Canon A-1

PhotoBob · May 12, 2019

I have a Canon A-1 that only takes a few images and then shuts down for a time period and then will take a few more images. Does anyone know why? The battery is pretty fresh and whether or not I am using the A2 winder - the same behaviour.

MattKing · May 12, 2019

Bob,
Could it be your source of batteries?
Based on our other discussions, I note that both your A-1 and your 645 Pro are acting up, and they use exactly the same batteries.
Back when A-1s were current, and I was selling lots of them, we observed that they put quite high demands on batteries.

PhotoBob · May 12, 2019

MattKing said:
Bob,
Could it be your source of batteries?
Based on our other discussions, I note that both your A-1 and your 645 Pro are acting up, and they use exactly the same batteries.
Back when A-1s were current, and I was selling lots of them, we observed that they put quite high demands on batteries.

Thanks Matt

CMoore · May 12, 2019

MattKing said:
Bob,
Could it be your source of batteries?
Based on our other discussions, I note that both your A-1 and your 645 Pro are acting up, and they use exactly the same batteries.
Back when A-1s were current, and I was selling lots of them, we observed that they put quite high demands on batteries.

Would the A-1 be harder on batteries than other Canon A-Series for some reason.?
Thank You

AgX · May 12, 2019

DWThomas · May 12, 2019

Admittedly I don't shoot my A-1 a whole lot these days, but it seems as though I've used the same battery for years. I do remove it when putting the camera away (knowing it could be a year or more before I use it again). Presumably power demands go up if you use very long exposures or a lot of experimental metering with heavy use of the LED displays. I've never thought of it as a battery hog.

But note: I do carry a spare if I'm going away from home for a "major project."

In the OP's case one might wonder if there is a pinched wire or other fault that's sucking current excessively.

MattKing · May 12, 2019

CMoore said:
Would the A-1 be harder on batteries than other Canon A-Series for some reason.?
Thank You

In the days when I sold both A-1s and AE-1s, it seemed that batteries in customers' A-1 cameras tended to need replacement more frequently than the batteries in customers' AE-1s.
I don't know why- - maybe the additional metering options with the A-1 used more battery power.
I can't remember whether there was a difference in battery life between the AE-1 and the AE-1 Program, and I never sold the EF.

CMoore · May 12, 2019

OK... interesting.
I always enjoyed my A-1. It fit my hands and eyes i guess.
As time went on, i simply used my Canon F1 and Nikon F2 a lot more, and sold my A-1.

AgX · May 12, 2019

I admit I overlooked the LED matrix. But similar was used in watches. Though, without further calculating, I would be surprised to learn about them being drain decisive.

John Koehrer · May 12, 2019

If a battery's marginal it may test good and work several times then stop. After a few minutes recovery it magically works again.

Any battery has to have a load to be tested accurately. Without the load, it's just reading surface voltage.

AgX · May 12, 2019

That is why there are battery testers (however none to test all types we come along at our cameras). Of course one could improvise a loaded metering circuit.

cooltouch · May 13, 2019

I bought my first A-1 in 1983 and used it extensively for about a year, at which time I discovered Canon's classic mechanical cameras of the 70s (FTb and old F-1). But I continued to use it as a back up system for several more years. Since then, I've owned a lot of A-1s and I currently own an almost mint example that doesn't get as much use as it should.

There was only one occasion where my A-1 had a drain issue and that was when I was out in the cold with it. It lasted for about a half hour before the battery quit, but that's something that will happen to most any electronic camera, Cold weather drains batteries, no getting around it. That's why some camera makers have offered remote battery packs, so they could be kept someplace warm, allowing the camera to continue its normal operation. Other than that one occasion, I don't recall that A-1 going through batteries faster than they did on my AE-1.

The A-1's battery check feature has a blinking red LED. The fresher the battery, the faster that LED will blink. It's almost a blur with a fresh battery, and with one that's on its last legs, it will blink very slowly. Now, it seems to me that Bob can monitor battery consumption using this test feature. Bob, you might be able to pinpoint at what point the drain becomes apparent, or if it perhaps is just draining the battery quickly. This should help you in deciding how to proceed.

AgX · May 13, 2019

cooltouch said:
Cold weather drains batteries, no getting around it.

Cold weather does not drain batteries. But in the cold the usable capacity sinks and the internal resistance rises.
Back at normal temperatures the used battery will have more capacity again.

Chan Tran · May 13, 2019

AgX said:
Cold weather does not drain batteries. But in the cold the usable capacity sinks and the internal resistance rises.
Back at normal temperatures the used battery will have more capacity again.

That's true. In fact freeze the battery would reduce the rate of self discharge.

benjiboy · May 13, 2019

I sold my A1 last year, after owning it for about 25 years, and my experience of it suggests that the silver oxide battery lasted for several years usually at least five and considerably longer if I put in the PX 28 Lithium battery, sometimes almost ten years.

MattKing · May 13, 2019

I'm not sure which version of the battery Bob is using - silver oxide, lithium or alkaline.
Around here, the silver oxide and lithium versions are hard to find, and very expensive.

Chan Tran · May 13, 2019

I have an A-1 for a few years but I never actually run any film through it.I turn it on and check it out once in a while and it doesn't seem to eat battery that bad.

MattKing · May 13, 2019

I have a feeling that the battery check and self-timer and viewfinder meter readout LEDs all contribute the most to battery discharge in the A-1.
Flash use can affect battery life too, particularly when you use a Canon flash that triggers the flash ready LED in the viewfinder
The manual for the camera mentions that long exposure work will drain the battery faster.
So it probably depends on how the camera is used, not how long the battery is in the camera.

benjiboy · May 13, 2019

MattKing said:
I'm not sure which version of the battery Bob is using - silver oxide, lithium or alkaline.
Around here, the silver oxide and lithium versions are hard to find, and very expensive.

Try Amazon Matt they aren't very expensive there.

MattKing · May 13, 2019

benjiboy said:
Try Amazon Matt they aren't very expensive there.

For silver oxide, $5.00 USD each if you buy five and have them shipped to a US address.
Not so inexpensive if shipped to Canada.

CMoore · May 13, 2019

MattKing said:
For silver oxide, $5.00 USD each if you buy five and have them shipped to a US address.
Not so inexpensive if shipped to Canada.

Would it be any help if we, in the usa, bought them and mailed them to you.....or would that be almost as expensive.?

MattKing · May 14, 2019

I live minutes away from a US border crossing, and have no problem accessing most US sources.
But I am the exception - many/most Canadians don't have the same access.
But I appreciate the offer!

PhotoBob · May 14, 2019

These replies have been great guys, thank you so much. I was able to ascertain that it was indeed the battery. But what baffled me was that I don't think its been in a year and only light sporadic usage. I don't recall my AE-1 Programme burning through batteries this fast. I guess another thing to keep in mind is to ensure the camera and meter are turned off. Anyway, I had a replacement and now will have to buy replacements for the replacement battery. Interestingly, I think it is the same battery that fits into my Mamiya 645 Pro.

AgX · May 14, 2019

No A-family camera meters unless pressing the release button the first step.
With the A-1 the matrix LED only lights up by pressing the button this way.

Unless some button is pressed at no A-family camera there should be a current running.

Storing such camera in a pouch with the release button not locked could lead to a battery drain.

cooltouch · May 14, 2019

AgX said:
Cold weather does not drain batteries. But in the cold the usable capacity sinks and the internal resistance rises.
Back at normal temperatures the used battery will have more capacity again.

You're right, of course. I probably should have used a better choice of words. But the end result is the same. It's scant recompense for the photographer whose day in the field has been cut short.

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