Canon A1 Exposure Problems

[MJLangdon]

Hi everyone,

I have just bought a Canon A1 and took it out for a test run at my local town. I developed the film in my usual way with another roll from my Olympus OM10 which came out perfect.

The test roll from the Canon A1 came out very strange indeed. I have tested the camera for light leaks, I can't see any. The shutter is working to time and without lag.

The only thing that I can think of is the bulk loaded film cassette has developed a light leak, I have never had problems with them before.

The first 19 images are full of light leaks, the last 5 are completely fine. Here are some images from the test roll, all shot under the same lighting conditions with the same settings.

Any ideas what could of caused this?

Cheers,
Mike.

 

[drpsilver]

08 Aug 2017

MJLangdon:

I own, and shoot regularly, 3 Canon A-1. They are great cameras, and are almost indestructible unless you drop them on a hard surface.

I have never seen the problem you are having. Assuming that the roll exposed in the OM10 was also bulk loaded, I agree with your conclusion that it must be the cassette.

Hope you find a solution to your problem.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[MJLangdon]

08 Aug 2017

MJLangdon:

I own, and shoot regularly, 3 Canon A-1. They are great cameras, and are almost indestructible unless you drop them on a hard surface.

I have never seen the problem you are having. Assuming that the roll exposed in the OM10 was also bulk loaded, I agree with your conclusion that it must be the cassette.

Hope you find a solution to your problem.

Regards,
Darwin

Thank you for the reply.

I have just been out again this morning, this time using a factory loaded film, I haven't developed it yet.

One thing i did notice, the aperature was sometimes staying stopped down after taking the photo until i advanced the film.

I tested the aperature with the DOF preview button, it worked freely. I am guessing that it is stopping down on a different mechanism when taking the photo.

Unless this is normal for this camera, it must be lack of oil in the mechanisms, so i think i'll book it in for a full service.

Cheers, Mike.

 

[MJLangdon]

Just finished developing the second test roll, all photos have come out perfect so it was the bulk cassette leaking light.

I have oiled the camera for the canon cough problem.

The mechanism arm that stops the lens down to working aperture when taking a photo is actually getting locked as I can't move it to its home position by hand. As this just means i have to advance the film before metering the next subject and it has no effect on the taking of the photo i will just leave it for now

 

[drpsilver]

Just finished developing the second test roll, all photos have come out perfect so it was the bulk cassette leaking light.

I have oiled the camera for the canon cough problem.

The mechanism arm that stops the lens down to working aperture when taking a photo is actually getting locked as I can't move it to its home position by hand. As this just means i have to advance the film before metering the next subject and it has no effect on the taking of the photo i will just leave it for now

09 Aug 2017

Mike:

I am glad that you found some relation to your problem.

The stop-down lever should return to "full open position" after the shutter is released. I think that there may be a problem in the mechanism that controls this lever. If you do not have any issues with the lens being stopped-down after exposure just let it be. But under no circumstances force the film advance lever. You could destroy the mechanism very fast. A visit to a shop would then be in order.

Regards,
Darwin