the professional "F-1" camera, its lens had been improved to ensure central resolution exceeding 100 lines per millimeter and to achieve high contrast. Good color balance throughout the series was achieved by careful selection of optimal glass materials and improved lens surface coating methods.

Canonet Series Enjoys Long-Selling

In the compact 35mm lens-shutter field, the compact “Canonet” series, released in 1969 as the "Canonet QL 17" continued to be a hit for as long as 10 years as the "Canonet G-III 17," reaching the aggregate sales of around 1.2 million units.

Audio Recording Capability on 8mm Film Cinecameras

The 8mm film cinecameras continued evolving through incorporating improved zoom lens, new film standards, and the XL system. The "Cineprojector T-1" released in April 1972 achieved the complete synchronization of image and sound, the so-called "lip-synch" function. In 1973, the Eastman Kodak Company introduced a film with magnetic stripes called "Ektasound," and the 8mm cinecamera that could record a sound track on the Ektasound film. The release inaugurated the "sound era" for the 8mm film cinecameras.