Canon A1?

[f/16]

I'm thinking of getting one for my first Canon body. Did it only come in black? Does it have TTL flash? What is a good flash that matches up well with it? Does it use a battery that's still available?

 

[Manwithacam]

It uses the 4LR44 I believe, the same as the AE1. The 199A flash is the flash that was available at the time. Not sure about TTL though but Google can help you there.

 

[AgX]

No flash TTL at that time.

The only features (with the dedicated Canon flashes) were automatic setting of the synchro time as well as flash-charged indication in the viewer.


THE Canon FD-camera for flash photography is the T-90.
Though the early dedicated flashes for use with the early FD cameras with coupling to the focusing barrel for autoexposure could be interesting too.


The best overview on the A and T models you'll find at the Mir Photography site.

 

[trythis]

Pretty sure black only. Nice readout in finder and the grip is a must. After using it as my first SLR I am spoiled by those two features. I moved to nikon primarily and stick with the FA and FG because of the grips.


Typos made on a tiny phone...

 

[blockend]

The battery is readily available. Only known vice of the A-1 is the Canon cough, which can be cured by following online instructions or sending to a dealer. Probably the first camera to move control dials from their traditional positions to the ones we're used to on modern DSLRs. Only available in black.

 

[Manwithacam]

Here is the link to the manual on Butkus' Camera Manual Site http://www.cameramanuals.org/flashes_meters/speedlite_199a.pdf

 

[Dennis S]

Only black. The A1 is a great camera with A & S settings which is a nice option. If you get a winder go for the MA as the others are not that good after years of useage. I currently have 4 . 2 of them I bought with the PASSED sticker still on the viewfinder which shows they were well cared for. The FD & FL lenses that are available for cheap prices but they are excellent glass.

 

[f/16]

Canon cough, what is that-shutter squeak?

Do you need the newest version FD lenses for all AE modes or will the older BL FD lenses offer it too?

 

[Dennis S]

The shutter squeal is from the shutter dampener and is easily fixed by a drop of clock oil. Many videos about how to stop the sound. All versions of the FD & FL lenses will work on it. A few like the Canon M mount will not work. A a few of the R mount cannot be used but that is listed in the manual

 

[AgX]

2 of them I bought with the PASSED sticker still on the viewfinder which shows they were well cared for.

With all the cameras I bought I can't see a relation between leaving that sticker and caring for it.
Or at least that idea did not come up with me.

 

[f/16]

Since it's not TTL flash capable I won't bother to get a Canon flash anytime soon. My flashes will work with it in manual or A mode. I'm gathering up stuff I need for my first Canon-Duracell 28L lithium battery, Canon rubber eyecup, FD body and rear lens caps, inexpensive FD lens.....

 

[Thomas.Goehler]

FL lenses can be mounted but they will work only if stopped down; so I wouldn't bother about them on an A-1. Breech-lock FD and new FD lenses are what you should look for.

 

[cuthbert]

I'm thinking of getting one for my first Canon body. Did it only come in black? Does it have TTL flash? What is a good flash that matches up well with it? Does it use a battery that's still available?

If I may, of the Canon FD bodies I have the A-1 is the least I like, if you are interested in TTL flash the obvious choice is the T90 as somebody else pointed out.

I'm not crazy about the metering of the A-1 and the fact you can't really use in manual mode, if TTL is not a priority I would suggest to get something completely manual like a FTb or a F-1 (old or new they are both outstanding cameras), if not the combo T90 +300TL is a must.

 

[randyB]

If I may, of the Canon FD bodies I have the A-1 is the least I like, if you are interested in TTL flash the obvious choice is the T90 as somebody else pointed out.

I'm not crazy about the metering of the A-1 and the fact you can't really use in manual mode, if TTL is not a priority I would suggest to get something completely manual like a FTb or a F-1 (old or new they are both outstanding cameras), if not the combo T90 +300TL is a must.

(I'm not crazy about the metering of the A-1 and the fact you can't really use in manual mode,) Sorry, I don't understand this statement since I used a pair of A-1's for commercial advertising work in the 80's, the exposures were always spot on (aperature priority mode) and manual was very accurate once I learned how it worked. I would suggest using the silver oxide version of the PX-28 battery, that is what the A1 was designed to use. The MA motor is great but heavy, I used the A2 winder on mine and never had a problem even after tens of thousands of exposures. The T90 and any of the F1's are also great as long as everything is working correctly.

 

[cuthbert]

The A-1 can't be used in manual mode (you set aperture and shutter speed) because it doesn't meter.

The metering pattern is button weighted because the camera wasn't meant to be a real professional camera, I understand the importance of the A-1 from an historical point of view but cameras like the Minolta XD and the Fujica AX 5 are better IMO.

 

[randyB]

The A-1 can't be used in manual mode (you set aperture and shutter speed) because it doesn't meter.

The metering pattern is button weighted because the camera wasn't meant to be a real professional camera, I understand the importance of the A-1 from an historical point of view but cameras like the Minolta XD and the Fujica AX 5 are better IMO.

Please refer to page 65 of the A1 manual on how to use the A1 for non-auto exposures. I used them for manual photography this way for years, rarely had a problem. While it doesn't have a match neddle metering system like the FTB or 1st F1 it most certainly does meter and quite well at that. The A1 is a bridge camera in the Canon system, an upgrade over the AE1 but not as fancy or rugged as the F1, you could call it a Pro-sumer slr camera. Minolta, Pentax, Nikon all had models that were somewhat simular in features and operation.

