Canon EOS 1N HS

Author's product rating:   

Picture Quality	Excellent
Range & Quality of Features	Excellent
Ease of Use	Very Easy
Overall Look & Design	Excellent
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Top quality and reliable with superb ergonomics .
Disadvantages:	Solid construction means it is a little heavy .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

There are many more qualified than myself to write a technical review of this camera, so I will concentrate on my personal impressions since buying one recently as a used item.

I got the EOS1n HS with the Ni-Cd rechargeable battery option for power. This is the same as the standard EOS1n HS, but the battery holder is replaced with a solid rechargeable Ni-Cd battery pack. The standard battery holder can still be used, as a back up, so there is less danger of being left stranded by a dead battery pack. The kit I bought, for the sum of £450 UK consisted of EOS1n body, PB-E1 booster pack, 2 Ni-Cd battery packs, 1 mains charger and 1 battery holder for alkaline batteries.

Cameras like the EOS1n just seem to go on forever, mine came with a few surface scuffs, but the solid construction (the camera is built around a metal core, rather than polycarbonate), means that the camera will last for years more.

Downside to the solid build is the weight, which is about 1.8kg when the booster pack is added. In honety, the weight is not a big factor if one is prepared to accept some limitations for the sake of function and reliability.

At the time of it's introduction, this was the top of the range Pro camera, and had features such as enhanced water resistance, and a shutter unit rated to 100,000 cycles or more (that's a lot of film!).

There have been Canon models since that have surpassed the EOS1n in terms of performance (as the 1n improved upon the original EOS1), the EOS1 V being the latest top end film camera, and the EOS 1Ds the top end digital body (at a cost of approx £7000 on release), but the EOS 1 concept, as the top end, pro specification flagship is still valid, and the oldest of the marque are still going strong in far flung places.

Brief benefits of the HS booster PB-E1 are higher frame rate (approx 6 fps in certain modes) and more film between battery changes due to the higher power reserve.

Also, the power booster provides an extra grip, for when the camera is held vertically, such as for portraits. An extra shutter release button and exposure lock button are provided on the grip.

When the EOS 1n is handled, it is immediately obvious, even without an instruction book, where the main controls are located, and how to make things happen. There are few controls that are required for everyday use, and there are a few more, tucked away under a spring loaded door for the rare occasions when more functions are needed.

Talking of functions, Canon have for some time have pioneered 'custom functions' whereby certain aspects of the camera's operation can be tailored to the user's preference. Options such as fast/slow(silent) film rewind, metering options, and many more subtle variations of the standard functions are possible.

Recommended? Yes, absolutely, the ergonomics make sure that the camera fits the hand perfectly, making picture taking a pleasure.