A caveat of sorts (but with a 'workaround')

David Lyga · Feb 19, 2014

About one year ago I bought a used Canon AE-1 for cheap. It worked perfectly, even without having a squeak. There was a tiny bit of haze in the (internal) viewfinder and I decided that I needed to remove the top in order to get at the prism area (remember this is not the 'Program' which allows easy access to that prism area).

I removed the top (because I am so prescient and intelligent) and then 'noticed' that there were a lot of wires around that prism. I way 'wires' but (I do not know what it is called) those wires are really incorporated into a solid material (matrix?) and wrapped around that prism's top. I decided to remove those impediments in order to be able to lift the prism. I (always intelligently) pried that morass of wiring off and, suddenly, I ripped that matrix of wires. Of course I could not 'resolder' because I am not exactly the size of an ant.

But with such intelligence, I decided that I was not simply going to throw that body away and give it a funeral (because funerals cost too much). To my utter amazement that camera's meter still worked perfectly (but the shutter mechanism was now absolutely dead). So, with my inherent wisdom I decided to use said body (in conjunction with a heavily scratched 50mm lens) as a light meter to carry about with all my older cameras which do not have meters. Although bulky, the metering is superb, quick, and precise.

But, even though I think that I am terribly smart, I somehow do not see the wisdom of having done what I did in order to create this newfound meter. Essentially, I junked a fine camera because of both greed and lack of foresight. (And maybe, also, a profound lack of intelligence.) Caveat. - David Lyga

snapguy · Feb 19, 2014

Olde saying

There is an old German saying "Ve gets too soon old und too late smart." Interesting about all those wires. Will keep it in mind when I fiddle with some of my olde film cameras. I have a Bilora Bella with a very simple shutter that looks le it should operate okay when I trip it, but the shutter does not open and close. I am loathe to fiddle with it although it looks simple enough.

Jeff Kubach · Feb 19, 2014

You can still get a AE-1 cheap trought KEH or B&H.

Jeff

Tom1956 · Feb 19, 2014

I saw one on dregslist equipped with a 3rd party zoom lens for ONLY $250.00.

E. von Hoegh · Feb 19, 2014

snapguy said:
There is an old German saying "Ve gets too soon old und too late smart." Interesting about all those wires. Will keep it in mind when I fiddle with some of my olde film cameras. I have a Bilora Bella with a very simple shutter that looks le it should operate okay when I trip it, but the shutter does not open and close. I am loathe to fiddle with it although it looks simple enough.

You don't need to worry about that one.
But David's post is a good example of why I'll never waste my money on one of these cameras stuffed with electronics. There is a way to dis- and reconnect these flexible PCs, usually, BUT they're plastic - old plastic - in cameras that were never intended to last decades. The plasticisers go away with time, and even if you know how and have the touch of a brain surgeon (or better a watchmaker), they (the flexible PCs) sometimes break when you move them.

AgX · Feb 19, 2014

snapguy said:
There is an old German saying "Ve gets too soon old und too late smart."

Never heard that... We say "Old age does not spare one from stupidity"

E. von Hoegh · Feb 19, 2014

AgX said:
Never heard that... We say "Old age does not spare one from stupidity"

And "Mit der dummheit kampfen Goetter selbst vergebens".

AgX · Feb 19, 2014

E. von Hoegh said:
There is a way to dis- and reconnect these flexible PCs, usually, BUT they're plastic - old plastic - in cameras that were never intended to last decades. The plasticisers go away with time, and even if you know how and have the touch of a brain surgeon (or better a watchmaker), they (the flexible PCs) sometimes break when you move them.

To my understanding they are made from PET. Thus no evaporating plasticizers, no brittleness.
But I read about breaking flexboards too. Could it be, the leads coming off is meant instead?

E. von Hoegh · Feb 19, 2014

AgX said:
To my understanding they are made from PET. Thus no evaporating plasticizers, no brittleness.
But I read about breaking flexboards too. Could it be, the leads coming off is meant instead?

I've had them break in older electronics, a VCR from the early 80s for instance. They assuredly can get brittle, whatever they were made of. If there's room they can be replaced by soldering in some ribbon wire, but wherethehell do you get that these days?

BrianShaw · Feb 19, 2014

Cool... a stealth light meter! Nobody would guess what it is and you can get beat up for taking pictures when in reality all you are doing is metering.

If you ever decide to have that funeral, please don't flush it down the toilet... it may be bad for the sewage treatment plant.

Tom1956 · Feb 19, 2014

Outside of a simple circuit TTL meter, electronics have no place in a camera. I'll admit the Pentax ES and Nikon F3 might have their place in camera posterity. Beyond that time period, there's just no camera I'd care one thing to own. I remember working in a camera store when the AE-1 first came out. It was plastic--junk. To me, Nikon history ended with the F2 and the Nikkormat. JMO

John Koehrer · Feb 19, 2014

Bah!
Don't need no steenking ttl meter.

Canon's plastic junk sold more than any other 35mm camera.

Barry Kirsten · Feb 19, 2014

David, most of us have done something similar, but not all of us are wise enough to own up. Love your sense of humour!

Barry

David Lyga · Feb 20, 2014

Tom1956 said:
Outside of a simple circuit TTL meter, electronics have no place in a camera.

How refreshing to see this in print. There really IS something magical with those old 1950s rangefinders from Japan.

And, Barry Kirsten: If you saw my graveyard of ruined cameras and lenses you would see a bonanza in used parts. Learning minor repair work did not come easy. - David Lyga

benjiboy · Feb 21, 2014

The Canon A series cameras were consumer grade and Canon ceased manufacture about 27 years ago and in an age of planned obsolescence although over time they have been fairly reliable cameras their original design criteria was probably never to last so long.

Tom1956 · Feb 21, 2014

I never was a Canon fan. That said, I believe I'd give due respect for the F1 and FTb.

E. von Hoegh · Feb 21, 2014

Tom1956 said:
I never was a Canon fan. That said, I believe I'd give due respect for the F1 and FTb.

You should take a look at their screwmount rangefinders.

David Lyga · Feb 21, 2014

Canon screwmount rangefinders?

Too darn expensive. Virtually any SLR takes great pictures. And you do have (regardless of what anyone says) better focus. (OK, maybe wides win out with RF.) (Did I just start a war?) - David Lyga

Xmas · Feb 21, 2014

Hi David

The old Canon rangefinders were real cheap in 95 but a Canon P body is now about 200 GBP in our camera shops. They take Canon or Cosina lenses or Leica ones.

A plastic Lomo TLR is more expensive!

The Canon P was the first Canon to sell well.

Noel

Tom1956 · Feb 21, 2014

E. von Hoegh said:
You should take a look at their screwmount rangefinders.

I expect they probably are pretty good little cameras. I think I've gotten to a pint in life where I'm "camera-ed out". These 2 Nikkormats of mine and my 8x10 are all I really need. All the rest of my junk is on its way out the door. Hasselblads, Graflexes, and such. And in 35mm's, there really isn't anything that can beat a plain simple Nikkormat. And the real beauty of it is that for all they are, they're basically worthless moneywise speaking. You can leave it on the carseat and not a soul is going to swipe it. Heck, you can't stand on a busy street corner and give them away. But they're worth their weight in gold when it comes to shooting.

A caveat of sorts (but with a 'workaround')

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