 

[cuthbert]

Yes, I read it, it doesn't work as a manual camera because it shows the aperture on the display it would choose if it was in shutter priority mode, then you have to remove the eye from the finder, check the aperture and change it...I don't see the point of doing that, it's like it's in shutter priority plus a complication.

For the metering pattern, here are some pics I've taken this winter with the A-1:

IMO they are plain bad, here there are some pics I've taken more or less at the same time with my K2DMD, mostly in aperture priority mode:

Not even these are great because of the winter light, but they are much better than the A-1. Of course if it worked for you in studio fair enough, for me outdoor it didn't, and if I have to choose a FD camera to go out and shoot the order is: F-1N, F-1 Old, FTb, T90 and A-1.

 

[DWThomas]

An A-1 was my primary camera from 1981 to circa 2004 (I still have and occasionally use it) and I can't say I ever felt particularly handicapped by it. Maybe that's because I began with a box camera and worked up through absolutely all manual cameras before I got the A-1. Now there are times I would look at a scene and decide I wanted detail in that shadow area and bump up the exposure compensation -- or visa versa. After years of doing it, that becomes pretty much instinctive; I consider it learning to work with the tools at hand. (And if in doubt, take a second shot! :munch: ) In the mid-90s I acquired an original F-1 body which I barely use, it's unquestionably rugged, but I found it awkward compared with the A-1.

As always, feelings about this sort of stuff can vary wildly depending on the photographer's experience and subject matter interests.

 

[cuthbert]

As always, feelings about this sort of stuff can vary wildly depending on the photographer's experience and subject matter interests.

What he says.

 

[Bill Burk]

cuthbert,

Your example photographs are amazing!

Because they show exactly what is wrong with "center-weighted averaging".

But, don't blame the A-1. It was the generally-accepted standard way of exposing before Matrix Metering was invented.

I agree the A-1 is a little awkward to use in Manual mode because you have to "know" what f/stop you've chosen.

But it's better than another camera I used: The Pentax ES-II turns off the meter in manual mode. You are on your own.

 

[Alan Gales]

But it's better than another camera I used: The Pentax ES-II turns off the meter in manual mode. You are on your own.

They probably wanted you to buy one of their Pentax Spot Meters.

 

[cuthbert]

cuthbert,

Your example photographs are amazing!

Because they show exactly what is wrong with "center-weighted averaging".

But, don't blame the A-1. It was the generally-accepted standard way of exposing before Matrix Metering was invented.

I agree the A-1 is a little awkward to use in Manual mode because you have to "know" what f/stop you've chosen.

But it's better than another camera I used: The Pentax ES-II turns off the meter in manual mode. You are on your own.

Bill, the A-1 is NOT centre weighted, but button weighted, that's the reason why it takes pics like that and being automatic you can't even compensate.

Most of my cameras are average centre weighted and the A-1 is the only one that makes pics like that. The other samples are from a K2DMD which is average centred.

 

[randyB]

Please refer to page 98 of the owners manual where it CLEARLY states the metering pattern is "Central Emphasis Averaging" which means center-weighted. Canon's center-weighted pattern is different that Nikon's or Pentax's or Minolta's but it is clearly center-weighted. Your sample photos: it is obvious the lighting is vastly different, looks like you made them on different days, not a very accurate way of illustrating your point. It appears that you don't know how to use your A1 very well, I suggest you spend a lot more time with it, learning its unique qualities and capablities.

 

[cuthbert]

Please refer to page 98 of the owners manual where it CLEARLY states the metering pattern is "Central Emphasis Averaging" which means center-weighted. Canon's center-weighted pattern is different that Nikon's or Pentax's or Minolta's but it is clearly center-weighted. Your sample photos: it is obvious the lighting is vastly different, looks like you made them on different days, not a very accurate way of illustrating your point. It appears that you don't know how to use your A1 very well, I suggest you spend a lot more time with it, learning its unique qualities and capablities.

Thank you for your condescending post and the way you are lecturing me on how cool this camera is and how incapable as photographer I am, I think you missed the point in which I stated I own several Canons, to be precise a '75 Ftb, a '77 F-1 Old, a '82 F-1 New with standard prism, a '84 F-1 with AE prism and a '87 T90.

None of these cameras made pictures as bad as the A-1, I'll leave the fact that F-1s old model and FTbs are not centre weighted but semispot (or partial metering), the T90 has a centre weighted mode and in the F-1 AE I usually use has a AL screen.

Besides that, a good friend o'mine, capable professional photographer (unlike me) an man of great experience as well as Canon pasdaran assured me that the A-1 is not centre weighted but button weighted because it was a camera meant to be used for landscapes and other non professional use.

Please refer to this interesting discussion regarding different pattern metering:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/...slr-metering-pattern-just-centerweighted.html

You might actually learn something.

 

[f/16]

"Bill, the A-1 is NOT centre weighted, but button weighted, that's the reason why it takes pics like that and being automatic you can't even compensate."

What's button weighted? I'm used to Nikon terms-center weighted, matrix....Most of the time I like to shoot in manual mode and center weighted metering. I aim the camera toward a mid toned object in the same light as the subject, set shutter and f stop, recomose and shoot. I don't want an A1 because of all the exposure modes. I just want it because I want it. I bet it was really hot in the late 70s with all that technology.