Canon ae-1

[Alex_811]

I'm a beginner at photography. I've been interested in it for a while. My school doesn't offer photograph until nest year so until the. I will be using he forum. I am using a Canon ae-1 from 1976. I love it!! I dropped off the film today so I'm not going to be able to see the outcome of my work until Friday. I was wondering if anyone was familiar with the camera that I am using and if so would you please share some pointers wih me. Thanks!! I hope someone can help!:blushing:

 

[dxqcanada1]

Pointers ? What exactly are you looking for ?
How long have you been using the camera?
Are you familiar with it (did you read the entire manual) ?
What lenses do you have ?

BTW, you may find the Film Forum http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/film-photography/ section a little quiet at times ... but you will get some feedback if you ask the right questions.

 

[Alex_811]

Thanks for responding. I'm not exactly sure what type of lens I have. I'm new to photography. I only have one lens and it might be the one hat camera came with. I'm not sure how I identify the lens so of ou could tell me how I will defiantly tell you what it is. Is there anything specific that I should know about the camera itself. If it helps I am interested in nature, potraits, action (if it's good for that),and I would like to get some really nice sun shots. I ordered the manual because the one it came with was destroyed

 

[Ysarex88 82]

The 1976 AE-1. I remember it well -- the accursed thing. That's the camera that single-handily brought the professional 35mm film camera to the brink of extinction.

The AE-1 was the first electronically controlled camera (shutter priority) to capture, no create the mass consumer market. It wasn't the first camera with a semi-auto mode but it was the camera that burst out of the enthusiast market and started selling hand over fist at X-mart. By the end of it's run Canon sold more AE-1s than all other camera makers had sold of all other cameras since the invention of photography.

The AE-1 was so successful that the other camera manufacturers were caught with their pants down. A mad rush ensued to release competitive cameras and in the process the flagship pro-model cameras started dropping like dominoes. Canon's own F-1 (magnificent machine) bit the dust soon followed by the Pentax LX followed by the OM-2, etc. It was like watching a massacre. When the dust settled only the Nikon F3 was left standing. I will always remember Nikon's faithfulness during that time of trial. Canon's answer was to release the A-1 in 1980 -- plastic cr*p.

I worked behind a camera store sales counter at the time and I'll never forget the experience. "Lock the ring on the lens to A. Set one of the 5 top shutter speeds and just look through the viewfinder. If the needle isn't pointing into the red you're good to go." That was the beginning: "If the needle doesn't point to red...."

Welcome to the forum -- that's an historic camera you've got there.

Joe

 

[astroNikon]

I have one, but I haven't put batteries in it in at least a decade.
So no help .. other than it's a great camera as Ysarex mentions.

 

[Alex_811]

Wow!! Everyone's been saying that it's a good camera, I'm glad to hear it from someone who sold them. Thank you so much for the history, I enjoyed it!!
I found out what type of lens that I have... It's a HOYA 55mm SKYLIGHT(1B)

 

[dxqcanada1]

Manuals are available for download here: CANON Camera Manuals, canon Flash manuals

Lens is marked on front ring
example http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/

 

[Ysarex88 82]

Wow!! Everyone's been saying that it's a good camera, I'm glad to hear it from someone who sold them. Thank you so much for the history, I enjoyed it!!
I found out what type of lens that I have... It's a HOYA 55mm SKYLIGHT(1B)

Easy now -- I said they sold a boat load of them (couple boat loads I imagine). They killed the really good cameras! If yours is in good working order it'll take good photos.

That's the filter on the lens -- it screws off and then you'll be able to see what lens you have. Most likely a 50mm f/1.8 in a Canon breach mount.

So I'm that old huh?

Joe

 

[minicoop1985]

I have an AE-1 Program. Not sure if the shutters are the same, but they're prone to squeaking. That's fairly easy to solve. Rem-Oil spray (gun lube) can help-DON'T use WD-40 like a lot of Youtube videos advertise. There's four screws that hold on the front cover over the lens mount. Remove those, then pop the cover off. Once that's off, take out the top screws in the mount itself, and one SHORT blast of that Rem-Oil per screw hole should do it. Just put it back together and it should stop squealing. Worked on my Program.

 

[Alex_811]

Oooohhhh, thanks! It seems to be all good. I had it inspected by a person who is really good with cameras. She said it was in pretty great condition so I was excited to hear that! Just looked at the camera, it is a 50mm 1:1.8 s.c.

 

[TCampbell]

I'm a beginner at photography. I've been interested in it for a while. My school doesn't offer photograph until nest year so until the. I will be using he forum. I am using a Canon ae-1 from 1976. I love it!! I dropped off the film today so I'm not going to be able to see the outcome of my work until Friday. I was wondering if anyone was familiar with the camera that I am using and if so would you please share some pointers wih me. Thanks!! I hope someone can help!:blushing:

I have the same camera (it was actually my first "new" camera. I *think* I got mine new in 1977... perhaps it was 1978). It's a good solid body.

I don't use mine anymore... now it sits on the shelf as a conversation piece (though it does still work.)

Do you have the manual for it? (i.e. do you know what all the buttons and dials on the body do?)

I can tell you what these odd buttons and controls are if you don't have a manual.

Obviously you've learned to load and unload the film (at least you hope you have). In any case... at some point just about every 35mm film photographer has made the mistake of mis-loading the film. I used to try to be "sparring" with the film by winding in "just enough" to get it started. After working for a studio, I learned NEVER to do that... I now give it at least TWO winds before I close the door. If that means I come up one frame short on my roll... so be it. I'd rather have 23 good exposures on a 24 exposure roll... than 24 dark exposures because the film was mis-loaded.

 

[Alex_811]

Dxqcanada thank I for the Manual download I appreciate it!!

 

[Alex_811]

Tcampbell I'm the same way with the film I just loaded a new roll yesterday I will start Doug what ou said from now on.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I have different Canon bodies but have the same lens - I use mostly all mechanical film cameras that only take a battery for the meter. I do like Tim does and usually advance the film a couple of frames after I load the film to be sure it caught and isn't going anywhere! really to make sure it's spooling smoothly.

Your camera should be fine for shooting nature, or anything really. The only thing about action shots would be depending on how close you can be at a sporting event a short telephoto might be something you'd want to get eventually. I mostly use 135mm or 50mm and have done sports/events, art photography; shoot scenery, architecture, etc.

You might enjoy Film Photography Project | An Internet Radio Show & On-Line Resource for Film Shooters Worldwide - they do a podcast, have videos on everything from how to load film. Hope you enjoy your summer with your camera.

 

[dxqcanada1]

Just looked at the camera, it is a 50mm 1:1.8 s.c.

OK, that is the "standard" lens. Very typical for older film SLR's.
Anything smaller mm would be a wider angle ... smaller objects + greater field of view.
Larger mm would be telephoto ... magnify objects + narrower field of view.

Typically, the lenses that were obtained was the 28mm, 35mm, 85mm, and 200mm.
There are many zoom lenses that cover these focal lengths.

Learn to "read" the negative, and not the print.