Canon AE-1 Program Led question

Hi all,

I'm getting to know my new camera, and read several manuals at this point, and can't find an answer to this question:

When my camera is on full manual (not program or shutter speed priority), why am I still seeing the led lights changing the aperture in accordance with the shutter speed? Is this just a feature of the camera?

And if so, in manual, is the camera actually reading the aperture I have set it at regardless of the led reading?

Just making sure I'm getting full manual.

Thanks!

Assuming you're referring to an AE-1 Program, not an AW-1?

In manual mode, the meter will display the recommended aperture setting based on the shutter speed you're using. The camera will still shoot at the aperture you have set on the lens. As you change the shutter speed, the meter reading changes to compensate for this.

So it's showing me as if it's shooting in priority mode, but will ultimately "listen" to what I set as the manual aperture, correct?

(Yes, AE-1, not AW-1)

Yep, when you set the lens aperture ring to anything other than "A", the lens will close down to that aperture when you shoot. Say if you're using a shutter speed of 1/500 and the meter indicates an f-stop (aperture) of f:5.6, if you set the lens to f:8 then you will be underexposing by 1 stop. Unfortunately, I don't believe the AE-1 Program shows your manual shutter speed or aperture in the viewfinder. It should have an indicator in the viewfinder like "M" when you take the lens off of "A", to warn you that you're in manual mode. I had an AE-1 back in high school and it basically worked the same for manual exposure, I set the shutter speed and the meter needle indicated the recommended aperture.

Got it-thank you!

It seemed to be the case, but better safe than sorry.