Can I change a lens on a 35mm (canon AE-1) while film is loaded?

Anayari · Nov 30, 2011

Sorry if this is totally absurb of a question but I'm a total noob at shooting film on an srl and I don't know if I can change my lenses on my new to me AE-1 while film is loaded. Will it affect my film if I change the lens? I got 4 lenses to go with it and want to try out some of them but I am clueless as you can see XD Thanks in advance!

waynecrider · Nov 30, 2011

Yes you can. It's the shutter curtain that prevents the film from being exposed.

flash26c · Nov 30, 2011

Nothing to worry about - the film compartment is light proof until you press the shutter release. Welcome to APUG!

Anayari · Nov 30, 2011

Thanks so much you guys I look forward to making this place a new homepage of sorts as I'm becoming very obsessed with film very very fast XD I am used to workign with my dslr but this is a whole other world to me and now I'm so anxious to see my first film XD I'm afraid it will be terrible ^^; I will try and post some once I get it developed

Poisson Du Jour · Nov 30, 2011

I asked the same question 30 years ago, only that I ignored the advice not to change the lens at the beach with a breeze blowing salt-laden air around. I did just that. Three years later my OM10 was no more. Beware.

Newt_on_Swings · Nov 30, 2011

It would be wise to change lenses in subdued light. =]

Ralph Javins · Dec 1, 2011

Good morning, Anayari;

Others have answered your question. I will merely add to that; "Welcome to APUG, and to film!"

It is a little different, and, it does require a willingness to be patient and wait to see what is on the film. Sorry, no digital like instant gratification in seeing what is stored on the memory card. Others might also say that it builds character.

Rol_Lei Nut · Dec 1, 2011

Unless Canon is even worse than I think it is, then YES!

On all cameras, it's best not to leave the lens off and let bright sunshine into the camera body for a long time (from seconds to days, depending how light-tight the shutter (+mirror) actually is), but not a real world problem except in rare cases.

Ottrdaemmerung · Dec 1, 2011

To protect against excessive light, wind-blown contaminants, etc., when I change a lens I turn away from the sun and hug the camera to my chest, keeping it on the strap around my neck, changing it quickly.

Kisatchie · Dec 1, 2011

I've been changing lenses in bright sunlight since 1974. I've used Pentax, Leica, Canon and Nikon, and I've never had ANY problems with light leaking past the shutters, no matter how long I left the lens off.

LyleB · Dec 1, 2011

Also a good idea to develop the habit of holding the camera pointing down (lens down) while changing lenses. That way, you have less risk of some bit of dust/sand/whatever from falling into the camera while it's open. Let gravity help you keep your camera clean.

ntenny · Dec 1, 2011

Kisatchie said:
I've been changing lenses in bright sunlight since 1974. I've used Pentax, Leica, Canon and Nikon, and I've never had ANY problems with light leaking past the shutters, no matter how long I left the lens off.

Likewise (except for the Nikon bit). I do a lot of shooting in the California desert, which is about as rough a test as you could ask for for lightproofness---I have yet to find a leaky shutter on a reasonably modern camera. I think it's mostly a theoretical problem, but I'm sure someone will now turn up who's had the opposite experience.

-NT

edge-t · Dec 2, 2011

Yes you can. You don't even need to change the lens under subdued light. The thing is light tight. Remember, your lens lets in light too---else you can't even use the optical viewfinder.

Rol_Lei Nut · Dec 2, 2011

ntenny said:
Likewise (except for the Nikon bit). I do a lot of shooting in the California desert, which is about as rough a test as you could ask for for lightproofness---I have yet to find a leaky shutter on a reasonably modern camera. I think it's mostly a theoretical problem, but I'm sure someone will now turn up who's had the opposite experience.

-NT

Copal Square shutters (largely used in Cosina cameras) are notorious light leakers. In SLR models that's also blocked by the mirror, so not a big problem, but some early rangefinders using that shutter did have problems.
IIRC, C/V rangefndrs have a double shutter (or an extra shutter blind) to solve that problem.

Rol_Lei Nut · Dec 2, 2011

edge-t said:
Yes you can. You don't even need to change the lens under subdued light. The thing is light tight. Remember, your lens lets in light too---else you can't even use the optical viewfinder.

Though with the lens on, most of the light is diverted to the viewfinder.
With the lens off, there is more of a possibility of light sneaking around edges...

Still not a good idea to leave the camera sitting around in bright light with the lens off (depends on specific models of course), also for the stated cleanliness reasons.

lxdude · Dec 2, 2011

Rol_Lei Nut said:
Copal Square shutters (largely used in Cosina cameras)

And Nikkormat/Nikomat, Ricoh Singlex/TLS/etc., Konica T series, among others.

Can I change a lens on a 35mm (canon AE-1) while film is loaded?

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