Canon FD Lens Aperture Question

[VortexOne]

Okay, so I'm not sure if this is the right forum to put this or not, but anyway, I more or less recently bought a Canon AE-1 Program with 3 lenses (listed in sig), for a total steal (70$ at Goodwill), and I'm loving it. Sure, I'm having some problems with film loading, but who hasn't had a few with those cameras?

Anyway, my question is, and I feel like a total n00b for asking this, and am 80% sure I'm right, but are you supposed to be able to see the aperture blades moving when you turn the nob on the lenses? I don't, and I'm not totally sure about it. Any help would be appreciated greatly.

 

[dxqcanada5]

The lens is designed so that the aperture is wide open when it is not mounted on the body.

When the lens is mounted on the body ... the camera keeps the aperture wide open for metering.
When the shutter mechanism is tripped, the camera stops the aperture down for the duration of the exposure.

To see movement of the aperture ... mount the lens on the body ... set the lens aperture to whatever ... then push the Stop Down switch/slide that is on the left side of the camera body.

 

[VortexOne]

The lens is designed so that the aperture is wide open when it is not mounted on the body.

When the lens is mounted on the body ... the camera keeps the aperture wide open for metering.
When the shutter mechanism is tripped, the camera stops the aperture down for the duration of the exposure.

To see movement of the aperture ... mount the lens on the body ... set the lens aperture to whatever ... then push the Stop Down switch/slide that is on the left side of the camera body.

That explains so much. Thanks!